HV390UK and HV390UKT Duoclean Review

Pros

• Excellent suction 
• Excellent for homes with pets 
• Excellent for homes with stairs 
• Excellent accessories 
• Uses flexology technology
• Very long cable 
• Effective on all floor types 
• Duo-Clean floorhead 

Cons

• Bin has small capacity 
• Cannot remove brush bar 

Specifications

• 0.9L dustbin
• 4.3kg weight
• HEPA filter
• 450 motor
• 5-year guarantee 

Presenting the Shark HV390UK and HV390UKT

The Shark HV390UK and HV390UKT are the ideal models for those who want something lightweight and easy to handle – as well as flexible enough to reach under the furniture.

For those with pets, the HV390UKT is the best choice as it is powerful enough to cope with any amount of hair thrown at it.

It is a corded stick vacuum cleaner, however, and so may not be quite what you were looking for – especially as cordless models are becoming increasingly popular.

If you would like to have a vacuum cleaner that doesn’t mean you have to switch power sockets regularly, you might find the Shark True Pet Cordless Duo-Clean.

What’s the Difference Between the Two Shark Models? 

One thing Shark will always do well is not having much difference between two types of vacuum from the same range. For these, there are two differences – and only one of them is major. The first is the colour of the wand.

The HV390UK comes in purple, while the HV390UKT is rose gold, and this is so that you can tell which one is the pet version, and which is the non-pet.

The HV390UKT is the pet vacuum and features the other key difference; it comes with a powerful pet tool.

For this reason, the article will focus on the HV390UKT because while it is the same as the HV390UK, it does have the extra tool. ( You will also find way better deals on the pet version and in most cases available at less money) 

Key Features 

Design and Features 

The first thing I noticed about this Shark vacuum cleaner is the brand-new design because it is seriously smart. Sleek and with a matte black finish, it has a slim and modern look that will leave you speechless.

Plus, since I was using the HV390UKT, it has a rose gold tube that finishes the whole thing off perfectly. Putting it together and ready for use was really simple as well. The instructions were easy to follow, and it all clicked together in three steps.

Getting used to the controls takes no time at all either, and accessing the flex tech is just as quick. Speaking of, the flexology technology is what really sold me here. 

Living in a home with very little storage space means that a chunky vacuum won’t normally fit in my cupboards, but this one did.

The bendy hose is perfect for compact storage, but it also means that when you are vacuuming there is no issue with reaching under the furniture to get those hidden fluff balls. It’s seriously good stuff. 

The Duo-Clean head is another big feature here, and it comes with the usual soft brush roll and bristle brush for hard floors and carpets respectively. I’ll go into its cleaning powers later.

With pet hair, or long human hair, the bristle brush can get tangled up pretty quickly. If you flip the head over, you will be able to remove the soleplate so that you can assess the situation. 

This provides you with the opportunity to clean the bar very easily – so you can get rid of all the hair that is wrapped around it. Sadly, the bristle brush is not removable, but the soft brush roll is, and this will need regular dusting off and cleaning.

There is also a light indicator that will alert you to any objects that have become lodged, and it will then shut down automatically for safety.

It’s quite a good and advanced head in that respect, and only using 80w of power while still providing fantastic suction is quite respectable.

The main floor head is also home to the foot peddle that activates the wand release; allowing for better floor to ceiling cleaning as well as more versatile cleaning.

Of course, we must not forget the classic LED headlights on the floorhead either. The controls on the handle include a rotary switch, which is a nice change from the usual slider that Shark has used in the past.

It’s smooth to use, and there are two settings on the switch; hard floors and carpet. These adjust the speed of the brush bars accordingly for the best possible pick-up and results. 

It also transforms into a handheld model, which is a feature I always like to have in my vacuums. It makes a lot of tasks easier, and I’ll go through some of them later on in this review.

One of the most pleasing things about this handheld transformation, however, is the fact that you can use all of the attachments on the nozzle – including the main floorhead. I haven’t come across many vacuums that have that kind of feature.

The low wattage is something else I look for in a vacuum, because I am quite energy conscious – both for the environment and my electricity bills. This model is more than compliant with EU laws at only 450w, but you wouldn’t know it had such a low wattage.

The power remains exceptional, and you would think that it was closer to something with double the watts. The small motor is also vertical as opposed to the usual horizontal, which could lead to better efficiency. 

How Noisy is it? 

The Shark HV390UK and HV390UKT are both 80db when used in their standard-setting. I found that it could feel a little louder in the handheld format, but that could be because I was so much closer to the vacuum cleaner.

Even with the two motorised floorheads, it’s a lot quieter than most vacuum cleaners I have had, and as someone who is sensitive to sound, I thought it was very bearable. 

Cord Length and Storage 

It comes with a 10m cord, which is an excellent length and becoming more standard in corded stick vacuum cleaners. This length means that I didn’t have to switch power sockets very often. In fact, I only had to change once; and that was to get the upstairs done.

