The APEX line of upright vacuum cleaners by Shark has left a pretty impressive trail of positive reviews, and the Shark Apex DuoClean AZ1002 Zero-M is continuing this good streak. As of right now, the AZ1002 is the most powerful upright that Shark has to offer, and it’s also a mighty impressive bagless vacuum in the vast vacuum cleaner market.
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Impressive Cleaning Power
The one thing that absolutely everybody will acknowledge about the AZ1002 is its supreme cleaning power. The beefy 1,350-watt motor has an output of around 300 airwatts, an extremely impressive feat considering its size and weight.
The drawback, if you want to call it that, is that there is no adjustable suction power dial or gears, meaning that every surface you clean will face the same 300-airwatt vortex of ultimate cleaning performance. This can be problematic if you plan on vacuuming curtains with this beast (more on this later).
DuoClean Technology
Shark’s DuoClean Technology is all about leaving your carpets as clean as possible while giving them a quick “buff” in the process. Two brushrolls, one if front of the other, work together to extract embedded dust out of long carpet fibers. All that’s left is for the 300-airwatt suction to pick every speck of dust and every piece of old, dry debris.
Zero M Technology
The other piece of technology known as Zero M is made to ensure that no strand of hair, human or pet, will ever get tangled in the brushrolls. In theory, the design of the brushroll prevents hair strands from wrapping or clumping up around the bristles, allowing the brush to continue deep-cleaning for longer.
However, we should warn you that Zero M Technology doesn’t always work as advertised. You may find yourself needing to snip tangled hair strands away with a trusty pair of scissors every once in a while. This is a minor inconvenience at most, but it’s worth knowing what you’re up against.
1.5-Quart Dust Bin
As a bagless vacuum cleaner, you won’t need to worry about tossing away dirty, filled-up vacuum bags periodically and purchasing costly replacements every so often. Instead, the AZ1002 comes with a semi-transparent 1.5-quart dustbin that stores whatever collected debris that passes through the vacuum inlet.
I truly wish the dustbin was a bit larger, especially since its heavy-duty motor and dual-brush setup pick up a ton of dirt, but the bother of frequently emptying the bin isn’t that big of a deal.
Convertible – Powered Lift-Away
Upright vacuum cleaners are great and all – the wide, 11-inch vacuum head of the AZ1002 makes cleaning spacious floors a quicker task to complete – but what about spot cleaning? Well, the AZ1002 has that covered as well.
This upright can convert into a handheld unit simply by detaching the canister from the handle/shaft. In Powered Lift-Away mode, cleaning above-ground surfaces like curtains is entirely possible by fitting one of the included cleaning tools onto the end of the suction hose.
Included Cleaning Attachments
Speaking of which, the cleaning attachments available inside of the AZ1002’s box are a 12-inch crevice tool for poking and prodding in between cushions, a pet multi-tool for stairs and upholstery, and a motorized pet brush for everywhere else that needs a bit of cleaning. You can also extend your reach with the extendable Under-Furniture cleaner wand (sold separately).
Anti-Allergen Seal and HEPA Filter
On top of it all, the Shark APEX AZ1002 ensures that everything that enters the dustbin has no chance of escape. This is thanks to the anti-allergen seal all around the tool that stops the tiniest speck of dust from seeping through the bin.
Not only that – the AZ1002 uses a HEPA Filter that traps more than 99% of dust and microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns. Common allergens like dust, pollen, and dander – after being suctioned into the dustbin – will never pollute your air by exiting through the upright’s exhaust.
Stiff, Short Hose
When using the AZ1002 on Powered Lift-Away mode, you rely on the suction hose to move the cleaning attachment. The hose is a bit too stiff for my liking, and its rigidness can actually contribute to accidental tearing as some customers unfortunately found out the hard way.
Plus, without the extendable cleaner wand (sold separately) your reach is limited to just a few feet away from the canister.
Verdict
If there’s one thing you shouldn’t doubt about the Shark APEX AZ1002, it’s its heavy-duty cleaning performance thanks to its mega motor and ultra-high suction power. Cleaning medium- and high-pile carpeting isn’t even a question; the only thing you need to watch out for is accidentally tearing your drapes away when spot-cleaning.
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