Review: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E – Your Ultimate Cleaning Companion

Are you searching for a vacuum cleaner that tackles tough messes, accommodates allergies, and offers unparalleled versatility without breaking the bank? The search for a truly effective and adaptable vacuum can feel endless, with countless models promising the world. But what if there was a powerful, feature-rich upright vacuum that could transform into a portable canister with the push of a button, making every cleaning challenge manageable? Enter the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E, a cleaning powerhouse designed to simplify your chores and leave your home spotless. This comprehensive review will delve into every aspect of the NV356E, helping you decide if this popular model is the ideal choice for your household.

Unveiling the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E is more than just an upright vacuum; it’s a versatile 2-in-1 cleaning system engineered to handle a multitude of tasks. At its core, the NV356E combines robust suction power with an innovative detachable canister design, offering the flexibility to clean both floors and above-floor areas with ease. Initially launched around 2011, this model quickly became a bestseller for Shark, cementing its reputation as a reliable and effective solution for everyday cleaning.

The “Professional” designation of the NV356E often distinguishes it from earlier or more basic Lift-Away models, typically featuring a larger dust cup and sometimes enhanced attachments like the Hard Floor Hero. This vacuum is particularly aimed at homeowners who need strong performance on various floor types, including carpet and hard floors, and those who require excellent allergen filtration. Its unique Lift-Away capability makes it especially appealing to individuals with stairs, upholstery, or tight spaces that traditional uprights struggle to reach.

Deep Dive into Key Features and Specifications

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E boasts a suite of features designed to enhance your cleaning experience and deliver impressive results. Understanding these core components will help you appreciate its capabilities.

Lift-Away Technology

The hallmark of the Navigator series, the Lift-Away feature allows you to detach the main canister from the upright frame. This instantly transforms the vacuum into a lightweight, portable canister, perfect for reaching previously inaccessible areas. Imagine effortlessly cleaning stairs, upholstery, drapes, or even your car interior without lugging the entire upright unit. The Lift-Away mode grants exceptional flexibility, making tough cleaning jobs surprisingly simple.

Shark Navigator Lift-Away vacuum in canister mode for versatile cleaning

Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology & HEPA Filter

For allergy sufferers, the NV356E is a breath of fresh air. It incorporates Shark’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, which, when combined with a HEPA filter, captures 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum. Unlike many vacuums that might leak dust and allergens back into the air through small gaps, this sealed system ensures that microscopic particles are trapped, promoting a cleaner and healthier home environment. The HEPA filter, crucial for trapping fine particles, is strategically located post-motor, preventing motor carbon bits or metal particles from entering the exhaust air.

Powerful Suction & Brushroll

Equipped with a powerful 1200-watt motor, the NV356E delivers robust suction across various surfaces. The motorized brushroll is highly effective at deep cleaning carpets, agitating fibers to pull out embedded dirt and pet hair. For hard floors, the vacuum offers a convenient brushroll shutoff feature, allowing you to instantly switch to gentle bare floor cleaning without scattering debris. This dual functionality ensures optimal performance whether you’re tackling plush carpets or delicate hardwood.

Lightweight Design & Maneuverability

Weighing in at approximately 14-16 pounds (depending on the exact variant and accessories), the NV356E is considered lightweight for an upright vacuum. Its swivel steering provides excellent control, allowing you to effortlessly maneuver around furniture, corners, and tight spaces. While some users might find its turning radius less agile than ball-style vacuums, it still offers significantly better handling than many stiff, standard upright models. The well-balanced design makes it easy to push and pull, although some users note a slight “tractor forward” tendency on high-pile carpets.

Attachments and Accessories

The NV356E typically comes with a useful array of attachments to tackle specialized cleaning tasks:

• Pet Power Brush: A motorized brush designed specifically to lift pet hair and dander from upholstery, stairs, and car interiors.
• Crevice Tool: Ideal for reaching into tight corners, along baseboards, and between couch cushions. Variants may include both 8-inch and 24-inch tools for extended reach.
• Dusting Brush: Soft bristles gently clean delicate surfaces like blinds, lampshades, and fan blades without scratching.
• Hard Floor Hero (or Dust-Away Attachment): A micro-fiber pad attachment specifically designed to pick up fine dust and larger debris from bare floors, often praised for its effectiveness on hardwood.

Shark Navigator NV356E vacuum with various cleaning attachments displayed

Performance Review: Pros and Cons

Like any home appliance, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E has its strengths and weaknesses. A balanced understanding of these will help you determine if it aligns with your expectations.

