The crevice tool can help in really tight spaces but for most jobs the regular head will suffice. This intelligent design is aided by a powerful vacuum motor that has no real use for a “boost” mode; carpet or linoleum, the Shark handheld powered through my cleaning tests without breaking a sweat. Small handheld vacs are a great way to clean up small messes, but some can struggle to deal with more sizeable debris or larger areas. Not so with the Shark Premium Handheld Vacuum WV270UK, the new version of Shark’s classic handheld. Delivering more power, via two selectable modes, and a decent 15-minute runtime, this is a compact vacuum cleaner with the power to compete with a full-sized model. Design and Features

I started out by testing the vacuum cleaner’s suction performance, using a water-lift gauge and an anemometer for air velocity. Using these two figures, I can approximate the AirWatts (AW) of the vacuum, which came in at 42.36AW. That’s pretty much par for the course for a handheld spot vacuum cleaner, and is around the same level of power you’d see from the mid setting of a regular cordless cleaner. It’s a bit of a shame, then, that the charging stand only has room to accommodate one of these accessories. You’ll need to find space to store the other tools. The single-battery variant offers space for two accessories. When faced with the cramped spaces of my Ford Fiesta, the Shark didn’t bat an eyelid, taking on dried mud and ingrained dust with equal vigour. The soft bristles of the crevice tool proved particularly useful for vacuuming dashboards and cupholders. A bigger vacuum might have done a better job of removing particularly tough bits of gravel but the Shark wins that particular contest by virtue of its size and manoeuvrability. Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: VerdictREAD NEXT: Our Dyson V11 Absolute review Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: Price and competition The Shark WV251UK has plenty of features that make it super handy to have around at home. These include:

Charging/storage base: The charging base - measuring 8.5in (22cm) long by 4in (10cm) at its widest point - doubles as a compact storage stand for the Shark WV251UK and its accessories so you can find everything in one place. Slimline design: There’s no bulky motor here. Instead, you have a 2ft (61cm) long wand-style vacuum that measures 2.5in (6cm) at its widest point. It's great for getting into those narrow gaps, tight corners and reaching up to clear away cobwebs. Competition is tough, though. The Hoover H-Handy 700 is cheaper, offers similar levels of power and comfort, and runs for 12 minutes from its single battery. This cleaner has neater storage, although Hoover’s accessories have smaller heads than those of Shark, so it can take a little longer to clean. Inside the bin is the filter housing, which can be popped open so that the filter can be removed for cleaning.Shark states that the WV361UK has a 16-minute run-time, although this is without the motorised floor brush. Attach a motorised tool and battery life is closer to 12 minutes. On Boost mode, you’ll get less than 10 minutes. Double battery: You get two batteries with this design so when one runs out, you can easily switch to the other and continue your clean. Each one has a run time of 8 minutes.

Two accessories: The crevice cleaning tool is designed to get into tight spots and has a flip-out brush head for sweeping up any dust bunnies. There’s a separate pet multi-tool with ultra-short bristles that will brush clean upholstery.

Shark WV251UK handheld vacuum cleaner: Quick summary

Designed to be convenient and easy to use, the Shark WV251UK is a small and lightweight vacuum cleaner. Measuring 420 x 60 x 55mm, and with a weight of 0.69kg, it’s incredibly light in the hand; it’s well balanced, allowing you to direct it at the mess you need to clean up. It’s a light machine, which means you can keep it aloft for quite some time without feeling the weight: this makes it an ideal candidate for removing dust or cobwebs from bookshelves, curtain rails and ceiling corners (if you can reach that high).