Customer Ratings & Reviews

Not working great enough to vacuum car carpet or small particles.

Initial impressions: There are a couple things I immediately liked about this Shark portable vac over our old famous name brand portable round vac on rollers. When I went to vacuum out the trunk of my wife’s car & the rear bed of my SUV w/this new Shark vac, I was surprised w/just how light it is. The unit itself looks a bit like a vintage hard shell makeup/cosmetics suitcase w/a long handle on top--only the rectangular box is a bit more oval w/rounded corners. Anyway, even though the unit weighs in at almost 10 lbs., even my wife had no problem lifting the entire vac up into the trunk of our sedan or up into the rear inside well of our SUV w/one hand. This is a welcome relief from the weight of the old & long-since discontinued disc-shaped portable vac which was both heavy & unwieldy. Next, I like that there’s not only a locking mechanism for the hose where it connects to the port in the vac housing itself, but there’s also a hook on the neck of the hose nozzle where I can fasten the flexible hose to the vac for easy, secure storing when I’m finished vacuuming. In contrast, my old portable vac offered no way to secure its flex hose, which always meant trying to wrap the flopping hose atop the vac after use. This contributed to a haphazard look in our closet. Instructions: The instructions for setup, use, cleaning, & maintenance are straightforward, as evidenced by the fact that I was using our new vac w/in 5 mins. of opening the box. Aesthetics: I like the conservative dark blue & black colors of the unit which provide a sleek, hi-tech look, even if it’s all plastic. Accessories: There are 3 fixed extension wands if you need extra reach along w/3 brightly marked plastic attachment tools. (Some units come w/5 attachment tools, including a Bare Floor Tool & a Pet Multi-Tool, but ours came w/just 3). Our attachments included a Crevice Tool for hard-to-reach debris found in cracks & other tight spaces, a Wet Mess/Squeegee Tool for liquid cleanups (pull only), & a larger-mouth Carpet/Upholstery Tool (push/pull). The good news is that all 3 tools attach to/remove easily from the angled hose inlet/nozzle. And there are 2 secure plastic clips mounted on the Shark’s housing that allow for storing whichever 2 attachments aren’t in use. Guts: Inside the unit, there’s a heavy-duty, dishwasher-safe plastic dust cup w/a shallow ½-gal. fill line for wet vac use & a high 1-gal. fill line for dry debris. I like the Shark housing’s see-thru design for the dust cup so that we can readily view the dry or wet debris fill levels from the outside, w/o having to open the lid (unless you’re using a liner bag that conceals the level of debris collected). There are also a couple of plastic filter housings & a total of 4 different filters that should be cleaned periodically. Shark also includes a couple plastic bags for use as liners in the refuse container if you’d rather confine your vacuumed debris to a disposable bag rather than having to clean out the container itself. Maintenance/Cleaning: I like that the unit’s entire hinged top lid is removable for cleaning. This makes access to the removable dust cup, large coned debris screen & housing, & various filters even easier. And If you use the Shark MessMaster regularly, then you’ll want to clean it regularly to help preserve the motor’s suction power, optimize its performance, & keep it sanitary. This will help reduce odors, especially if you vacuum any wet debris. After you regularly rinse & replace the filters you’ll want to fully dry all rinsed components & areas. Shark recommends that you clean the pre-& post-motor filters monthly & replace them annually. Room for Improvement: For ease-of-use, I do wish Shark engineers had designed the unit w/a longer flexible hose than the 3-ft. hose included. Yes, there are 3 fixed 1-ft. extension wands that provide an extra 3 ft. of reach, but those are rigid & unwieldy in tight spaces like the trunk of an automobile or the rear deck/well of an SUV. Also, I don’t enjoy the vac’s hot, smelly exhaust practically blowing in my face when I’m vacuuming in the tight quarters of the trunk or rear deck of our sedan/SUV. It’s not good engineering to have both the hose & the exhaust extending from the same end of the vac. Yes, I can turn the vac at an angle to redirect the exhaust flow, but that creates an unnatural positioning of the vac when using a hose that’s protruding from the same end as the exhaust vents. Finally, I’m hopeful that Shark’s engineers can find a way to maintain & even improve the unit’s suctioning power over time but w/a lower noise level. I didn’t see any specs on the decibel rating of this vac but, for me, the volume & pitch of the unit was so loud that I needed to use earplugs. Practical Usage: Dry: We view this Shark model primarily as a good portable dry vac tool for vacuuming our vehicles & a few areas of the house when it comes to light maintenance, spot cleaning, & freshening up sofa & chair seat cushions & backs. We might also use it to vac carpeted floor mats at the foyer entry, rear deck/porch entry, & side garage door entry. Obviously, there are times when dragging out a large upright house vac isn’t practical, quick, or convenient for light touchups around the house. Wet: We don’t see as much practical use for this unit as a wet vac. The problem we found in our wet vac test was that the unit didn’t seem to fully sequester all the liquid debris. Some of the liquid managed to get into spaces other than just the plastic debris cup, to the point that the amount of tedious post-wet vac cleaning, rinsing, & drying required simply weren’t worth the hassle to us. When the post-vac cleanup takes up more time than the spill cleanup itself, the high-tech method becomes counterproductive. We’d rather just grab some old, clean cloth towels that we keep on hand for occasional liquid spills, soak up the mess, & then wash the towels. Suction: I wasn’t expecting this lightweight unit to suck the chrome off a trailer hitch. After all, it’s just a 6.5A/780W/120V/60Hz machine. But I was hoping that it would at least suction enough debris from our 2 vehicles’ floor carpets, trunks, & upholstery to prevent my having to continue buying unneeded car washes in return for a free vac & prevent feeding the machines at my local DIY car vac center amid freezing winter weather & hot humid summer heatwaves. I’m pleased to report that this little portable Shark does the job on our vehicles w/adequate suction (good, but not great) to get the job done. It allows me to clean the inside of our cars from the privacy & safety of our garage at whatever time of day or night I want to clean them.

