Shark Robot Vacuum maintenance: how to clean and empty

shark robot vacuum clean empty
The maintenance of a Shark robot vacuum cleaner consists of cleaning and emptying. © Vacuumtester
In short: the maintenance of a Shark robot vacuum cleaner consists of regularly emptying the dust container and cleaning various parts. You also need to replace various parts in time to maintain the quality of the Shark robot vacuum cleaner. View replacement parts here.

A robot vacuum cleaner must be well maintained. This often goes much further than just emptying the dust container. With a robot vacuum, you also have to deal with sensors that must be kept clean.

I've decided to write a complete guide to maintaining a Shark robot vacuum. In this guide I will tell you, among other things, how best to empty the robot vacuum, how to wash the filters and when to replace parts.

Why clean a Shark robot vacuum?

The maintenance of a vacuum cleaner is very important, especially with a robot vacuum cleaner. You are dealing here with many parts that you have to clean properly. Think of sensors, various (side) brushes and wheels.

By properly maintaining a Shark robot vacuum, you often prevent the following problems:

  • Nasty, smelly odors
  • Increased dust emissions
  • Less good obstacle detection
  • Scratch your floor
  • Reduction of suction power

So, to avoid the above problems, it is good to delve into the cleaning activities of the Shark robot vacuum cleaner.

How to empty the Shark robot vacuum cleaner?

Let's start emptying the robot vacuum cleaner. In many cases, a robot vacuum cleaner has a much smaller dust container than, for example, a canister vacuum cleaner. The dust container will therefore have to be emptied after each cleaning.

Fortunately, emptying the Shark robot vacuum is an easy job. To do this, follow the steps below.

  1. Click the dust container out of the robot vacuum cleaner (press the two buttons on the front towards each other)
  2. Keep the dust container upright to prevent dust and dirt from falling out
  3. Click open the cover at the top of the dust container
  4. Empty the dust container above the trash can
  5. Check whether there is dirt between the filter and the plastic rim; remove this if necessary with a dry cloth or brush
emptying shark robot vacuum
As you can see, it is necessary to clean this dust container well. © Vacuumtester

Optional: Empty Shark Base

If you have a self-emptying robot vacuum cleaner, for example the Shark IQ with the charging and emptying station, you will also have to empty it. From experience I can report that you will have to empty the Shark Base approximately every two weeks.

To do this, follow the steps below.

  1. Click the button on top of the Shark Base to slide out the dust container on the left
  2. Hold the dust container over the trash can and only then open the lid to empty it
  3. Gently tap the back of the dust container to remove any remaining dirt and dust
how to empty shark robot vacuum
The Shark Base dust container should be emptied approximately every 2 weeks. © Vacuum tester

By the way, don't think that you will never have to remove the dust container from your Shark again: you should keep checking it every now and then for dirt. It also doesn't hurt to run a clean (dry) cloth through it sometimes.

Don't think that you will never have to remove the dust container from your Shark again: you should keep checking it every now and then for dirt.

Shark robot vacuum cleaner cleaning and replacing filters

To maintain low dust emissions, it is important to regularly clean the filter in the robot vacuum cleaner. Important: this is a non-washable filter. So you can't clean it with water. However, you can maintain it well with the following steps:

  1. Remove the dust container from the robot vacuum cleaner
  2. Remove the filter from the dust container by clicking the side buttons
  3. Gently shake and knock out the filter to remove dust from the filter

Just shaking out the filter is not enough in the long run. You will also have to replace it regularly.

Shark robot vacuum cleaner filter replacement: to maintain low dust emissions, it is necessary to replace the filters regularly. It is recommended to replace the Shark filter with a new one every 2 months. View the prices here.

Cleaning Shark Base Filter

Where we have just emptied the dust container on the left, we now have to clean the filter on the right. You can click the lid on the right up high, after which the filter is immediately visible.

