We prefer vacuum cleaners because they are convenient and easy to use. It is wise to get a vacuum that we can rely on such as Shark ZU881 Vs AZ1000. These vacuums are user friendly and versatile for a wide range of application and cleaning purposes. They are also affordable so everyone can have their ideal vacuum. If you are also aiming to buy one, let’s see below about what they can offer here.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Why 2 Vacuums is Better than 1
- What are Shark ZU881 and AZ1000
- How are the Design of Shark ZU881 and AZ1000
- How are the Specs of Shark ZU881 and AZ1000
- How are the Features in Shark ZU881 and AZ1000
- How are the Performance of Shark ZU881 and AZ1000
- Shark ZU881 Vs AZ1000
Contents
Buying Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuum cleaner is probably the main cleaning tool we have in the house and it is not surprising to see how often we use them for daily cleaning purposes. The appliance needs to be reliable and easy to use so we can finish the task faster and even if you don’t vacuum everyday, a horrible vacuum is stressful to use. Many of us started to invest more in vacuum cleaners so we can make the cleaning process more effective and instead of just one, it is wise to have at least two in the house.
The main reason why you may need more than one vacuum cleaner is because no single model can do everything. For example there are many vacuums that excel on carpet cleaning or even deep cleansing but they are terrible at picking up debris from hard flooring. On the other hand there are options that are amazing for single floor housing but they are pretty hefty to carry to your next floor or around the house where the vacuum will be used too.
Many vacuums are great for floorings because this is the main idea of using the appliance but in real life we are using vacuums for almost everything from flooring, the sofa, stairs, the bed, car, etc. This is why it is nice to have at least two vacuum cleaners that master different things so we can rely on them and access the appliance anytime it is needed. In our personal experience portability is one of the biggest issues because vacuums come in varying sizes.
At first we thought bigger vacuum with higher capacity would be convenient but it is not if you have to transport it often and it is a must do for those with more than one level housing. Taking them upstairs requires extra effort and our aging back is not helping at all. Sometimes we postpone the cleaning of the next floor just because we don’t want to carry the appliance and bring it back again to empty the bin then store it.
If you have pets as well such as dogs or cats, their fur is another issue to take care of. Us pet owners have to deal with pet hair everywhere and regular vacuum may not be as effective. Nowadays there are vacuum cleaners that are designed for pet hairs using a type of brush that can take these small fibers on various surfaces. Rather than the suction, this type of vacuum usually has a special brush to comb carpet and make it easier to take sticky furs from the surface.
| Shark ZU881 | Shark AZ1000 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
|
| Product Dimensions | 10.6 x 12.2 x 47.2 inches | 31.5 x 14.65 x 14.02 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 24.9 pounds | 24.2 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | Check price | Check price |
About Shark ZU881 and AZ1000
There are many types of vacuums that we can choose from and we can combine a few of them for the most effective result. For example an upright vacuum for your first level and a canister vacuum for the second floor. We can combine upright or canister vacuum with robot or stick vacuum as well for high convenience. In modern days, a robot vacuum can be an ideal solution for daily cleaning while an upright is best for deep cleaning once a week.
If you want to buy only one vacuum, make sure that the appliance can perform the type of cleaning that you will be doing, such as cleaning the flooring but also the stairs and furniture. There are plenty to choose from such as the options from Shark. This company is very popular when it comes to vacuum cleaners and not only for their wide range of collections but also because of their competitive price point that are more affordable than many other famous brands.
What’s a bit confusing is they do have lots of similar choices or models so oftentimes it makes the difference between each model and variant not as clear. For those who want a vacuum that can take both floor and above floor cleaning, as well as performing really well for the various surfaces, Shark ZU881 and AZ1000 are two impressive options to consider. The two are actually very much the same to each other while coming from different lines.
These vacuum cleaners are very reliable in terms of versatile cleaning because they can work well on flooring and are also convenient for other higher surfaces with the accessories they come with. The main difference between these vacuums beside their price point is the motor power as AZ1000 Apex is currently the highest from Shark and also the more expensive. From the cleaning method and ease of use both Shark ZU881 and AZ1000 are going to be the same, such as the lift-away mode that detaches the main housing from the upright design.
Shark ZU881 and AZ1000 Design
If you have Shark vacuums with lift-away feature or not from the navigator line, these Shark ZU881 and AZ1000 are very similar to each other in terms of fashion and most of the detailing. The Apex AZ1000 is coming in a darker shade, dominated by dark plastic. Its rolling brush stands out for being the only red in this vacuum’s appearance. On the other hand DuoClean has a dark red known as cinnamon for the fashion. We have seen another ZU line with green or brighter red but they are not identical to ZU881.
You may notice that these vacuums have Zero-M brush and this is what makes them very similar to each other. The build is mostly plastic with rubber on some of its components but the overall design and mechanism is the same. The height of the vacuum is about the same or 46 inches from the cleaning head to handle. The vacuum will need you to recline this handle backward in order to push it while cleaning. Coming in the box, ZU881 gives you a pet multi tool, filters, crevice tool, and dusting brush while AZ1000 comes with crevice and upholstery tool.
Shark ZU881 and AZ1000 Specs
Now for the most important part, let’s see what the Shark ZU881 and AZ1000 can offer starting from the cleaning ability. The main difference between the two is their motor because AZ1000 comes from the Apex line and this line has an 11.3 amp motor to accompany the vacuum to clean both hard floor and carpet effectively. We are not sure about the exact motor used by ZU881 but based on 900 watt the vacuum is not as powerful as the 1350 watt AZ1000 or AZ1002.
The Shark AZ1002 Vs AZ1000 are the same vacuum but the AZ1002 comes with more accessories in the box. What makes them very similar is the DuoClean brushes that you can check on the cleaning head. This arrangement has two types of brush located at the front and in the middle. Unlike most vacuums that only have one bristle brush, these two have one softer brush at the front that is visible and another brush with stiff bristle in the middle for agitating carpet surface.
Shark ZU881 and AZ1000 Features
When it comes to features, both Shark ZU881 and AZ1000 are also pretty much the same. One of the best things about Shark vacuums is that they come with this lift-away feature where you can detach the dust collector from the main upright design. This way we can hold the canister and hose to extend the reach. This way we can clean the stairs, furniture, bed, car, curtain, and many other spaces where the upright setting is not able to.
There are floor height settings as well on both vacuums and this is very easy to select when you are cleaning different flooring at one go. There is no suction level adjustment however so both vacuums will operate at the same capacity.
Shark ZU881 and AZ1000 Performance
As for the performance, this DuoClean brush is very effective at taking small dust to larger debris on hard carpet. The ability in deep cleaning carpet, especially tall piles is decent and they are great for thinner carpet too. The suction power of AZ1000 is higher and in comparison this vacuum is also slightly more reliable. The overall ease of use is the same and they are light enough if you need to carry it from the first floor to the floor above.
Shark ZU881 Vs AZ1000
There are so many good options from the Shark collection and these two are some of them. The main difference is on their motor as the AZ1000 is packing more power to produce stronger suction and helping the cleaning process to be more effective. It, however, doesn’t come with a pet brush which is included in ZU881 so if you have a pet we highly recommend buying this attachment. This brush is very reliable for removing pet hairs from carpet quickly.
Conclusion
The decision is all yours since there is no bad option here and if we have to recommend one, the ZU881 is a very nice choice. This vacuum is often more affordable and comes with everything you need to extend the cleaning ability.