Tried and tested: Dominique McMullan tries out Shark’s cordless vacuums

The Shark Cordless Detect Pro is a vacuum, but better. It’s light and cordless, so no hauling a heavy machine around the house, unplugging and plugging as you go. I didn’t realise until now how much that actually irritated me and prevented me from quickly cleaning up small messes until I used this appliance. Vacuuming the stairs in particular has always been an issue for me, but along with the cordless nature of the Detect Pro, the size and weight mean you vacuum the stairs with ease. It has an hour-long battery life and when it needs charging, you just have to pop it into the very attractive charging dock, which fits neatly into any corner, and does not have to be screwed into the wall. Once docked, the vacuum automatically empties debris into the bagless base. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

The best bit though, is the powerful suction that can pick up nearly anything and the brush roll which adapts and reacts to different dirt (like hair and stepped-on crackers!), and different surfaces (like thick carpets and hard floors), meaning you rarely have to change the head or stick on another nozzle. It also bends flat against the floor and automatically lights up when in darker spaces, making vacuuming under the couch simple, and ensuring you notice any very important Lego pieces.