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Shark Detect Clean & Empty: two-minute review
The Shark Detect Clean & Empty IW4621UKT is designed to take some of the effort out of cleaning your floors. Shark has a reputation for effective, affordable stick vacuums, with several of its models featuring in TechRadar’s list of the best vacuum cleaners. The IW4621UKT is no exception.
The key selling point here is convenience. Its motorized floorhead is designed to tackle human and pet hair without getting tangled, while the detection system boosts power when needed, whether that’s running along the edge of a skirting board or moving from hard tiles to a high-pile carpet. Built-in LED lights also make it easier to spot dust and fur that might otherwise be missed.
Like the Shark PowerDetect Cordless, the IW4621UKT also lands in your home with an auto-emptying dock. This automatically sucks debris out of the vac’s bin into a larger container when you drop it on the dock. It promises to hold up to 45 days’ worth of dust before it needs manually emptying, saving you the faff of emptying a full bin after every clean. Price-wise, the Power Pro sits towards the bottom of the mid-range bracket, and is perhaps the cheapest auto-empty vacuum on the market right now.
In testing, the IW4621UKT proved effective and versatile. While it’s not the most outright powerful vacuum on the market, it handled most everyday messes with ease. The Motorized Pet Tool attachment was particularly effective, making quick work of embedded dog hair on stairs and upholstery.
The sensors also worked well, automatically increasing suction on rugs and reducing it again on hard floors to save battery life. I did notice that the effectiveness of its suction depends on the surface and spill, though. Fine flour scattered on kitchen tiles took a few passes to suck up completely, for example.
I found the design practical and versatile. It’s lighter than a lot of stick vacuums I’ve tested and the unit felt nicely balanced in my hand during longer cleaning sessions. The build feels fairly solid too, even if it doesn’t match Dyson standards. The vac is maneuverable, while the folding hinge makes it adaptable for users of different heights. That setup is also useful for reaching beneath furniture, even if the hinge placement can feel awkward.
The docking base isn’t entirely flawless. The floor stick needs to be attached for auto-emptying, while getting at the main bin requires a bit of reaching if you’ve got it stored in a cupboard. Still, the emptying process itself is quick and generally effective, with only fine particles occasionally left behind in the vacuum.
Battery life is roughly as advertised, lasting close to an hour in Eco mode. That predictably drops off in Detect mode, but I was still able to complete a full clean. It’s worth noting that certain settings can’t be used in certain modes: I wasn’t able to adjust the power vacuuming handheld with the pet attachment, for example.
Battery life is monitored by means of lights on top of the handle, which is also where the mode buttons and status indicator reside. These lights are less precise than a percentage read-out, but the interface is clear on the whole and intuitive enough for anyone to pick up and control the vacuum.
I’ll explore each of these aspects in depth across the sections below, but to summarize my findings here, I think the Shark is a competent, convenient cleaning tool that represents decent value. For most households, the IW4621UKT strikes a good balance of power, intelligence and ease of use. It’s not flawless, but it performs well in extended daily use.
Shark also has a Detect Pro vacuum that’s extremely similar to the Shark Detect reviewed here. I have reached out to my Shark contact to confirm the difference between the two models, and will update this article when I know more.
Shark Detect Clean & Empty review: price & availability
- List price: £248
- Launch date: 2024
- Availability: UK
The Shark Detect Clean & Empty IW4621UKT launched in 2024. At that point, it had an official list pice of £449, which is in the premium bracket. However, at time of writing, the price has dropped to a far more affordable £248, which is in the lower-mid range. While it’s no longer available to buy directly from Shark, the IW4621UKT is still stocked at third party retailers including Amazon.
That price includes the main vacuum unit and flexible floor wand, as well as the auto-emptying dock, a Duster Crevice Tool and a Motorized Pet Tool.
The IW4621UKT’s current retail price represents solid value. You’re getting a fair amount of vacuum for your money, with features such as dirt-detection and auto-emptying usually reserved for premium models. The pet attachment is a welcome bonus, too.