There is also a cable tidy that you can wrap it around to ensure that everything remains together and out of the way. 

Weight and Handling

The weight and feel of this stick vacuum cleaner are debatable because it all depends on what you find comfortable. It comes in at 4.3kg when fully constructed and is, of course, lighter in its handheld form.

For some, this can feel quite weighty and even a little heavy, especially since it is a stick vacuum. However, I didn’t find it to be too tricky to hold. Even though coming in around 1.5kg up on a Dyson V8 for example.

The rubberised grip on the handle makes it a lot more comfortable to use, especially if you are using it for more than a few minutes.

The weight is also quite balanced, which makes this easier, and I did find that moving it around was pretty smooth once I got used to it (in its full form, of course).

Pulling backwards is more difficult than pushing forwards, but this is expected with most vacuum cleaners. 

Dust Canister and Filter

The total capacity for the dust canister is 0.9L, which is decent but certainly not the largest out there. Really, it needs to be emptied after every use – especially if you are living with pets – but, otherwise, it is quite a good little bin.

All you need to do to empty it is press the release button over the bin as well, although there is also easy removal from the main body if you prefer. The dual mesh within the bin is also very easy to clean, which is ideal for pet hair and long human hair.

The location of the main filter is now behind the bin, which makes it easy to reach. It is the same type as Shark normally use, which is a very large sponge that is able to absorb huge amounts of dust.

We actually recommend you check out some of the test videos on YouTube. There is also a small foam filter underneath for extra absorption. Both filters are easy to wash, and should be once every month with water only. 

Additionally, you have a HEPA filter installed. This is removable and has a good seal to protect the motor from dust and harm. 

It has two layers, which work as both dust and allergen collection, as well as a way to muffle the noise and make the machine quieter. This filter will need to be cleaned less often than the other, and should also be washed with water only.

How Well Does It Clean?

There is one thing that will forever bother me when using a vacuum cleaner on hard floors, and that’s snowploughing. All the large debris being pushed around is so frustrating, and when the Shark HV390UKT didn’t do it, I needed to sit down for a moment.

Seriously, there is no snowploughing, and it is able to pick up both large debris and the finer stuff in a single pass on hard floors. 

Carpets were pretty good as well, and they only needed two passes to get rid of 99% of the debris and dirt on them.

My carpet was relatively short in comparison to some, but I found the suction excellent and the pickup of both fine and large debris to be more than acceptable. 

It’s also superb on the stairs, but I would avoid trying to be like the models on the Shark website and using the full form to vacuum the stairs.

I did give it a try, and it was honestly quite irritating and clunky – not to mention hard to clean the stairs effectively. Instead, I used the handheld form with the tools attached directly to the nozzle; it was fantastic. 

How Well Does It Cope with Pet Hair? 

Being a Hoover for pets, it was important to test this out fully. On hard floors, it was so quick and easy, eliminating every fluff ball it encountered as well as the finer stuff left behind by muddy paws after walking. Overall, very easy and effective.

On carpets, it was also good, although it did need multiple passes to get rid of every little spec. The initial pass got rid of an excellent amount, and the remainder of the passes did the rest efficiently.

Since my dog has what I call sticky hair, where it gets trapped in everything, I may have needed a few more passes than most.

The mini motorised pet tool was also really effective when tackling pet hair, and I tried it everywhere.

It got rid of some really stubborn clumps that I brushed deep into the carpet and left (to test it out, of course), as well as left his bed looking like I just brought it home from the store. Even on the stairs, it worked brilliantly to remove the really trodden in hair. 

Accessories

The Shark HV390UKT comes with a number of tools, and the first of these is the mini motorised pet tool (which the HV390UK does not have). It’s used for pet hair in beds, carpets, and stairs, and is a tool I look at closer in the section above. 

The full-size upholstery tool is ideal for your furniture and getting the inside of your car looking amazing. It’s nice and big (but not too big), which provides a wider reach and a thorough clean. My couch certainly appreciated the work I did on it, as did the car.

The crevice tool is also a full-size model, and it provides great reach for floor to ceiling cleaning when attached to the want. It’s also good for reaching those tight corners to remove cobwebs and dust collections.

I got right behind my bookshelf without having to move it. The dusting brush comes with a swivel neck for flexibility and is separate from the crevice tool.

The bristles are nice and soft, which makes them handy for bannisters and delicate surfaces like lampshades. It’s also good for coffee tables if your dog sheds as much as mine! 

How Does It Compare?

Here are some other, similar, models of vacuum cleaners for you to consider, just in case you want to look at other options before you commit to a Shark HV390UK or HV390UKT.

Dyson V7 

Dyson is another big name with a lot to give, and the fact that they are discontinuing their corded range shows how much faith they have in the cordless ones.

The V7 range is able to tackle any mess in your home, and has a great battery life that will leave you plenty of time to get the house clean.

With a great pet version as well, there is nothing it can’t handle. Plus, we have a full review of the Dyson V7 you can read.