The best vacuum for allergies often comes with caveats, but the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV356E has very few. It’s strong against pet hair, yet is capable of being the best vacuum for long hair. And it’s versatile too, making it a candidate as the best vacuum for hardwood floors. If its HEPA filter doesn’t impress, there’s always the best vacuum for allergies in year 2021. If you’re interested in more vacuum options, check out our best vacuum cleaner reviews.
Why We Like It – Shark Navigator Lift Away NV356E
Keep your cleaning momentum going with the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV356E, thanks to its lift-away canister that allows for quick switching from floor cleaning, to tackling stairs and hard-to-reach places.
- Suction power + HEPA filter captures 99.9% of particulates
- Vacuums hard floors, carpets & upholstery
- Canister can lift away
- Hard floor attachment is sold separately
Power
Combining suction power and HEPA filtering, you’ll find Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Vacuum Cleaners capture 99.9% of particulates, reducing the overall number of allergy attacks. And its Dust Away attachment can capture more dust on hardwood and tile. Upholstery isn’t safe either; the crevice tool can suck up any hidden crumbs. And carpeting has particles as small as 0.3 microns ripped from the root and air. If you live in an apartment or condo, keep in mind the noise level produced by the vacuum’s power and what time is okay to vacuum in an apartment.
Related: Read our Shark Navigator Lift-Away review to keep your laminated floors squeaky clean
Speed & Efficiency
Its power is what gives it its speed, reducing the number of times you have to pass over an area. But its lift-away canister also gives you the opportunity to go from cleaning carpets, to vacuuming steps without needing to carry the entire unit, unlike the Miele Complete C3 Marin.
Bin Capacity & Maintenance
Keeping Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuums is key, considering it uses a bagless design, unlike the Kenmore Elite Vacuum. Rinse it out occasionally and it’ll be fine! Also unlike stick vacuums, it doesn’t have a tiny dust cup, so take advantage of all 2.08 liters. Consider reading the manual on how to take care of your vacuum, like how to fix a vacuum hose.
Related: Check out our Shark Rocket Corded Ultra-Light review
Durability
It isn’t surprising Shark Professional Lift-Away Shark Vacuums are made with cheaper material. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, since it keeps cost low. It also means it’s easy to carry, yet still durable.
Value
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV356E is best left in the hands of someone who wants to put in the work to clean. It has just about everything you need, though it is missing a valuable hard floor attachment, which is sold separately. Thankfully, its base model is already incredibly affordable. For hands-off cleaning, get the iRobot Roomba 960 Robot Vacuum.
Shark Navigator Lift Away NV356E Wrap Up
Despite lacking a hard floor attachment, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV356E can still vacuum hard floors—just adjust the height. Other than that, why skip it? It’s affordable; it can vacuum carpets, hard flooring, and upholstery; its lift-away canister is a great design, and it’s light enough for the elderly to handle.
