Shark IONFlex 2X DuoClean Ultra-Light Cordless Vacuum (IF251) for Pet, Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaning Hands-on Review

Clean your whole house effortlessly with the new Shark IONFlex 2X DuoClean Vacuum Cleaner!

Do you know what really grinds my gears? The back pain I get whenever I try to reach the hard spots while vacuuming the house. What’s even worse is the moment the cord reaches its limit even though I didn’t cover all the floor yet. It’s just frustrating.

Thankfully, I found a product that solved both those problems and which provides state-of-the-art technology state-of-the-art technology to ensure complete floor and above-floor cleaning. Amazing, right? The product I’m talking about here is the new IONFlex 2X DuoClean Cordless vacuum by Shark.

If you’re someone who loves exploring the wonders of the cleaning industry, you must have heard of Shark, which is a leading company in this field. Shark Clean follows the market’s latest standards and provides quality products tailored to customers’ needs. Clients have been satisfied with their products for as long as they’ve been there. I’ve known Shark for a long time now as I own the Dyson V8 and the newest V10, but we’ll get to that later.

Now, is this really the product you’re looking for?

You must be wondering “That product looks interesting and all, but is it really what I’m looking for?”. I’ve been there myself before buying the vacuum, and the answer to that question depends on several factors.

• Are you a housewife trying to get a vacuum that can get to any spot in the house? Yes? Then this product is for you.
• Are you a neat freak that can’t stand leftovers on the floor after cleaning it with the vacuum? Yes? Then this product is for you.
• Are tired of moving the cord around in your condo and looking for an effective easy-to-use solution to that? Yes? Then this product is for you.
• Are you always running out of batteries while vacuuming? Yes? Then this product is for you.

In simple words, you should consider getting the Shark IONFlex 2X if you need a robust and straightforward power machine that can clean your entire floor without having to rely on cords for power and walls for parking due to its unique second removable, rechargeable ION Power Pack lithium-ion batteries.

What will you get?

If you order the IONFlex 2X from stores, you’ll get a package containing the following:

• A Duster Crevice Tool
• A Dusting Brush
• A Wide Upholstery Tool
• An Anti-Allergen Dust Brush, which is perfect for people having asthma or allergies
• A Battery and a Charger, although you can order an extra battery as the vacuum supports two of them, which is what most people do.

How was my experience with it?

Overall

Shark’s cordless vacuum is lightweight, weighing around 8.7 pounds, but it’s still heavier than some of the vacuums that I’ve used before. The head, which can be used separately to clean the car or above the floor areas, weighs around 8 pounds.

Luckily, maneuvering the vacuum is fairly easy, although it can sometimes feel self-propelled. You can switch between hard floor mode and carpet mode. When I use it on the carpet, I find it a bit hard to get it backward once I push it forward. But it is probably due to its incredible suction power. On the other hand, it’s as smooth as silk on vinyl.

Battery life

Now, for the most crucial part: battery life. The first thing that comes to mind while one is about to buy a cordless vacuum is whether the battery life is extended or not, as a poor one defies the purpose. What’s the point of the cordless feature if you have to charge the vacuum frequently? I personally got the two backup batteries when I purchased the device. Each one of them held well over 25 minutes (extended mode) for a total of 50 minutes of usage, which covered a 3000-yard condo just fine.

The battery takes around three and a half hours to charge, add that to the 30-minute cooldown period and you’ll get a 4-hour gap between two successive usages. That’s not much of a problem considering that you don’t usually need to vacuum the house twice in the same day.

What I really like about the power is how sophisticated the wall charger is. It stops charging the batteries automatically once they’re full, and if you plug your Shark IONFlex while the cells are still hot after cleaning, the charger won’t start filling them up with power until they’re cool enough. That means that you can keep the vacuum plugged in all day long without the risk of it getting defected or anything.

Just remember to charge the battery before it goes dark, as that’s bad for ION batteries.

The cordless feature is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had with house equipment. Believe me, once you go cordless, you can’t go back to the hustle and limitation of carrying a cord around. What’s even more convenient is that the vacuum can be self-parked, so no need to look for a wall whenever you want to take a short break.

Usability: A vacuum that bends in the wind

The IONFlex 2X DuoClean Cordless vacuum features the MultiFLEX Technology that gives this machine an added flexibility to get to hard-to-reach spots under the furniture, which makes it the perfect vacuum for an around-the-house cleaning. How did that help me? I don’t have to bend over to clean my cat’s hair under the bed anymore. It’s all a matter of undoing the latch and voila! Carpet cleaned to the fullest!

How did the vacuum perform on my carpet?

One word: MAGIC. While other vacuums took care of cat hair and visible dirt, Shark’s machine dug even deeper and removed the dirt that was buried within the carpet or rugs, thus making them much cleaner. That’s what the DuoClean Technology is about.

For what can you use the vacuum cleaner?

Everywhere! From thick carpets and rugs, hardwood and bamboo floors up to the cove molding. I’ve never seen a vacuum capable of collecting this much dust before.

Other questions you may have

Does the IONFlex 2X DuoClean Cordless vacuum make any annoying sound?

Unless the typical sound of vacuuming bothers you, there’s nothing to worry about here. My dog never complained about the noise, so I’m totally satisfied with it.

How to clean the dust filter?

Just remove the circular and run water through it. You can do this either once a month following the manufacturer’s recommendation, or whenever you feel it’s way too dirty. I personally clean the vacuum once every week or so as the IONFlex 2X is effective and catches a lot of dirt every time.

Where can you store the vacuum?

The IONFlex 2X DuoClean Cordless vacuum can be stored in any closet, under the bed or on the wall mount that comes with it.

Is there something I don’t like about it?

Just minor things

• You can’t detach the roller, so you have to remove the stuck dust manually.
• It’s a bit tall. That wasn’t a problem for me, but a short woman may find that inconvenient.

How does this compare to the Dyson V8?

The Dyson V8 is a bit more expensive than the IONFlex 2X, but a minor price difference doesn’t mean that the first is better than the latter. What I like about Shark’s vacuum is the fact that it comes with a Pet Multi-tool, which is perfect for my life as a dog mommy. Also, IONFlex 2X has the flexibility advantage and the removable battery pack means much longer runtime.

On the other hand, the Dyson V8, which is one of the most expensive vacuum cleaners in the market, offers similar power and a superior HEPA air filter for an allergen-free environment around the house. The Dyson V8 uses a two-tier cyclonic system that removes even the finest dust particles from the air before it reaches the cup, and it’s lighter than the IONFlex 2X.

Each one of those superb vacuums has its own advantages, making them one of the top rivals in the market. But for value pound for pound, the Shark comes out slightly ahead.

How does this compare to the Dyson V10?

The Dyson V10 cost more than the V8, so it is almost twice as expensive as the Shark IONFlex 2X vacuum cleaner. The price increase is due to the 20% more powerful motor than the previous generation. In real-world usage though, it is hard to tell the difference in the upgrade of suction power.

The more useful change is the bin design. Now, the trap door is at the bottom which means that just one press of the trigger and the dust and hairs inside the bin will shoot out straight to your trash bin, similar to a gun’s firing mechanism.

The Dyson V10’s nickel-cobalt-aluminum battery can last up to 60 minutes, but it still can’t compare to the Shark IONFlex’s virtually unlimited runtime due to its practical removable battery packs. All in all, for routine cleaning of your house, the performance difference is small, but the price tag difference is enormous.

Is IONFlex 2X DuoClean Cordless the vacuum cleaner to buy?

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