However, it’s worth noting that the lack of official availability could make sourcing replacement filters or accessories trickier in the future. If you plan to keep it long-term, it’s worth contacting Shark directly to confirm ongoing parts support.
- Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5
Shark Detect Clean & Empty specs
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Weight (handheld unit w/ no attachments): |
3.1 lbs / 1.4kg |
|
Weight (with wand and floorhead): |
6.6 lbs / 3kg |
|
Dimensions (H x L x W): |
43 x 13.9 x 10.4in / 109.2 x 35.3 x 26.4cm |
|
Floorhead width: |
8.2in / 20.9cm |
|
Onboard bin capacity: |
0.42L |
|
Dock bin capacity: |
2L |
|
Max suction: |
Not stated |
|
Max runtime: |
60 mins advertised, 55 mins on test |
|
Charge time: |
5 hours |
Shark Detect Clean & Empty review: design
- Relatively lightweight and balanced in the hand
- Folding hinge adds flexibility
- Docking base integrates charging and emptying
The Detect Clean & Empty doesn’t reinvent the vacuum, following a similar design language to Shark’s other cordless sticks – the Shark Detect Pro Cordless in particular. With a muted ‘Cloudy Blue’ colorway, it’s functionally attractive rather than flashy. The white and silver-blue finish blends in well with modern decor, with the slim, streamlined look giving it a neat appearance even when stood on its dock.
The focus here is squarely on functionality and ease. The version I tested includes a flexible floor wand, auto-emptying base and charging dock, plus two key attachments for handheld use: the crevice and motorized pet tool. Together, these make for a flexible setup that can handle everything from quick spot cleans to whole-house vacuuming.
The vacuum itself feels tidy. The main handheld unit is neatly proportioned and nicely weighted. The handle isn’t exactly sculpted, but it’s ergonomic enough to sit naturally in the hand and feel comfortable during longer clean-ups. Shark has thought about the center of gravity too, which helps when wielding the IW4621UKT around the house.
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Weight-wise, the IW4621UKT is among the lighter models on the market. Together with a head that feels easy to wheel, plus hinges in all the right places, the result is a vacuum that’s usefully maneuverable. It felt easy to whip around different rooms, around and under furniture.
The materials here are mostly matte plastic with metallic accents. While it doesn’t feel as solid as the best Dyson vacuums, it’s sturdy enough for daily use. It helps that the design feels cohesive and considered.
Take the hinge in the middle of the wand – a Shark signature. It does interrupt the otherwise clean lines of the shaft, but its usefulness can’t be overstated: the folding design lets you reach easily under furniture, while also accommodating different user heights. The only negative is that it’s stiff to unclip. Just as the wand itself locks into place top and bottom, the hinge latches securely when vertical.
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Similarly, a relatively firm foot is required to release the floorhead from its standing position at 90-degrees to the vertical. The head houses Shark’s Anti Hair Wrap roller, which uses rubber fins to agitate carpet fibers, and has features designed to prevent hair or fur tangling around as it spins. The floorhead also features a row of LED headlights which illuminate dust and debris. These don’t just look the part: they cleverly move over to one side when the head detects an edge alongside.
I found setup pretty straightforward. The wand, floorhead and main unit click together intuitively, as do the base, bin and stand of the auto-empty dock. The base unit’s relatively small footprint make it easy to place, while its plain matte finish helps it to hide in plain sight. Strangely, there’s only one accessory storage slot, despite two being supplied with the vacuum.
Dock the vacuum and it will charge automatically, so it’s ready to run when you need it. The base is also key to the auto-emptying system. Debris from the vacuum’s internal bin is drawn into a larger receptacle at the bottom of the dock, which can hold more than 6 weeks’ dust before you have to manually empty it. A pull-tabbed top helps you do that, although reaching it can be slightly tricky if the unit’s hidden away in a cupboard.