Advantages of the Shark Navigator NV356E

• Powerful Cleaning Performance: Users consistently praise its strong suction, especially on carpets, where it effectively pulls out embedded dirt and pet hair. It can even restore some loft to matted carpet areas.
• Exceptional Versatility: The signature Lift-Away feature transforms it into a portable canister, making above-floor cleaning, stairs, and tight spaces incredibly easy. The long hose (around 8.5 feet) further extends its reach.
• Superior Allergen Filtration: The combination of Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and a HEPA filter ensures that 99.9% of dust and allergens are captured, making it an excellent choice for allergy sufferers.
• Good Value for Money: Often available at a competitive price point, the NV356E delivers features and performance comparable to more expensive vacuums. It’s considered an excellent budget-friendly option.
• Effective on Hard Floors: With the brushroll shutoff and often an included Hard Floor Hero attachment, it performs admirably on bare floors, picking up both fine dust and larger debris without scratching.
• Ease of Maintenance: The bagless design means no recurring bag costs. The foam and felt filters are washable, and the dust cup is easy to empty, contributing to lower long-term maintenance expenses.

Potential Drawbacks

• Noise Level: While some describe it as “less noisy than average” in hard floor mode, it operates at around 80 dB, which is noticeable. It might not be the quietest vacuum on the market, especially with the brushroll engaged on carpets.
• Weight in Handheld Mode: While the Lift-Away pod is designed for portability, some users find it a bit heavy (around 14-16 lbs) for extended periods of handheld use, especially when cleaning higher areas.
• Narrow Cleaning Path: With a cleaning path of about 9.25 to 9.5 inches, it may require more passes to cover large areas compared to vacuums with wider heads.
• Limited Carpet Pile-Height Adjustment: The NV356E typically lacks manual pile-height adjustment, though it generally performs well on most carpet types. However, some users report difficulties with very long pile or fluffy shag carpeting.
• Maneuverability on Tight Turns: While swivel steering aids general movement, some find its turning radius less precise for very sharp, swift turns compared to some competitors.

How the NV356E Stacks Up: Comparisons

Understanding where the NV356E fits within the broader vacuum market, and even its own product family, can clarify its unique position.

NV356E vs. Other Shark Navigator Models

The Shark Navigator lineup includes several popular models, with the NV356E often compared to the NV352 and NV360. Generally, the NV356E Professional model tends to be the most feature-rich of these three, often boasting a larger dust bin capacity (around 2.42 liters compared to 1.32 liters on the NV352 and NV360). It also frequently comes with a longer power cord (30 feet vs. 25 feet) and may include the specialized Hard Floor Hero attachment, which significantly enhances its hard floor cleaning capabilities. All three models share the core Lift-Away functionality and Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology with HEPA filters, making them excellent choices for allergy sufferers.

NV356E vs. Competitor Vacuums

In its price range, the NV356E often outperforms many competing uprights in terms of suction power, filtration, and versatility. While higher-end brands might offer more advanced features like automatic brushroll adjustments or quieter operation, the NV356E provides exceptional value. Its Lift-Away mode gives it an edge over traditional uprights by offering handheld portability, a feature often only found in more expensive models or dedicated stick vacuums. For those on a budget seeking a robust and versatile cleaning solution, the NV356E stands out as a strong contender.

Maintaining Your Shark Navigator NV356E

Regular maintenance is key to ensuring your Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E continues to perform at its best. Taking a few simple steps will help maintain optimal suction power and prolong the life of your vacuum.

Cleaning Filters

The NV356E has three important filters: two pre-motor filters (foam and felt) and one post-motor HEPA filter.

• Pre-Motor Filters (Foam and Felt): These should be cleaned regularly, ideally monthly or every three months depending on usage. To clean them, remove the dust cup, lift out the filters, and tap off any loose debris. Rinse them thoroughly under cold water only – never use soap or harsh detergents, as they can damage the filter material. Squeeze out excess water and allow them to air-dry completely for at least 24 hours before reinserting. Ensure they are bone dry to prevent mildew and damage to the motor.
• HEPA Filter: This filter typically requires less frequent cleaning, usually once a year. To access it, you’ll generally find a door at the bottom of the motor housing. Gently brush off any accumulated debris. While some sources suggest rinsing it with cold water, always consult your specific manual, as some HEPA filters are designed for dry brushing only. If rinsing is permitted, ensure it air-dries for a full 24 hours before reinstallation.

