topic Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket in Home

Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

whitelinen — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 15:15:06 GMT

Anyone have knowledge about the differences between these two? I'm looking for a vacuum that can easily clean carpeted steps; my Dyson just isn't doing the job.

From just a bit of research the Rocket looks like it will do steps effortlessly.

Would appreciate any comments!

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

Havarti — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 15:38:58 GMT

I recently purchased a Shark Professional Rotator and I loved it for several weeks...then, it caught the edge of a mat on the floor, pulling the corner of the mat into the machine. Now it smells like it is burning if I turn it on. I took it to several vacuum repair shops to have it checked out and they all told me Shark is not designed for repair. In fact, they said that no parts are available and many of the closure screws require special tools (not available to them) to even open the machines. They all told me Shark designs them to be "throw-aways". So, be smarter than I was - be careful in your purchase and invest your money wisely in something that will last.

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

blueroses47 — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 15:44:05 GMT

I have both of these. I bought the Lift-away first, and liked it very much as a vacuum, but I too had the problem of the carpeted stairs, and the lift away was still very heavy for that use, and the option of using the accessory brush didn't do a good job.

So, then I bought the Rocket, and I love the Rocket for other things, like surface dirt on the wood floors and small area rugs. It has great power to get up loose dirt type things from the "tops" of surfaces, but I don't think it has the power to lift out deeply imbedded dirt from the installed kind of carpet.

It's great to use on the stairs as far as "ease" of use is concerned, but I know for a fact that those stairs have a lot of small-grained dirt brought in on our shoes from our unpaved road and driveway (looks like gray cement particles, very fine) because I vacuum this stuff up from our other rugs when I use the Lift away, but when I use the Rocket, little is vacuumed up.

Long story short, I'm disappointed that the Rocket doesn't pick up more dirt on the stairs, but it's still a great little vacuum. Periodically I just drag the heavier regular Shark up the stairs, but it's a killer.

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

whitelinen — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 17:35:13 GMT

Thanks so much Havarti & blueroses!

So much to think about . . .

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

FranandZoe — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 18:56:22 GMT

I had a Shark Navigator for about 8 years and it worked great on my carpeted stairs. I recently bought a Rocket and it's terrible on stairs. I feel like the little brush attachment is just dusting the carpet on the stairs not $ucking up dirt. So I just - a few days ago - bought a hand-held Shark vacuum to use on the stairs - it works great.

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

conlt — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 19:27:24 GMT

I have both the Rotator Lift Away Professional and the Rocket. I use them for different applications. I love both. I do not love that the Rocket does not stand-up on it's own. I use the Rotator for a more deep clean and the Rocket for fast jobs.

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

FranandZoe — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 22:51:08 GMT

Not sure what you mean conit - my Rocket stands up on its own.

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

Kitty Galore — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 23:48:31 GMT

I have the shark upright and feel it may be eating up our carpets. Finding areas on our area ruffs that look worn and strangely lined. Ever time in vacuum I find tons of rug which is fine , this could be the reason. I know when we purchased new rugs we were told by the salesperson to NOt use a shark or Dyson they will eat our rugs up and look old before there time. I want very clean rugs , but not to the point of getting rug bare. Has anyone else notice a difference in there rugs . Always used an Oreck before this one .

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

Lynnj — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 23:53:17 GMT

I got the lift away when it was a TSV. I wasn't really impressed. I think my Oreck does a better job. I thought maybe it would grow on me, as I have read so many great reviews, but it hasn't. I should have returned it.

The thing that I really don't like about it is that it seems like I need to go over things several times to get it on the bare floor. My stick Dyson pretty much gets it in one pass, and of course the Oreck gets it too. I've tried moving the dial for the suction different directions, but I know for sure that I am on the setting that should provide the most suction, and it still doesn't pick things up on first pass on bare floors.

I may suggest to you that you forget about the Shark, and see if you have an Oreck store near you. Years ago when I got my Oreck, it was sold together with the upright and the canister. That canister is wonderful, but admit its awkward to use. I think if you are looking for something just for your stairs the Oreck canister may be worth considering.

