The Flexology tube is as mad as a box of frogs, but it absolutely works for getting under low obstacles. Unclip the catch and the tube folds with ease. Combined with the low profile of the Duo-Clean head, there’s no other cleaner on the market quite so good at cleaning under your sofa or other low furniture.

The design of the HV390UKT might be excellent, but there are other things you’ll need to think about before you decide if this is the right one for you. For instance, how comfortable are you going to feel using the vacuum?Yet this Shark doesn’t offer improved suction over its cordless sibling, despite being mains-powered. Its very low-power (circa 400W) suction motor is half the EU power limit, and that shows in some of the test results. It’s also worth noting that the product is a lot lighter when it’s in hand-held mode. With that in mind, you might want to avoid using the full setup unless you’re cleaning your entire home. Even with the extra weight, the Shark isn’t particularly challenging to handle. The rubberised grip means that that you can work on your carpets and hard floors with confidence. Additionally, the weight is quite well-balanced, which makes moving the machine around a lot easier. Another great thing about this model’s design is that the controls are very straightforward. The bendy hose is excellent for compact storage. Therefore, it also means that there’s not as much hassle involved in getting underneath and behind furniture when you’re vacuuming, too. Overall, Shark has excelled from a design perspective. 2. Shark DuoClean Noise Levels and Cord Length

To help you decide whether Shark’s approach to handling dirt, dust, and pet hair is right for you, we’ve put together this comprehensive review into the Shark Duo Clean corded vacuum with Flexology. We do worry about always-on rollers on softwood floor, but a couple of cleaning sessions on old parquet showed no signs of damage. The harder bristles on the rear roller barely touch the surface of hard floors, thanks to a well-judged front roller and rear wheel height. Shark Duo-Clean TruePet HV390UKT – How does it clean carpets?The disadvantage of the Flexology tube is that the folding mechanism and flexible tube coupling add further weight. This is particularly noticeable when you reach for those pesky high-up cobwebs. The pistol grip is well behind the weight of the motor, too, leading to a very nose-heavy balance when you lift it ceilingward. Using a second hand for support is essential – and mind you don’t trip over that cable when looking up. Closer inspection of the main carpet did reveal plenty of the heavier grains of freshening powder clinging tenaciously to the pile, however. As ever with Shark products, all the HV390UKT’s fixtures, fittings and clips are clearly labelled, very well made, and operate with a solid precision. Shark includes a five-year guarantee as standard on this model, and it’s easy to see why. Yet in real-world use the results were more variable, and mostly for the better. In fact, only the aggressive Pet Tool bumped up the noise output, cresting 81dB on our sound meter. With the Crevice Tool and dusting brush attached directly to the body, the noise was a much quieter 77dB. Some final design flourishes to mention include the exceptionally long 10-metre cable and fold-up storage convenience.