Shark Hydrovac Cordless Pro Review [WD201]

Pros

• Simple usability
• Great mopping performance
• Self-clean features for reduced maintenance

Cons

• Struggles with larger debris like cereal

Scoring

In This Review

Mop Test | Cleaning Test | Noise Test | Usability Test | Size | Specs | Summary

Performance Tests

To test wet dry vacuums, we put it through a series of 4 different tests to measure cleaning performance and usability. 

These tests include:

• Mop test
• Cleaning test
• Noise test
• Usability test

Mop Test

To test the overall mopping performance of the Shark Hydrovac, we cleaned our hardwood ~1,000 sq. ft. office and studio space. We used the provided cleaning solution and ran the mop on hard floor mode. After cleaning the floor, we checked the brushroll and dirty water tank for dirt and debris. 

Overall, mopping performance was good for the Shark Hydrovac. While we often have a robot mop running throughout the week, the Shark still removed a good amount of dirt from the ground. 

While it is unable to lay completely flat like many stick vacuums, it is easy to move around.

Cleaning Test

For our cleaning test, we measured how well the Hydrovac was able to handle solid debris on hardwood floors. We laid sugar, kitty litter, rice, and cereal on the floor and ran the mop over while on hard floor mode. After the test, we checked how much of the debris was removed by weight. 

Overall, the Shark Hydrovac removed 90.2% of all debris by weight.

Cleaning performance was excellent in most cases for the Shark Hydrovac. With cereal, the Hydrovac struggled to pick it up, largely due to the short height of the gap between the cleaning head and the floor in front of the brushroll. That height was too short for the cereal to get under, therefore making it extremely difficult for the Hydrovac to pick up.

Otherwise, the Hydrovac had no issues. I will note that with the Shark Hydrovac or generally any wet dry vacuum you might use, the dirty water tank and the debris bin are the same container. Meaning the physical debris often gets mixed with the dirty water. The Hydrovac’s dirty water tank has a separator to catch the debris, but it will still mix on some level. 

Noise Test

To measure the noise levels of the Shark Hydrovac, we ran it on each mode, measuring the level of noise generated by the device. In addition, we measured how loud it was while self-cleaning, and measured the ambient noise levels of the room for a comparison.

Noise levels are fairly loud for the Hydrovac, but nothing out of the ordinary. If you need to have a conversation, you may need to pause cleaning until the conversation is finished. 

Common noise levels:

• 20 dB – rustling leaves
• 30 dB – whisper
• 40 dB – quiet library, babbling brook
• 50 dB – refrigerator, moderate rainfall
• 60 dB – normal conversation, dishwashers
• 70 dB – traffic, showers
• 80 dB – alarm clock, telephone dial tone

Usability Test

Usability for the Shark Hydrovac focuses on a simple design that is easy to set up, use, and maintain. 

Setup

Out of the box, there are a few bits of setup needed before you can use the device.

Here is what comes in the box:

• Hydrovac body
• Handle
• Base charging station
• Cleaning solution
• Manual

Once the device is unpackaged, you will need to attach the handle to the body and charge the device on the base station. It will come with some power out of the box, but Shark recommends fully charging it before first use. 

While the device is charging, you can fill up the clean water tank with water and solution, or just water if you choose to do so. 

Controls

Controls are quite basic for the Hydrovac. There are only 2 buttons on top, one to switch between the 2 modes, hard floor and area rug, and one to control the power.

When docked, the power button can also initiate a self-cleaning cycle by holding it down for a few seconds. 

There is also a basic display on the top of the device. It will show you the current status of the Hydrovac, letting you know battery life, cleaning mode, and more. 

Maintenance

Overall maintenance for the Shark Hydrovac is simple and easy to do. You will need to fill the clean water tank as it empties and empty the dirty water tank as it fills. In addition, you will need to occasionally clean out any debris from the dirty water tank by washing the container out. 

Occasionally you will need to wash the brushroll, but for daily use, the Hydrovac has self-cleaning capabilities while docked. This reduces the times you need to remove the brushroll yourself and wash it. 

Size & Dimensions

The Shark Hydrovac stands tall at 43.7” and has a good amount of maneuverability. That said it cannot lay down completely flat, which is common with wet dry vacuums. 

Here are the full dimensions of the Horizon:

• Width – 9.8”
• Depth – 11.1”
• Height – 43.7”
• Weight – 8.46 lbs.

Specifications

Specifications
Type	Wet Dry Vacuum
Manufacturer	Shark Ninja
Model	Hydrovac Cordless Pro WD201
Height	43.7″
Width	9.8″
Depth	11.1″
Floor Type	Hard floors
Water Tank Capacity	16.9 oz
Cordless	Yes
Bagless	Yes
Returns	Varies by retailer
Warranty	3 years
Price	Check Price

Should you buy the Shark Hydrovac Cordless Pro?

I would recommend the Shark Hydrovac Cordless Pro if you are looking for the following features:

• Wet dry vacuum with great usability: From setup to maintenance the Shark Hydrovac is incredibly easy to use. It has a simple control scheme that makes cleaning less of a hassle. Furthermore, it can self-clean the brushroll for reduced maintenance. 
• Excellent cleaning performance: If your house is mostly hard floors, the Hydrovac is equipped to clean it. It had excellent mopping performance in our tests, removing a good amount of dirt and debris from the floor. Additionally, it removed 90.2% of debris in our cleaning test, only struggling with the larger debris.

For more information or to buy the Shark Hydrovac Cordless Pro, click here.