Slide the filter out of the Shark Base and wash it with water. Do this caution and take care not to damage the filter. After cleaning, let it dry for at least 24 hours before using it again; it must be completely dry.

cleaning shark robot vacuum filters
You can clean the filter in the Shark Base with water. © Vacuumtester
Shark Base Filter Replacement: Although the filter is washable, you will also need to replace it regularly. Shark recommends doing this every two months. Fortunately, a new filter does not cost that much: you can even buy them cheaply in several at the same time. View the prices here.

Cleaning brushes, wheels and sensors

As I mentioned in the introduction, cleaning a Shark robot vacuum consists of much more than just emptying the dust container. For example, we also have to deal with sensors that must ensure that the robot vacuum cleaner detects and avoids obstacles.

Shark robot vacuum cleaner cleaning brushes

The brushes of a vacuum cleaner can quickly become entangled with hair. If a brush does not rotate as well, this has a negative impact on the suction performance. For example, removing animal hair will be less easy and a lot of dirt can remain on the floor.

A Shark robot vacuum cleaner has several brushes. For example, there is a large motorized floor brush on the underside of the robot vacuum cleaner and two side brushes on either side of the vacuum cleaner.

You can easily click the floor brush out of the vacuum cleaner, after which you can remove hairs. Cleaning the side brushes is also easy: just wipe the ends with a dry cloth.

Shark Base Brush Replacement: Shark recommends replacing the floor brush between 6 and 12 months. This reduces the risk of damage to vulnerable wooden floors. View replacement brushes here.

Do you find that a side brush is bent or damaged? Then you also need to replace it. With every Shark robot vacuum cleaner you get replacement brushes with your purchase. Check if you still have these or view new side brushes here.

Cleaning and replacing wheels

To be able to navigate properly, a Shark robot vacuum cleaner is equipped with several wheels. It concerns two large rubber wheels and a swivel wheel at the front. It is important to regularly check these wheels to see if they still turn properly.

You can easily remove the swivel wheel at the front from the housing. Remove dust and hair from the wheel and also check the housing for dirt. Then reinstall the caster by snapping it into the housing.

You can easily dust off the rubber wheels. Rotate them by hand while dusting them to clean them.

Shark robot vacuum cleaner replacement wheels: when the wheels of the Shark robot vacuum cleaner no longer rotate properly, it is smart to replace them. The swivel wheel at the front should be replaced with a new one every 6 to 12 months. View replacement wheels here.

Cleaning sensors

Finally, it is also important to regularly clean the sensors of the Shark robot vacuum cleaner. This prevents the robot vacuum from avoiding obstacles as well and, for example, as damaging furniture or driving down stairs.

Cleaning the sensors is simple: gently wipe the sensors on the underside of the robot vacuum cleaner with a dry clean cloth. Also take the charging points with you. You can also find this on the underside of the robot vacuum cleaner and on the Shark Base.

Robbert Tigchelaar
Robbert Tigchelaar

Robbert Tigchelaar has made testing vacuum cleaners his life's work. He has dedicated himself to conducting fully independent and valuable tests of vacuum cleaners to provide consumers with honest advice. His expertise in vacuum cleaners has been highlighted in The Washington Post and the Daily Express.

6 Comments
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  1. how to replace sensor brushes ,one brush doesn”t turn freely like it should ,don t know how to remove itemail

  2. the one feeler brush does not turn all the time ,the machine shuts down, notice the brush turns hard

  3. The filter on my Shark Robot vacuum is really dirty. I’ve brushed it as well as I can, and was hoping to remove the tiny screw to clean inside, but the multiple tiny tips on my smallest screwdriver don’t seem to fit properly and I’ve been unable to remove the screw.

    Why can’t I rinse it with water and leave it to dry for a few days?

    • Hi Lily, that’s a logical thought. However, not all filters are made of materials that can be wet. Washing a non-washable filter can result in a non-functional filter, odors, and in the worst case, a malfunctioning robot vacuum. So, be cautious.

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