Choosing the Best Vacuum: Henry, Shark, or Miele?
Looking for the perfect vacuum cleaner but stuck choosing between Henry, Shark, and Miele? You're not alone. These three brands dominate the market with their trusted performance, sleek designs, and powerful cleaning capabilities—but which one truly delivers the best value for your home? Whether you're tackling pet hair, deep carpet cleaning, or hard floors, this guide breaks down the key features, pros, and cons of Henry, Shark, and Miele vacuums to help you make the smartest choice for your cleaning needs.
Henry Range
The Henry Vacuum Cleaner, developed by Numatic in the 1980s, was originally designed as a commercial vacuum for industrial environments. Its now-iconic smiling face began as a light-hearted addition for a trade show but quickly captured attention, turning "Henry" into a household name. With its cheerful appearance, British charm, and reputation for powerful suction and long-lasting durability, the Henry vacuum has become a trusted choice for both homeowners and professional cleaners. Today, it remains one of the most popular vacuum cleaners worldwide, recognised for its reliability and performance across all cleaning tasks.
What is the difference in the models?
Henry
Equipped with a powerful motor, generous 9-litre capacity, and durable, user-friendly design, the Henry Hoover is built to tackle everyday messes with ease. One of its standout features is the high-performance Tritex filtration system, which works in combination with HEPA-Flo bags to trap dust, allergens, and fine particles—making it a great option for allergy sufferers. Whether you're vacuuming carpets, hardwood floors, laminate, or tile, Henry delivers consistently strong suction and effective results. Its long cord and flexible hose also make it ideal for reaching into corners and covering large areas without constant unplugging. Known for its low maintenance needs and long lifespan, the Henry Hoover remains a household favourite and a top pick for both domestic and light commercial use.
Hetty
Hetty (short for Henrietta) combines powerful cleaning performance with a friendly design. Featuring the same robust specs as Henry, Hetty includes a high-efficiency motor, A-class energy rating, and a 9-litre drum capacity for longer cleaning sessions. Her spring-free cable rewind system with a 10-metre cord ensures hassle-free use and easy storage. Key features include the TriTex filtration system for improved air quality, HepaFlo bags for easy dust disposal, and convenient on-board wand and tool storage. Complete with a professional accessory set, Hetty is perfect for effective and efficient home or light commercial cleaning.
Harry
The Harry vacuum cleaner is a powerful, bagged cylinder vacuum designed for pet owners and large homes or semi-commercial spaces. With a 9-litre dust bag and Microfresh activated charcoal filter, it effectively captures dust, allergens, and pet hair while neutralising odours. Its turbo brush and hi/lo power settings provide versatile cleaning on carpets and delicate floors alike. Featuring a 10-metre cable with automatic rewind, on-board tool storage, and a full accessory kit, Harry offers convenience and extended reach with a 26.8-metre cleaning range. Lightweight yet durable, this energy-efficient (Class A) vacuum operates quietly and comes with a 2-year warranty, making it a reliable choice for tough cleaning jobs.
Click here to see the full range of Henry vacuums.
Miele Range
Since its founding in 1899, Miele has upheld its brand promise, “Immer Besser” (Forever Better), striving to outperform competitors and continually improve. Known for exceptional quality, Miele appliances—including vacuums, laundry, and kitchen products—undergo rigorous stress and endurance tests before release. Frequently topping Stiftung Warentest rankings, Miele is a trusted, long-lasting choice for consumers. Committed to sustainability, Miele focuses on energy efficiency, resource conservation, and responsible business practices. The company holds the German Sustainability Award, participates in the UN Global Compact, and supports diversity through the Diversity Charter, ensuring a sustainable future for customers, employees, and the environment.
Our Top Picks:
Miele Duoflex HX1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Effortlessly tackle every surface in your home with the powerful and versatile Miele Multi-Purpose Vacuum Cleaner. Its smart floorhead automatically detects the floor type—whether it’s carpet, hard floor, rugs, or curtains—and adjusts the suction power for a deep, effective clean. With SpeedLock technology, you can easily switch between handheld and stick modes to reach under furniture or clean tight corners with ease. The lightweight design makes it easy to manoeuvre, while the lithium-ion battery delivers up to 55 minutes of runtime for uninterrupted cleaning. Complete with four handy accessories and a wall-mounted storage cradle, this cordless vacuum is your all-in-one solution for efficient, everyday cleaning.
If you’re tired of pet hair clinging to carpets and upholstery, the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is your go-to solution. Designed with an electro compact handheld brush, it effectively lifts embedded fur and fluff from carpets, rugs, and furniture. Its multi-purpose floorhead automatically detects different floor types and adjusts the suction power for a deep, tailored clean on every surface. The SpeedLock system allows you to effortlessly switch between stick and handheld mode, making it easy to clean under furniture and reach tricky corners. With up to 55 minutes of battery life, this vacuum handles daily messes with ease. Lightweight and easy to store with a wall-mounted cradle and Vario-clip for accessories, it’s the perfect vacuum for pet owners who need powerful performance without the hassle.
Miele Boost CX1 PowerLine Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
Experience powerful, efficient cleaning with Miele’s Bagless Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner, designed for maximum extraction power in a compact form. Featuring advanced Vortex Technology, this vacuum delivers deep-cleaning performance on all floor types while maintaining a sleek, manageable size. Its TrackDrive system ensures it stays steady and follows your every move without tipping or dragging. The Hygiene AirClean filter captures even the finest dust particles, making it ideal for allergy sufferers. With a universal floorhead, it's versatile enough for carpets, rugs, and hard floors alike. The Comfort telescopic tube offers easy height adjustment, providing an ergonomic cleaning experience for users of all heights. Finished in elegant Obsidian Black, it combines style with function. With a 1-liter capacity, 890W power, and low 65 dB noise level, this vacuum is perfect for those who want performance without the bulk or noise. Best of all, it's bagless, so maintenance is minimal and eco-friendly.
