The power button sits at perfect thumb height on the top of the vacuum and offers a single level of suction, while the yellow bin-release button (pictured above) sits towards the nozzle end and releases the bin downwards with a single firm press. The 12.8fl oz / 450ml bin feels plenty big enough for general car cleans, as well as cleanups around the house. Now that the filter frame has been removed from the vacuum, you’ll be able to remove both filters individually. This is just a case of gently prising them out of the filter frame. For example, the dual foam filters need to be pulled out by hand, rather than removing them using a plastic frame. This means you need to touch the dirty filters, while also disturbing dust into the air, before you can clean them.

The Shark’s filtration system does an acceptable job at preventing dust and dirt from escaping, although it’s not the most effective or hygienic we’ve tested. We think the Shark CH950UKT is an excellent handheld for cleaning around the home. In particular, we found that the pet tool makes it much more effective at cleaning carpets, sofas, and rugs than many other handheld models. Note: If you’ve seen a version with rubber fins, this is the US model. The UK models have bristles. Other Tools and Accessories For example, the CH950UKT is an excellent vacuum for hard floors and stairs. We also really like that it comes with a motorised pet tool, as this greatly improves the carpet and upholstery cleaning performance compared with most competing vacuums.Let’s start by clarifying that the Shark Handvac isn’t supposed to replace your main cleaner. It’s intended for short bursts of cleaning, so it doesn’t need the same level of performance as an upright or cordless vacuum. Shark sells replacement filters for the CH950UKT. The filters should last a long time, but if they become torn or otherwise damaged then it’s important to replace them.

Press this button, then gently pull the canister away from the vacuum’s handle. It should slide easily out of place. We recommend cleaning your Shark’s filters at least once per month. You may need to wash them more regularly if you use the vacuum a lot.

The Shark Cordless HandVac Pet Model is a great-value handheld vacuum cleaner, ideal for anyone on a tight budget

Remove the canister from the main body using the yellow button. Gently remove the filter frame from the dust cup.

Thinking of buying the Shark CH950UKT Handvac? Read our review of this popular handheld vacuum before you make a decision. With that said, we tested the Shark CH950UKT and found it lasted around 13 minutes with the motorised pet tool attached (although this is without active cleaning). While this still isn’t enough for a deep clean, it’s perfectly acceptable for the types of cleaning jobs the Shark is designed to handle. The four-hour charge time is also around average for a handheld. For these reasons, we don’t recommend buying the CH950UKT specifically as a car vacuum. It can still be useful for cleaning most of your car interior though. Stairs There’s no HEPA filter with the Shark Handvac, which is disappointing for a pet vacuum. A HEPA filter is more effective at containing dust and pet dander, so it’s a good choice for people with animals and allergies. The more expensive WV200UK uses this filter.The Shark Handvac only has one power setting, so it’s straightforward to operate. The button for this is easy to reach when holding the cleaner. This is important, as you’ll need to switch it on and off regularly to maximise the short battery run-time. The Shark CH950UKT / Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is one of the better handheld vacuums we’ve tested, so it’s easy to understand why it’s so popular. Its size, shape and weight make it perfect for cleaning your car, with its range of tools helping to ensure it’s always best suited for the task at hand. It’s not quite the best suction we’ve seen from a handheld, though. We still think the Dyson V7 Trigger has better performance, but it’s considerably more expensive – and there’s not a huge difference in cleaning power. Around the Home Both of these are handheld vacuum cleaners from Shark, but they are built for very different purposes. Only use cold water to clean the Shark CH950UKT’s filters. Never clean the filters with hot water, cleaning products, a dishwasher, or a machine wash. Step 4: Allow the Filters Time to Dry Fully