Website says:Shark - MessMaster Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum, Small Shop Vac, 1 Gallon Capacity with Bonus Pet Multi-Tool and Carpet Tool - Blue I did NOT receive the bonus items. I called Best Buy and the lady I talked to said she couldn't do anything except return the item. She blamed the manufacture for the description. So my only options are return the item or accept that Best Buy has misleading advertising practices and very poor customer service.

Great idea but I found the hose to be too short. If the flexible part of the hose was a couple feet longer I would love it but I am returning.

This vacuum doesn't suck, and that's a problem. I can't even get it to suck up cat little without about a dozen passes.

The vacuum works well but the tube keeps falling off despite placing it in the lock position.

The bonus pet tool and carpet tool are really NOT included in the packing sent to Wisconsin. I ordered specifically for the pet tool. Not there. It has been impossible to explain to Best Buy that its not included. I had a store manager check to see if the package they had included it. Also no. This is an ad for a product that Best Buy is not really providing, False advertising??

This is the first time I have had a smaller wet dry vac. There were many occasions that a smaller vac would have been helpful for portability and ease. This device does a fantastic job of providing quality powerful cleaning. The suction on this device is fantastic. It provides steady power for both wet and dry applications. I have yet to have a clog or issue under both. The wet vac may not hold as much water as a larger device but, again, for day to day uses this works very well. I have used it to clean rugs, drapes, and the inside of me car and it did a fantastic job on all. A very nice feature is you can attach a bag from 2 to 13 gallons in the bin and have it vacuum directly into it. Al you have to do then is simply throw the bag away. It is corded but it has a long 15 ft cord. It also weighs around 10 pounds so, again, portable. There are attachments that come with as well. The cleaning is easy and it will self clean by simply pouring or sucking up a cup of water. Highly recommend!

Works well for water cleanup but does not work well for pet fur on upholstery

Purchased as a Xmas gift. It arrived on time. Willl not know more until after Xmas.

