There was a time when a wine or beer spilt on a brand-new couch was a disaster and possibly a call for divorce. Okay, that may be an exaggeration. But when we say this new spot and stain-cleaning device is a relationship game-changer, we’re not exaggerating.
The Shark Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner is a speciality household cleaner that uses a combo of water, suction and powerful premixed cleaning products to tackle stains – both new and old – on upholstery and carpet. We put it to the test in the Your Home and Garden office. Read on to find our honest thoughts.
Your Home and Garden’s verdict
- Our rating: 9/10. It would have been a clear 10/10 if it wasn’t for one pesky con (see below).
Pros
- Six attachments in box including a pet-stain attachment
- Easy to put together
- Easily stored
- Deodorizes stains to leave behind a fresh scent
- Will have your gadget-motivated partner clamouring to clean
Cons
- Tricky to source the cleaning solution – and you’ll go through it FAST
What’s so special about the Shark StainStriker?
It turns out everyone in the Your Home and Garden office has one of ‘those stains’. You know the type. One with a story attached, which has had every stain product known to man thrown at it. For one colleague, it was a beer stain her partner left on the couch a year earlier. Another watched her son “literally wipe his hands on the couch.” There were pet stains and wine stains, and in one case, vomit stains left by a partying Airbnb guest.
Enter the Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner. Wordy, perhaps, but this nifty gadget does exactly what it says on the tin. This dual-action portable spot cleaner is for tackling stains and subsequent weird smells throughout your home. It can be used on carpets, rugs, couches, upholstery, ottomans and more. You can even give your car a going-over with it.
Once the cleaning solution and water combine in the tanks, it’s misted over the stained fibres. Then you use the brush on your chosen attachment to agitate, scrub and loosen the stain. Finally, the high-powered vacuum sucks it all away. Users get to enjoy the very satisfying/gross process of watching the dirty water tank fill, before letting the freshly cleaned area dry. Viola! Like new. (In theory).
How to use the Shark StainStriker?
1. Lift CarpetXpert Tank by the handle to detach it, then remove the cap. Add water to the CarpetXpert Tank up to the Water fill line. Then add Shark Deep Clean Pro Formula to the Concentrate fill line. Do not use water hotter than 140°F (60°C).
2. Reattach the cap, then reinstall the tank until it clicks into place. Lift StainStriker Tank by its sides to remove it, and fill with Shark OXY Multiplier. Replace the cap and tighten it.
3. Reinstall the StainStriker tank until it clicks into place. Attach hand tool of your choice to the crevice tool. Plug the power cord into an electrical outlet and unwrap the hose. Turn on unit to begin cleaning.
SPRAY, SCRUB, EXTRACT
For Wet Stains, follow the Stain Guide located on the hand tool. Turn on using the power button and vacuum up the liquid mess. Spray the stain area. Scrub stain with the bristles, then tilt hand tool forward and drag across stain area to extract liquid. Repeat if needed. To avoid longer dry times, do not over spray. Attach hand tool of your choice to the crevice tool. Plug the power cord into an electrical outlet and unwrap the hose. Turn on unit to begin cleaning. Combining both formulas will give you the best stain-cleaning results.
For Dry Stains, follow the Stain Guide located on the hand tool. Turn on using the power button. Scrub stain with bristles, extract liquid and then spray the stain area. Scrub stain again, then tilt hand tool forward and drag across stain area to extract liquid. Repeat if needed. To avoid longer dry times, do not over-spray.
Results from our test
We passed the StainStriker around the office to put it through its paces.
TEST ONE: The real hero of our trial. Our Head of Digital spent a year lamenting a beer stain on her couch left by her partner. Within five minutes of using the StainStriker wide stain tool, this was the result.
She also used the pet tool attachment to attack some dirt and messes left by a visiting puppy. In her words: “If you asked me to point out a stain on my carpet I could, but I’m not sure any visitor could”.
As any host knows, that’s about the level we all want to be at.
TEST TWO: I won’t go into too much detail, but my brand-new mattress was almost ruined by one of those unexpected monthly stains. I first dabbed at it with a mix of cold water and baking soda, then went over it with the Shark StainStriker regular stain tool.
The result? Almost undetectable. (I chose not to show the ‘before’ for this one as it was a bit grim.)
The best part of it? Both our male, housework-averse partners were extremely excited to use the Shark StainStriker thanks to its gadgety-ness. Seeing the water sucked through the vacuum and the stain vanishing before their eyes made the whole thing a novelty. It seems to be the solution to getting your partner to do the cleaning: throw some tech behind it.
Overall, is the Shark StainStriker worth it?
Absolutely. We were blown away by this nifty little gadget, which also clicks together easily and is small enough to be stored. Word is spreading, and family and friends have vowed to buy one. If there’s a waiting list by the time this article goes live, you can blame us here in the Your Home and Garden office. Just try to stock up on cleaning solutions when you see them on a trip to Farmers or Harvey Norman. It’s the one downfall: the solution can be tricky to get a hold of, is only available in some stores and in our experience, was sold out even when listed as ‘in stock’ on the website. It currently can’t be purchased online. We’d love to see that remedied.
Where to buy the Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
- Shark Clean, $299
- Farmers, $249 (usually $299)
- Harvey Norman, $259
Related articles:
- 5 types of cleaning tools you need
- Deep cleaning: the five tips to help you declutter and refresh your home
- 10 quick cleaning tasks you should be doing daily
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