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Shark (double battery) WV251UK review 2022
This handheld vac will clean up most debris on any surface without fuss and you can make it last longer with an extra battery. Just don’t stretch its tiny capacity.
- Dual battery
- Small capacity
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- £129 at Currys
Details
| Price | £129 |
|---|---|
| Capacity (litres) | 0.1 |
| Accessories | Crevice tool, Pet tool |
| Warranty (years) | 2 |
| Surface type | Carpet, Hard floor |
| Colour | Grey |
| Run time (minutes) | 16 |
| Charge time (hours) | 2.5 |
| Performance | ★★★★★ |
| Convenience | ★★★★★ |
| Run time | ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder score | ★★★★★ |
Shark WV251UK handheld vacuum review
How well does the Shark WV251UK clean?
We tested this Shark on carpet to see how well it fared tackling Cheerios, rice and biscuit crumbs.
3 sweeps got more than 90% of a large handful of rice from the carpet, and the same with biscuit crumbs. We mopped up the rest with some firmer pressing and 4 more sweeps. It impressively picked up all the cereal after 3 sweeps, although when we added a few more shrapnels it wheezed and failed. This is because of its small 0.1 litre capacity, a downside of all the WandVacs we tested. A better option for larger spillages is the Shark CH950UK.
On hard surfaces we performed the tests with the same debris and this WandVac performed well once more, clearing up all of the cereal, rice and biscuit crumbs from a wooden table with ease. And it didn’t blow any away – a symptom with some of the more powerful handhelds we’ve tested. Again though, adding extra cereal hoops into the mix meant clogging and regurgitation, so it’s important to have a bin nearby to empty the dust chamber.
To test crevice cleaning, we sprinkled some biscuit crumbs into the ridges of a velvet sofa. This WandVac comes with a crevice tool with a brush attachment. Provided you’re careful, it will clean most of the crumbs in 1 sweep. The crevice tool reached between the cushions for the runaway crumbs and the brush tool dealt with crumbs smeared onto the sofa.
Can the Shark WV251UK clean pet hair?
Shark states this model is designed to clean pet hair. We rubbed some into carpet and a velvet sofa to test this out.
This model removed around 80% of visible pet hair in 3 sweeps with the pet tool, and took a total of 7 sweeps to get nearly all the rest. There were a few hairs left lodged in the carpet; you may find you’ll need the brush tool, or need to manually dislodge hair, to get it all.
Cleaning the sofa was pretty smooth using the pet hair tool and brush tool to remove the remaining strands. In 3 sweeps, more than 80% of the hair was picked up, with a few fibres left hanging. More scrubbing got 100% of the hair. This pet tool is not motorised, which could be the factor here. Overall, it’s a decent pet hair remover but there are better, like the Dyson V7 Trigger.
What’s the run time of the Shark WV251UK?
With 2.5 hours of charge time, this Shark can run for 8 minutes using one battery. However, the second battery can be installed easily by pressing the release tabs. This means you can clean a lot more than the WV200UK and places this model with a fab charge-to-run time, nearly competing with the Dyson V7.
How convenient is this model?
The 0.1L capacity is the biggest annoyance with this model. But if you don’t mind having a bin handy, this Shark won’t give you much hassle.
Its dust-release mechanism will flick open and ditch most of the collected dust into the bin without much of a shake. If you want to clean the dust cup and filter, you can slide both out and wash them with lukewarm water easily.
Its charging dock is sturdy and if a battery stops working after the 2-year warranty, you can buy another.
As with all the WandVacs, this model is small so it’s easy to store and great for small homes or flats.
Is the Shark WV251UK easy to use?
WandVacs in general are simple to use, and this one is no different.
The crevice tool and multi-head both clip on and slide off with ease. At 0.6kg, it’s the lightest handheld vac we’ve reviewed (tied with the WV200UK) making it suitable for cleaning heights and dust on walls without much strength needed. It’s smooth when cleaning most surfaces, but watch out for clogging and clean the multi-tool brush often for optimum performance.
It’s not the best for cleaning the tops of cabinets or fridges, since the head is straight. Better options for trickier areas are the Black & Decker Dustbusters (Pivot and Flexi) with their flexibility and attachments.
Shark WV251UK customer reviews
With more than 2,000 ratings, this Shark scores 4.5 stars on Amazon (last checked May 2022). Many reviews praise how it picks up light debris around the house. The second battery is a plus for many who want to clean more. However, the suction power is debated and the small dust compartment is disappointing for some.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lightweight
- Dual battery
- Great for light messes
- Great for crevices
- Easy to empty
- Easy to manoeuvre
Cons
- Limited capacity
- Will struggle with larger pieces of debris
- No motorised pet tool
Our verdict: Is the Shark WV251UK any good?
If you’re seeking a lightweight vac that will clean dust, hair, and minor spills off any surface, this WandVac is a worthy contender. It’s easy to use, the attachments do their job, and the extra battery is a lifesaver if you want to extend your cleaning agenda. This added juice makes it a better buy than the WV200UK, albeit more expensive. The downside is its poor capacity and there are more powerful models for bigger messes.
Frequently asked questions
Finder handheld vacuum cleaners scores
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
We rate handheld vacuums based on the aspects that matter to you. We explain what goes into our scores in our guide to ratings.
Review by
Reemul Balla
reemul.balla@finder.comReemul is a writer at Finder, specialising in product reviews and news. He's a qualified journalist having worked at local papers in the UK covering breaking news, food and restaurant reviews. He has an MA in Film from UCL and a BA in History and French from Durham University.
Expert review
The WV251UK is a sibling of the WV200UK. It looks the same, performs similarly and has the same capacity. The big difference is that the WV251UK has an extra battery supplied, hence its higher price. This is a fantastic addition by Shark. One battery has a disappointing 8-10 minute run time, but having another fully charged in the dock ready to go gives this model the upper hand. It does a good job of cleaning most surfaces. Pet hair and light and medium-sized debris poses no problem to this WandVac. The issue is bigger spillages due to a tiny 0.1 litre capacity. You’ll be emptying it often, otherwise it’ll just spit out the extra scraps it can’t pick up.