Clearly states that the you will receive multi pet too as a bonus. This was the main reason to purchase. It did not come with it. It is an inconvenience for me as I live a rural town not close to a Best Buy.

NO wide floor tool exists yet it's shown in the pictures and product literature. Shark's own website carefully omits this tool on its product page. Returning something like this item is a pain!

I enjoy this vacuum cleaner. I have three dogs and this vacuum cleaner, vacuums, the couch and rugs very nicely gets all my dog hair off the furniture.

The MessMaster Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum from Shark is just what I needed to clean my car and to take care of the rare wet mess that a mop just can't handle. The one-gallon dust bin looks a lot smaller than I imagined, having pictured in my mind an average shop vacuum. When I first used the MessMaster to clean my car I thought I'd have to stop multiple times to empty the bin. It had probably been a year since I last vacuumed my car - and I have two toddlers - and cleaning the whole car barely filled a quarter of the dust bin. I am impressed with how powerful the vacuum is for its size. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the MessMaster's suction is comparable to that of a carwash vacuum. The size of the machine makes it a good option for car cleaning. It is lightweight and compact in size. Most of its accessories can be stowed on the machine itself, with the exception of the 3 extension rods. An "accessory holder" is included on the vacuum, but it only holds 2 items. This is the most frustrating thing about this - and most any - vacuum. Where do you store all these odd sized accessories? Along with the 3 extension rods there are 3 other accessories; a crevice tool, a squeegee tool, and a carpet tool. I leave the crevice tool attached to the hose, allowing me to store the other 2 accessories in the accessory holder. Due to its shape, the squeegee tool doesn't clip into the holder all the way, but I was able to get mine to stay well enough. It would've been nice if Shark had engineered another accessory holder in which to clip the 3 extension rods. If not on the side then maybe embedded in the base. One of the things I like most about this vacuum is that it's all water-safe. Hoses, tools, bins, filters - they're all meant to be rinsed clean. Cleaning the machine out after a wet mess is as simple as vacuuming up a cup of warm water a few times. You can even use any 2 - 13 gallon plastic trash bag in the bin if you prefer.

[Employee of bestbuy] was not what i expected very thin accessories, the hose does not extend very far. For a shark brand expected more.

Initial impression of the MessMaster is positive. There are three of the usual most used attachments as well as a 3-Piece Extension Wand so you can reach high places or clean the floor without having to bend down. It feels like a quality piece, high quality plastics, well balanced and weighted. Just under 10 pounds. Its oval shape made it a perfect fit for under my kitchen sink. I found the suction power on the MessMaster able to pick up every mess encountered without having to make multiple passes. Using a 2-gallon plastic bag in the vac bin is optional but makes keeping the MessMaster itself clean on wet messes very easy. Without a trash liner, the bin also comes out for easy cleaning. The bin and attachments are all dishwasher safe if you wish to go that route. Unlike your typical home vacuum, this is more like a small shop vac. Able to clean up not only dry items, but unlike your typical home vacuum, it can clean up wet items, even large liquid spills you could not clean with a typical home vacuum without damaging it. It’s great for kitchen and kid messes. For example, before coffee, I had a bowl of 6 beaten eggs accidentally get pushed off the kitchen island. Normally that would have taken a whole lot of paper towels and some time to clean up. This small vac sucked it all up in seconds. I followed with a sainting wipe and then filled a bowl with warm water and let the MessMaster suck that up to clean the inside of the attachment and hose. After I removed the bin and cleaned it, I looked in the hose, all was as clean as when new. I repaired a small hole in drywall and the MessMaster did great at cleaning up the drywall debris after. The MessMaster works fine in the car as well to clean up a localized mess in one area quickly, such as from a child, pet, or small home DIY project. However, the MessMaster hose at just 3’ long which makes it awkward to use in a confined space such as a car interior. Small cleanups are its forte. But an extension hose would expand its usefulness and be a welcome addition or option. Pulling out the power cord and then wrapping it up when done adds to the effort, though small. This vacuum aimed at cleaning life’s small messes seems an ideal situation for a battery. Shark has some excellent battery powered vacuums, so they have the technology on the shelf. I am hoping another version will come out with a battery option to make this handy vacuum even handier. Dragging a large dirty shop vac from the garage is not usually practical or desirable. The MessMaster is well made, easy to use, and very handy to have in the home for many of life’s messy situations that come up.

