Shark - Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum NV501

Buy a shark vacuum to start. I used to have this problem going through vacuum’s every year but I bought the shark rotator pro about 8 years ago. Everything but that cardboard filter is washable. Makes keeping everything smelling fresh and clean and the belt has never even broken. Wash the filters regularly and buy a new cardboard filter every couple months. After i wash the foam filter it smells like fresh laundry when i sweep. Lol. It’s worth the investment. That gets rid of the carpet smell being in the air. You will also be amazed at what the shark picks up after your old vacuum. When you clean the carpets try adding and enzyme treatment in the carpet cleaning water solution. I learned that from a big apartment building landlord. It actually removed the smell of animals on the carpets. You could just sprinkle a lil baking soda until then when you vacuum. You could also make a homemade essential oil spray.

NV501 is the workhorse you’re looking for.

I bought the shark rotator professional for $270 more than 5 years ago at the insistence of a friend who was cleaning my house at that time. I thought it was crazy to spend that much on a vacuum but bought it anyway considering she was the one doing the cleaning! Fast forward, it is the best vacuum I have ever owned or used ever and is just as strong more than 5 years later as it is on day one. It has very strong suction that has adjustable strength. I have multiple pets and it seems to lift and trap every single hair, has attachments that fit into every crevice and cover every surface, and is so easy to clean out. I am the biggest fan and really recommend it.

It is not cordless - it is upright. The cord is so long that it never bothers me since it reaches so far

Shark NV501. I've had three of them over the course of my career; it's the only one I'll use for combination carpet/hard floor houses. I even use one at my commercial jobs. 

Shark pro NV501. It is heavy so if that’s a problem don’t get it. Tools are stored so they are very easy to quickly use, long hose to reach higher, nice bright light to show dirt under things, and lift away for stairs. I’ve used it for 10 years, not that particular one, I replace it every 18 months, and the older one moves into my house and my house vac moves to the basement.

Just bought Shark NV501 Rotator Proffesional from Ebay ( Refurbished). It has HEPPA filter. Absolutely love it.  Paid $220

If you’re okay with going a little over budget I have a 13 year old Shark Rotator and love it https://amzn.to/4o58DIU I actually tried out the Dyson a few years back and decided to return it and stick with my Shark. They have an older model on Amazon for 299 https://amzn.to/46UL5Ab it’s a powerful vacuum that works well with cat hair, carpet and hard floor surfaces. It’s lift away design helps get under furniture which helps tackling cat hair.

I have that one & it is a work horse. But is heavy compared to the others. Regardless, it does work great for past 2 years, 6 days a week. My partner got the Miele Canister & that’s great too.

Shark Navigator NV501. I have 5 cats and a dog. Shark is about 1/2 the price of a Dyson but with a 5 year warranty compared to 2 year Dyson. My first Shark NV 501 lasted a few weeks before the 5 year warranty was out. I contacted Shark and went through their troubleshooting process and when they determined it was dead, they processed my warranty claim and sent me a new vacuum. I kept that one until it died about 5 years later. Since I didn’t buy it, I couldn’t claim the warranty. I bought another of the same model. That one died 2 days ago, but 2 weeks before the warranty expires. They are going to send me a new one. I put my vacuums to the test with daily vacuuming after 5 cats, a dog, my husband and myself who has long hair. I used it on hardwood and carpeted stairs. It has an 8 ft hose reach, which is great to get around furniture. I’ve been a Shark customer for 15 years and because they stand by their products, I’ll continue to be.

100% would recommend. I have NEVER and I mean NEVER used another vacuum that even comes close to the suction power that dyson has. I got the one linked below two years ago (or very very similar) - yes it was around the same price and I would buy it again and again. The only issue I would say is make sure your rug is firmly stuck to the floor because it WILL suck it up. It's that powerful. I've tried multiple shark professional vacs and rainbow E2. They simply do not compare. When using the wand it will pull everything up to a 1 foot radius around it. Perfect for animal hair and very easy to keep clean with a washable filter. [https://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/uprights/ball-animal-3/complete-gold](https://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/uprights/ball-animal-3/complete-gold) ETA: I have three dogs and a cat and this vacuum is the only thing that can keep up.