The control interface lives on top of the handle, where you’ll find a simple two-button setup. One turns the vacuum on and off, while the other lets you toggle between its three modes: Eco for efficiency, Boost for maximum power, and Detect, which automatically adjusts suction based on the surface and how dirty it is.
When the IW4621UKT is powered on, a glowing circular icon changes color to indicate the chosen mode, while a matching illuminated arc spans the top half of the handle’s diameter. This also shifts hue to show when the vacuum is working harder in Detect mode. There’s a four-bar battery readout too, which is clear enough to interpret at a glance, if less precise than a percentage figure.
The overall takeaway is that this is a vacuum which is easy to understand and run right out of the box. It’s simple to assemble and there’s no smart home or app support to worry about, so you can get straight to your chores.
Shark Detect Clean & Empty review: performance
- Excellent suction deals well with pet hair
- Struggles with fine debris on smooth surfaces
- Sensors and auto-emptying work reliably day-to-day
To assess how well the Shark Detect Clean & Empty performs in practice, I tested it over several weeks on hard floors, medium-pile carpets and door mats. I ran several controlled debris tests to benchmark its performance. Pet hair was also a major yardstick, thanks to a black Labrador in the household.
Overall, I found that the IW4621UKT delivers consistent performance that’s well-suited to both general household cleaning and tackling specific, tougher dirt. For most mixed-floor homes, Detect mode does a good job of deciding the right power level, delivering the best balance between suction and run-time. It coasts efficiently on hard floors, before ramping up when it finds a rug.
That gives you the freedom to vacuum blind to some extent, using the flexible wand to reach beneath sofas and tables, knowing that Detect mode will adjust the power to suit whatever’s under there. That bend in the neck also makes low-angle cleaning more manageable.
Carpet is where the Shark does some of its best work, leaving weaves visibly refreshed. It performed particularly well on lower piles, where oats and tea were sucked up with a single sweep. I rarely needed to go over an area twice. The vacuum defaults to Detect mode on carpet, where it audibly and visibly adapted to areas where there was more debris.
Suction was no less impressive on deeper piles, though the noise level did increase noticeably as Detect mode boosted power to the motor. I wouldn’t say the IW4621UKT is an especially loud vacuum, but you can certainly hear when it’s working harder.
On hard floors, it handled larger debris very well. Spilled oats and loose tea were lifted in a couple of sweeps, though its worth noting that the IW4621UKT doesn’t benefit from reverse cleaning like more expensive models like the Shark PowerDetect Cordless, which means it only tackles dirt when it’s moving forward, and causes it to pool up when approached in reverse.
Finer powder proved more problematic. In Eco mode, it took several passes to suck up every trace of flour on smooth kitchen tiles. Boost mode made quicker work, but it seems the rollers aren’t designed to deal with fine particulates.
One thing it can handle is fur. The Motorized Pet Tool proved particularly effective at lifting Labrador fur off stairs and upholstery, something that many cordless cleaners struggle with. The main floorhead’s anti-hair wrap design also worked as advertised, with no tangles after several weeks of use.
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I was impressed by the floorhead’s LED lighting too, which helped to reveal hidden hair and dust on darker floors, while the EdgeDetect system worked well. When I ran the Shark along skirting boards or beside furniture, the LED lights shone towards the relevant side and suction doubled with it. It’s a neat and useful trick that ensures any debris collected near walls doesn’t necessarily need attacking with a crevice tool.
The auto-empty dock broadly delivers on its promises of convenience. Return the vacuum to the base unit and dirt is sucked out of the handheld bin into the larger unit with an audible whoosh. If you don’t want the dock activating every time – or at night – you can hit the quiet mode button on the stand to manually control when it empties. It’s an easy solution that eliminates the need for you to shake out the vacuum over a bin.
On the rare occasion that something is left behind in the hand vac after it auto-empties, you can manually open the dust cup using the release button. This only happened once after cleaning up ultra-fine flour.