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

Q4u — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 00:01:09 GMT

On 4/5/2015 Havarti said:
I recently purchased a Shark Professional Rotator and I loved it for several weeks...then, it caught the edge of a mat on the floor, pulling the corner of the mat into the machine. Now it smells like it is burning if I turn it on. I took it to several vacuum repair shops to have it checked out and they all told me Shark is not designed for repair. In fact, they said that no parts are available and many of the closure screws require special tools (not available to them) to even open the machines. They all told me Shark designs them to be "throw-aways". So, be smarter than I was - be careful in your purchase and invest your money wisely in something that will last.

Interesting, I didn't realize this either, I imagine most people don't realize.... I just bought the Shark Professional and LOVE IT and it has exceptional product reviews.

I had a Dyson Animal that blew its clutch a couple of months after the warranty was up (figures).... took it to have it repaired... $170 to replace the clutch and labor. A few months later, the clutch blew again! So basically I had a $550 + $170 throw away!

I am SO sick of vacuums I could spit and I think I've tried all of them. I even have an old used, refurbished Kirby which does a great job, especially on high piles. But it's like lifting a Mack Truck and has no attachments and won't go under furniture.

I'm very happy with the Shark I bought and if it ever breaks ... well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Meanwhile, it sounds like you got some of the rubber caught up inside your machine, I'm sorry to hear the thing can't even be opened up....

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

Q4u — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 00:04:15 GMT

BTW... Oreck sells a wheel set for their cannister!! I also have an Oreck (again, no tools) and it does a good job. I also love the cannister but found it was so awkward to use so I purchased the wheel set and it follows me around pretty well when I want to do the stairs or smaller areas. It tips over occasionally, but they all seem to do this and frankly I found the wheels and tipping over far less troublesome than hoisting it over my shoulder or holding it.....

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

whitelinen — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 02:20:47 GMT

Thanks to all of you; I appreciate all of your comments.

Still not able to make a decision. I currently have a Dyson Animal and another, smaller Dyson I can't think of the name, it's a number, and isn't that annoying.

The Animal is so loud it's deafening. Both of them do not really pick up large pieces of debris. And neither do the stairs well (I have two sets of carpeted stairs).

Frannie, I looked at the Shark handheld on Amazon, and I think I'm going to try it; looks like it may work great on my stairs and as a plus it will work in the cars.

Thanks so much for your rec!! Your suggestion saves me a lot of $$$!!!

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

lilypadfrog — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 02:57:08 GMT

I bought the shark navigator liftaway from Amazon. I was having trouble getting my stairs clean so I called their customer service. They said the attachments that came with the machine I bought would not do heavily ""furred"" steps. I have golden retriever. She talked me into buying a turbo head for 19.95. It has worked very very well so I am thrilled. I also had difficulty getting suction on my tile floor so she told me how to adjust the suction by turning part of the handle. I would suggest to anyone to go to the shark site to check out what attachements and parts are available. Just give them a call and ask questions. Worked for me.

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

shannara — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 04:43:16 GMT

I have and like both models. I didn't realize at first that I could take the handheld part and attach it directly to the motorized main vacuum head. It's like a full size vac for a toddler. I use it this way on the stairs rather than using any attachments and I think it does a great job. I also didn't realize that there was a hook near the bottom of the tube that holds the handheld unit for storage. It stands on it's own this way without having to prop it up. It was so easy to put together that I never bothered reading the instruction book until I went to check on filter cleaning directions. I was always a Hoover girl, but I love the Sharks now.

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

RainyDayGal — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 05:40:55 GMT

I want the Rotator Power Lift Away with the pet attachment that you see on the infomercial. Not cheap by any means but it's on my list.

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

FranandZoe — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 22:17:22 GMT

On 4/5/2015 whitelinen said:
Thanks to all of you; I appreciate all of your comments.

Still not able to make a decision. I currently have a Dyson Animal and another, smaller Dyson I can't think of the name, it's a number, and isn't that annoying.

The Animal is so loud it's deafening. Both of them do not really pick up large pieces of debris. And neither do the stairs well (I have two sets of carpeted stairs).

Frannie, I looked at the Shark handheld on Amazon, and I think I'm going to try it; looks like it may work great on my stairs and as a plus it will work in the cars.

Thanks so much for your rec!! Your suggestion saves me a lot of $$$!!!

Glad to help - thanks! Got mine at Walmart.

Re: Shark Lift Away vs. Shark Rocket

FranandZoe — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 22:18:37 GMT

I had an Oreck for awhile but it did lose suction. Didn't think it was as good as the Shark.