A Review of the Shark Stratos Vacuum to Turn Your Chaos Into Calm
BY SOPHIE CHUNG
Tested on a construction site for maximum effect.
4 DEC - 2024
Effortless cleaning is the ultimate therapy.
While our love for beauty runs deep in our veins, nothing - NOTHING quite matches the massive dopamine rush of a Sunday reset to make us feel like we have our shit together.
I’ve been using two vacuums on rotation: one from The Warehouse and one from Kmart. Both did the job, but as an adult approaching 33, it felt long overdue to elevate the quality of my vacuum to match my skincare routine.
As a fussy weirdo who has an unnecessary amount of mental hoops and barriers to overcome before making big life decisions, buying a flash vacuum was something that I had been looking to do for the past few years. There would always be something apparently more important to spontaneously spend that $1k on, like a Tibi blazer on sale at Muse or a Harris Tapper warehouse sale. So, when Shark emailed me if I wanted to review a vacuum and to choose whichever I wanted, I knew that manifestation was real. It took 7 years but here’s the proof that very specific niche dreams can come true.
Shark Stratos Cordless Pet Pro Vacuum, $950.
This led to days and days of research on Youtube and Google to see which vacuum was the best and old men in labcoats on the internet seemed to unanimously vote for the Shark Stratos. I’ve been using it for the past few months and I can confidently say that it holds a special place in my heart.
This is not just a vacuum - it is a life saver. While living in a construction site as I project manage a full blown year-and-a-bit-long renovation post-flooding, the Stratos has been a saviour for what little sanity I have left. I’ve become a social recluse on a cheap sausage diet in which Charlie’s orange juice and ginger beer has become ‘a treat.’ I used to go out to restaurants and drink cocktails but tearing down and rebuilding a home is NOT a cheap side quest.
Being able to swiftly suck up bits of dog toys and cow hooves alongside dog hair, plaster, wood chips, sawdust and more dust, the control that effortless cleaning provides has kept me from fully losing the plot. It’s therapeutic, gratifying and productive all at the same time and the addictive concoction of chemicals released in my brain was fantastic.
And now for the thorough vacuum review that you never knew you needed.
Suction and Battery Power
At first, my partner and I couldn’t agree on whether we should opt for a cordless or corded vacuum because we assumed the latter would provide stronger suction power. If you’re having the same mental quarrel on this topic, let me tell you right now that going cordless is simply life-changing. I can’t believe I lived all these years with a corded vac.
I have a 2 year old pup and there are always bits of hoof and shredded carrots laying around the carpet to show where she’s been during the day. To be honest, my resets were not only reserved for Sunday. It was every time I was high-strung and saw shit on the ground.
On hard surfaces as well as carpet, the Shark Stratos picks up debris effortlessly in one pass due to the dual brushroll design. The front brushroll captures fine particles and the back brushroll has rigid bristles to pull up dirt from the carpet. The best thing about these are that they’re also self-cleaning which means hair, long and short, doesn't wrap around the brushroll!
There’s also three cleaning modes; eco, boost and auto with Shark's impressive CleanSense IQ, which uses an infrared sensor to automatically adapt the power to the amount of debris you’re picking up. It helps maximize battery life and lasts for around 30-40 minutes but if the battery dies, it comes with a second pack so you can switch it out to double the cleaning time if you have a bigger house. If you keep it on boost mode, the suction is super strong and outrageously loud but will only last you 10 minutes. This is usually the mode it feels the need to be in after the builders have left.
Maneuverability
Vacuuming under areas with low clearance such as beds and coffee tables are effortless with its flexible wand. It also has a swivel head design which makes it super easy to manoeuvre around corners. And when it's time to put it away, you don’t need tall cabinetry as the wand folds over for compact storage. She doesn’t take up too much space - very demure, very mindful.
Attachments
If you have pets that aren’t hypoallergenic, you’ll be well-acquainted with the fury of having lovable pestilences that shed everywhere. The pet tool is really great for cleaning upholstery. With each pass you make on your couch, you’ll see a very visible difference as it picks up all the pet hair out of the fibres.
The car kit comes with a bunch of teeny tiny attachments to reach small cat spaces and this is something you need in your life. I have a mid-century pleated paper lamp shade and I really struggled with it being a nuisance of a dust trap but it now sits atop our bedside tables, as fresh as a daisy.
I’ve always been grossed out by the traditional duster so the an anti-allergen attachment is great for catching and sucking up dust on shelves, ledges and side tables which means the spray and wipe action to follow is way easier!
Shark Stratos Cordless Pet Pro Vacuum, $950.
The Shark Stratos Cordless Pet Pro Vacuum Plus with Clean Sense IQ has a massive sale happening at the moment and going for $599.99. If you have pets, kids or wanting a sturdy cordless option that’s not as flimsy as a Dyson, now is the time to get your grubby little hands on this pocket rocket that will turn you into a clean freak in no time!
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