In today's busy world, a reliable and multifunctional vacuum is a must-have for every household and workspace. Enter the Shark Mess Master Wet and Dry Vacuum – an innovation that truly lives up to its name. From its diverse set of tools to its unique features, it offers an unparalleled cleaning experience. The inclusion of specialized tools, such as the squeegee tool, makes cleaning liquid spills an absolute breeze, while the carpet tool diligently addresses dirt and debris. Those challenging to reach corners and tight spaces are no longer an issue thanks to the crevice tool. And for those areas either too high or too low, the extension wands come into play, extending the vacuum's reach to both floor and ceiling. One of the standout features of this vacuum is its self-cleaning system. A simple action of vacuuming up water is all it takes to flush the entire system, eliminating the hassle of manual cleaning. Additionally, the design is thoughtful; the hose and cord can be effortlessly stored on top of the unit, which makes storage neat and uncomplicated. The easily cleanable dust bin is another well-thought-out and unique feature. Emptying the bin is straightforward – just dump out whatever you've vacuumed up. Moreover, the "Anybag technology" is a real game-changer. The ability to line the dust bin with any plastic bag is invaluable, especially for those messier tasks where you'd rather not come into direct contact with the debris. Performance-wise, the Shark Mess Master does not disappoint. The claim that it never loses suction stands accurate. This consistent performance ensures that the vacuuming process remains efficient from start to finish, irrespective of the size or nature of the mess. Its versatility is perhaps best exemplified in my own experience: it not only claims a special spot my the garage for shop cleanup but also proves invaluable in detailing my cars. This speaks volumes about its flexibility in use. To top it off, the three-year warranty is a testament to the brand's confidence in the product. It provides an added layer of assurance, ensuring peace of mind for users. In conclusion, the Shark Mess Master Wet and Dry Vacuum is a testament to innovation meeting practicality. Its array of features, consistent performance, and adaptability make it an excellent choice for those looking for a comprehensive cleaning solution. Whether it's for the garage, home, or car, this vacuum truly masters the mess. Highly recommended!

This is obviously just a general cleaning vacuum it didn't do very well cleaning up my dog hair in my car. Returned it the next day wish it was a stronger vacuum cleaner but it's pretty weak it's not worth the money

Machine returned right after opening, not having all the tools options from the promotion video

This thing has strong suction. My dog was sick and I used this to clean up the mess no problem. It had no problem getting up all of the vomit and leaving nothing behind. It was able to vacuum up anything I threw at it—things as fine as dust and as large as piece of plastic. It had no issues remaining clog free which I appreciated. It includes a number of attachments: a squeegee head, a carpet head, a crevice head, and an extension wand. The tools all have distinct purposes for different types of messes and they excel at what they do. Specifically the squeegee attachment does a great job at getting thin layers of water off of a hard surface like wood or tile. The vacuum is super easy to clean. Shark advertises that you can vacuum up a cup of water to clean it out, but also everything disassembles if you’d rather do a deeper clean. I recommend disassembling because if you vacuum up too much water it will spray out (guessing to protect the motor from flooding. One of the best parts about this vacuum is the ability to use any bag! Kudos to Shark for being so consumer friendly. It includes two bags to give you an idea of what you will need; but it is designed in a way to store the excess bag and make it fit in the space provided. I personally found that using a bag was great for dry messes; but once I switched to purely liquid messes, the bag just got in the way. My wish list for a new version would include an optional wheels attachment and an optional battery pack. The vacuum is small enough where it isn’t an issue to carry it around, but it would be nice if you have a bigger mess to clean to not to have to keep moving the vacuum around as you move around. Likewise, this thing is perfectly sized to be portable, but the power cable is the limiting factor in true portability.