Dust containment is another benefit. Shark’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal keeps fine particles contained, with no visible leakage from either the dock or the handheld unit. That’s a welcome benefit for allergy sufferers, helping to limit airborne particles stirred up by cleaning.
Keeping these filters fresh is simply a mater of rinsing and replacing them every so often, a straightforward process with step-by-step instructions in the manual. Otherwise, maintenance is pretty much limited to emptying the dock bin every few weeks, which just means lifting it from the unit and pressing the release button over a dustbin. It’s all quite clever in its slot-in simplicity.
- Performance score: 4 out of 5
Shark Detect Clean & Empty review: battery
- Battery lasts 10 mins in Boost, 55 mins in Eco
- Around 5 hours to fully recharge the battery
- Eco mode not available in all scenarios
Shark rates the Detect Clean & Empty IW4621UKT for up to 60 minutes of cordless runtime. In my tests, that claim proved fairly accurate. In Eco mode, the vacuum ran for around 55 minutes before powering down, close to the advertised figure and enough for general cleaning sessions.
As expected, battery life drops sharply when the power is increased. In Boost mode, battery can drain in as little as 10 minutes, which is typical for a stick vacuum running at full power.
In Detect mode, the IW4621UKT averaged a more useful 35 minutes. Because that setting adaptively adjusts suction power as the sensors identify changes in surface, run-time naturally fluctuates. But for most people, around half-an-hour of use will give enough time to clean several rooms.
Those figures give the IW4621UKT a slightly shorter run-time than the Shark Cordless PowerDetect, but stack up fairly well against other top vacuums.
It’s worth noting that Eco mode isn’t recommended for carpets and can’t be used with the Motorized Pet Tool, which will impact the available runtime. Even so, battery life feels generous enough for everyday use. That’s in part because the dock encourages short, regular cleaning sessions. It’s easy to tackle a room or two, dock it to recharge and empty, then pick it up again later.
Shark officially reckons on a 6 hour 30 minute recharge time, which is very slow. In practice, the IW4621UKT took just under five to fully recharge from empty. That process is fully hands-off: simply return it to the dock and leave it to top up.
You can also elect to charge the battery directly by connecting it to the mains, either with it mounted to or removed from the handheld unit. That setup in theory means you could buy a second battery to swap in for continued cleaning, although this would be overkill for most households.
- Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Shark Detect Clean & Empty?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Value |
Lower mid-range and solid value for money given the features and inclusion of the auto-empty dock. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Design |
Lightweight, flexible and easy to use, with a handy folding hinge and neat dock that combines charging and emptying in one compact unit. |
4 / 5 |
|
Performance |
Reliable adaptive sensors deliver excellent results on carpet and pet hair. Noise can ramp up on deeper piles, while fine dust on smooth floors requires extra passes. |
4 / 5 |
|
Battery |
Delivers close to an hour in Eco mode and 35 minutes in Detect. Slow to recharge but practical for shorter, regular cleans. |
3.5 / 5 |
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How I tested the Shark Detect Clean & Empty Pet
I used the Shark Detect Clean & Empty IW4621UKT as my main household vacuum cleaner for six weeks. I tested it on hard floors, low- and medium-pile carpets, as well as coarse doormats. I used the vacuum to tackle regular tasks like cleaning stairs and upholstery.
Following TechRadar’s vacuum testing protocol, I also ran standardized debris tests on different surfaces using tea leaves, flour and oats. The presence of a black Labrador in the house also provided a useful stress test for the Shark’s pet hair pick-up capabilities.
I also measured runtime across the Eco, Detect and Boost modes and put the vacuum through several charge cycles. During my time testing the IW4621UKT, I paid particular attention to its maneuverability and usability, as well as its noise levels and the effectiveness of the auto-empty base, to form an overall impression of how easy it is to live with.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed October 2025
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christian.rowlands@me.com (Chris Rowlands)