Emptying the Dust Cup

The bagless dust cup should be emptied after every use or when debris reaches the “Max Fill” line. To empty, simply press the release button to detach the dust cup from the vacuum. Then, press the lower release button to open the bottom flap and dispose of the contents into a trash can. For a deeper clean, the dust cup can be wiped down with a damp cloth.

Brushroll Maintenance

Periodically check the brushroll for tangled hair, strings, or debris. If needed, use scissors or a seam ripper to carefully cut and remove any tangled material. Keeping the brushroll clear ensures it rotates freely and effectively picks up dirt and hair.

Is the Shark Navigator NV356E the Right Vacuum for You? (Buying Guide)

Choosing the right vacuum means aligning its capabilities with your specific cleaning needs and lifestyle. The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E is an excellent choice for a variety of households, but consider these factors before making your decision:

1. Assess Your Floor Types: If your home features a mix of carpet and hard floors, the NV356E’s ability to switch between brushroll engagement and gentle bare floor cleaning (especially with the Hard Floor Hero) makes it highly effective. It excels on low to medium pile carpets.
2. Consider Pet Ownership: Its powerful suction and dedicated Pet Power Brush make it a strong contender for homes with pets, efficiently tackling fur and dander on various surfaces.
3. Are Allergies a Concern? The Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and HEPA filter provide superior air filtration, capturing common allergens and making your home environment healthier.
4. Evaluate Your Cleaning Tasks: If you frequently clean stairs, upholstery, ceilings, or inside your car, the Lift-Away feature offers incredible convenience and eliminates the need for a separate handheld vacuum.
5. Determine Your Budget: Positioned in a mid-range price bracket, the NV356E offers premium features and strong performance, delivering exceptional value for its cost.

If versatility, strong suction, and advanced filtration are high on your priority list, and you appreciate the flexibility of a 2-in-1 design, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E could be an indispensable tool in your cleaning arsenal.

Shark: A Reputable Brand in Vacuum Technology

Shark has established itself as a leading brand in the home cleaning industry, known for its innovative designs, powerful suction technology, and commitment to addressing common consumer pain points like pet hair and allergens. Part of SharkNinja, a company that also produces popular kitchen appliances, Shark vacuums are celebrated for offering high-performance solutions at accessible price points. The brand consistently introduces features like Lift-Away technology, Anti-Allergen Complete Seal systems, and specialized brushrolls, earning the trust of millions of users worldwide. Their reputation for quality and continuous innovation makes Shark a go-to choice for reliable cleaning appliances.

Conclusion

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E stands out as a highly effective and incredibly versatile Vacuum Cleaner, offering a compelling blend of power, portability, and advanced filtration. Its innovative Lift-Away technology allows you to seamlessly transition from deep carpet cleaning to targeted above-floor tasks, making every corner of your home accessible. With its robust suction, Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, and HEPA filter, it’s particularly well-suited for households with pets or allergy sufferers. Considering its strong performance and feature set, the NV356E offers exceptional value, cementing its position as a favorite among those seeking a reliable and adaptable cleaning solution.

Could the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E be the missing piece in your home cleaning strategy?

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean the filters on my Shark NV356E?

The pre-motor foam and felt filters should be rinsed with cold water every 1-3 months, depending on usage, and air-dried completely for at least 24 hours. The post-motor HEPA filter requires cleaning less frequently, typically once a year, by tapping or gently brushing off debris.

Is the Shark Navigator NV356E good for pet hair?

Yes, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E is highly effective for pet hair. Its powerful suction, motorized brushroll, and included Pet Power Brush attachment are specifically designed to pick up embedded pet hair and dander from carpets, upholstery, and hard floors.

Can the Shark NV356E be used on hard floors?

Absolutely. The NV356E features a brushroll shutoff function, allowing you to turn off the spinning brush for gentle bare floor cleaning. Many professional models also come with a Hard Floor Hero or Dust-Away attachment that uses a microfiber pad to effectively clean fine dust and debris from hard surfaces without scratching.

What is the “Lift-Away” feature and how does it benefit me?

The “Lift-Away” feature allows you to detach the canister from the main vacuum body, transforming it into a lightweight, portable canister. This makes it incredibly easy to clean stairs, upholstery, drapes, car interiors, and other hard-to-reach areas that a traditional upright vacuum cannot access.

How heavy is the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E?

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E typically weighs between 14 to 16 pounds. While it’s lightweight for an upright vacuum, some users might find the detached canister slightly heavy for extended overhead cleaning tasks.