OUT NOW: Shark announced the Shark StainForce cordless handheld stain cleaner on Sept. 9. It costs $199.99 and is available online now.
Are you or a loved one that friend who can't relax when someone's holding a drink near a light-colored couch? If so, you might be experiencing stainxiety (noun): The stress and panic that sets in when faced with tough stains, especially before hosting guests or during spill emergencies. Shark coined that term to introduce the newest member of the Shark cleaning squad: The Shark StainForce cordless stain cleaner. It was just released on Sept. 9 and costs $199.99 — though it seems to have already sold out on launch morning, you can sign up for restock alerts.
Most of us have at least one stain in our home or car that we've just accepted as permanent. Maybe that's because the 15-pound carpet cleaner in the closet isn't as portable as advertised, or because we don't have room to store a carpet cleaner at all. The StainForce is a solution either way — it's cordless and no bigger than a handheld vacuum. (For reference, it weighs less than three pounds. That's less than half of the Bissell Little Green's or Shark StainStriker's weight, both of which are already touted as compact upholstery cleaners.)
The Shark StainForce gadget itself is accompanied by a proprietary spray bottle that keeps the included dual-activated cleaning solution separate until it's time to clean. The cleaning nozzle administers suction and liquid like any other carpet cleaner, just without the annoying tube. Dirty water is held in the same handle and can be emptied right into the sink.
I said it before, and I'll say it again: People just want practical ways to clean their house. In a story from June, where I got my skepticism about some current robot vacuum innovations off my chest, I mentioned that Eufy is winning because its latest robot vacuums aren't newfangled for the sake of it. For example, the Eufy E28 is a robot vacuum and mop combo whose dock has a detachable carpet cleaner (though it still needs to be plugged in). Shark is clearly on the "streamlining stain removal" wavelength too — and if you aren't looking for a new vacuum right now, the StainForce is an easy addition to your cleaning closet that you won't dread getting out.
