Shark ZU561 Navigator Lift-Away Speed Plus Self Cleaning Upright Vacuum

The Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum is another great upright vacuum among many models offered by Shark. The Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum allows users to lift and carry the canister while cleaning with the vacuum's wand. The Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum also comes with a unique brush roll that is less tangle-prone than many vacuums' brush rolls.

Design and Features 

• Post-motor HEPA filter: The Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum comes with a HEPA Post-motor filtration system that can be accessed by raising the lid on the front cover. You should clean the HEPA filter with water at least once a year.  
• Pre-motor filters: The pre-motor filters also require that you clean them up to four times a year. The felt and foam filters can be found under the dirt compartment and are easily detachable. 
• Brush roll: The Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum provides a brush roll that is not built for easy detachment. However, you can access it by lifting its cover with a screwdriver. Although Shark perceives the ZU561 Navigator Vacuum's brush roll as self-cleaning, nevertheless, it can still get tangled with pet hairs. 
• Dirt Compartment: the dirt storage space of the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum can be accessed by clicking the unlock button. Like the lint screen, the compartment also requires regular cleaning.

Functions 

• Upright and Lift-Away use: to enjoy more thorough and deep cleaning on hard floors and carpets, the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum can be used as an upright vacuum cleaner. You can also disconnect the bulky pod if you want to clean stairs, furniture and hidden corners. 

• Self-Cleaning brush roll 

The Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum also offers a powerful pet cleaning function on its brush roll. As advertised by its manufacturers, the brush roll offers a self-cleaning function, though we discovered it could get caught in pet hairs sometimes. 

• Allergens trapping function

While the foam and felt filters help in trapping dust, the HEPA filter helps in separating the finer particles from high-pile ones, thereby making cleaning less discomforting for people with allergies. 

• Swivel Steering Technology

With the help of the Swivel Steering function, you can manipulate the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum to reach corners and areas that are difficult to clean.

• Multi-function use

 While the vacuum is specifically suited for hard floors and carpets, it is also very efficient for cleaning furniture upholsteries.

Pros 

• It offers a superb performance on bare floors.
• The cost of maintenance is on a low side.
• It provides one of the most amazing pet hair cleaning function.

Cons 

• It comes with a small vacuum hose
• Not suitable for workshops

Specifications 

Who should buy the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum? 

The Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum is one of many highly efficient and low-cost upright vacuums produced by its manufacturer, so for upright vacuum lovers who don't find a vacuum a little higher than 200 dollars to be on the high side, then the Shark ZU561 Navigator is an ideal pick. In addition, only a few upright vacuum cleaners boast an equally lightweight feature, so for users who will gladly do without bulky canisters on their hands, the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum is also an excellent choice. If you are a pet lover, who wants a worthwhile pet hair vacuum cleaner with less tedious maintenance on its brush roll, then you will find the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum pretty convenient. Considering the Shark ZU561 Navigator offers incredible performance on carpet and hard floors, users of either of these floor types will find the vacuum cleaner attractive.

Review of Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum

• Hard Floor Performance

The Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum offers a terrific performance on hard and bare floors. The vacuum had no difficulty absorbing small and large debris on these two floor types. It was able to record a consistent level of performance till the dirt compartment became filled up. Nevertheless, you may still find little debris hanging out. Additionally, the shark ZU561 Navigator vacuum's brush roll sometimes scatters around tiny amounts of waste in the course of sucking up specks of dirt 

• High and Low-pile carpet performance 

On low-pile carpets, the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum doesn't have any trouble sucking up dirt and waste with the presence of its powerful brush role. Its cleaning function remained impressively uniform till the dirt compartment reached its fill. On a high-pile carpet, the vacuum could also record a good cleaning effort on mounds of sand and flour. However, you may need to repeat the cleaning process a second time to clear the waste completely. 

• Pet Hair Performance

Upon testing the performance of the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum on multiple surfaces with pet hair, the upright vacuum rendered an amazing cleaning job, leaving not even a single strand of hair unpicked. However, it is necessary to state that the brush roll does not offer a flawless self-cleaning function; hence you may need to reach for a screwdriver to untangle possible stuck pet hairs. 

• Noise Level

Compared to most upright vacuums with more powerful motors, the Shark ZU561 Navigator vacuum generates less noise. Nonetheless, if you are using the Shark Navigator, where you are most likely to disturb people nearby, we recommend keeping the door shut. 

• Maneuverability 

Although the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum may not deliver the greatest manipulation technique among all upright vacuums, but the vacuum still provides decent maneuverability. Due to its rotatable head, the Shark Navigator can find its way around obstacles. Nevertheless, its bulky structure may make it difficult for users to reach the underside of furniture and other tight spaces until they switch to the more convenient hand-held mode. 

• Compared to Others

While the more expensive Dyson Ball Animal 2 may offer a much-improved performance on the carpet. On maneuverability, the Dyson Animal Ball 2 also provides a better technique than the Shark ZU561 Navigator vacuum. The Dyson also comes with more brushes and tools than the Shark, and it also covers a longer range than the Shark. However, despite offering almost half the price of the Dyson Ball Animal 2, the Shark ZU561 Navigator vacuum offers better usage for cleaning cars and stairs since it can be switched to the Lift-Away function. The Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum also offers a better dust cup space than the Dyson. 

Compared to the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus, the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum takes the edge in almost all departments. The Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum incurs one of the lowest recurring costs and offers a much bigger dirt storage space when compared to the BISSELL. Despite both vacuums offering similar prices, the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum delivers much superior performance across all floor types. In addition, the Shark vacuum also gives room for switching to the portable handheld Lift-Away version. Nevertheless, the BISSELL comes strong in terms of maneuverability and the ability to suck dirt from rugs without getting in a brawl with rug tassels. 

Compared with the Hoover WindTunnel 2, the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum also takes the day. Although the Hoover WindTunnel comes at a much lower price, it fails to meet the proficiency of the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum on different surface types. However, since the BISSEL has a longer hose, it could provide a more extended reach than the Shark.

Comparison chart: Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum vs Dyson Ball Animal 2 vs BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus vs Hoover WindTunnel 2 Whole House Rewind

Questions about the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum? 

How can I wash the Shark ZU561 Navigator canister? 

To clean the Shark ZU561 Navigator canister, soak it in soapy water and wipe it using a microfiber napkin. After washing and rinsing it in cold water, allow it to dry completely before reinstalling it for reuse. 

How often should I change the Shark ZU561 Navigator filters?

It is highly recommended that you replace the HEPA filter of your Shark ZU561 Navigator every six months. As for your foam and felt filter, we recommend that you get new ones every three months to avoid losing suction power. 

Is the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum HEPA filter washable? 

All the filters attached to the Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum can be washed and reused but requires thorough drying before reuse.

How long can my Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum last? 

Among all upright vacuum brands, Shark is known to come up with upright models that last for several years. So, you should expect your Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum to last for six to seven years. 

Can Shark repair my damaged Shark ZU561 Navigator Vacuum? 

While the manufacturers provide replacements for overused and faulty filters, they don't offer customers repair services on damaged switches, cords and electrical motors. However, you can also get replacements for your cables and go for general tune-up services.