Click here to see the full range of Miele vacuums.
Shark Range
At Shark, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. From powerful corded and cordless vacuum cleaners to easy-to-use steam mops, advanced air purifiers, and intelligent hair care tools, our mission is to develop premium household products that truly make a difference. Our technologies are tested in real homes, not just labs, to ensure they solve real-life cleaning challenges with outstanding performance you can count on. Whether it’s a flexible stick vacuum that bends to clean under furniture, Anti Hair Wrap brush-rolls that tackle pet hair with ease, or upright vacuums that convert into handhelds, Shark products are designed to make everyday tasks easier and more efficient. With solutions for allergy sufferers, pet owners, and busy families, Shark offers something for every home. Plus, our smart air purifiers and salon-quality hair dryers give you confidence in the air you breathe and the hair you style—without heat damage or guesswork. Discover the Shark difference: cutting-edge technology, real-world results, and innovation you can trust.
Our Top Picks:
SHARK PowerPro Pet Anti Hair Wrap & Floor Detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
The Shark PowerPro Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner combines powerful suction, advanced hair pickup, and intelligent cleaning technology in a lightweight, flexible design. Engineered with FloorDetect Technology, it senses the surface type beneath and automatically adjusts brush-roll speed for optimal cleaning performance on both hard floors and carpets. The PowerFins multi-surface floorhead maintains continuous contact with all floor types, digging deep into carpets and engaging hard floors with ease. Pet owners will love the Anti Hair Wrap Technology, which actively removes hair from the brush-roll as you clean—keeping it tangle-free. With Anti-Allergen Complete Seal, the vacuum captures and traps 99.99% of dust and allergens*, improving air quality in your home. The Flexology wand bends to reach under furniture and folds for compact, freestanding storage. You’ll enjoy up to 50 minutes of runtime with the removable battery, and the large dust cup means less emptying between cleans. Plus, with included accessories like a Motorised Pet Tool, Crevice Tool, and Upholstery Tool, it easily converts to a handheld vacuum for stairs, furniture, cars, and more. Finished in stylish Java Metallic and backed by a 5-year guarantee (2 years on the battery), the Shark PowerPro Pet is a complete cordless cleaning solution for pet-friendly homes.
Shark PowerDetect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
The Shark PowerDetect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is a smart, high-performance cleaning solution designed to adapt to your home in real time. Featuring the advanced DuoClean Detect floorhead, this vacuum combines two brush-rolls with intelligent sensors that respond to dirt levels, edges, floor type, and even cleaning direction for a seamless, deep clean. Thanks to Reverse Clean Technology, it collects debris both forwards and backwards, dramatically speeding up your cleaning routine. With up to 70 minutes of runtime*, it's ideal for both whole-home deep cleans and quick clean-ups. Shark’s powerful Anti-Hair Wrap Plus technology tackles long, short, and pet hair effortlessly, with a chevron bristle pattern that pulls hair into the centre and anti-wrap combs that remove it as you go—no tangles, no hassle. Additional features like DirtDetect, EdgeDetect, FloorDetect, and DirectionDetect ensure you get an optimized clean no matter where you vacuum. Lightweight, cordless, and bagless, this model also includes multiple accessories, including a Motorised Hand Tool, Duster Crevice Tool, and Pet Multi-Tool—making it ideal for pet owners, allergy sufferers, and busy households alike.
Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty Robot Vacuum
The Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty Robot Vacuum takes smart cleaning to the next level with three advanced deep-cleaning technologies that detect mess levels, floor types, and edges to ensure no spot is missed. Equipped with DirtDetect, it senses hidden dirt and increases suction automatically, cleaning stubborn messes with multiple passes in a figure-eight pattern. Its EdgeDetect blasts air to pull debris from corners and edges, while FloorDetect adjusts performance perfectly between carpets and hard floors.
Thanks to innovative NeverStuck Technology, the robot effortlessly navigates obstacles, thresholds, and thick carpets, so you never have to worry about it getting stuck. After every clean, it empties itself into a bagless base that holds up to 60 days of dirt, making maintenance effortless. The base features an Anti-Allergen Complete Seal that traps 99.9% of dust and allergens, plus Anti-Odour Technology that keeps your home smelling fresh by locking away unwanted odours.
Ideal for pet owners, the PowerDetect robot combines powerful suction with Anti Hair Wrap technology, preventing hair from tangling around the brush-roll and trapping pet hair in the base after each clean. The 360° LiDAR vision maps your home precisely for methodical, efficient cleaning around furniture and obstacles—day or night.
With up to 110 minutes of runtime and smart self-charging capabilities, the robot can resume cleaning exactly where it left off. Customise your cleaning schedule, set no-go zones, and target specific spots using the intuitive SharkClean app, making this robot vacuum the perfect autonomous cleaning companion for any busy household.
Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum with Auto Empty System
The Shark Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum combines powerful cleaning with effortless maintenance, making it an ideal choice for busy homes. Thanks to its smart Auto-Empty system, the vacuum automatically transfers dirt into a sealed base unit after every clean, so you can skip emptying the dust cup for up to a month. Perfect for pet owners and allergy sufferers, its Anti-Allergen Complete Seal traps up to 99.9% of dust and allergens, keeping your air fresh and clean. Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, this vacuum features a brush-roll that adapts speed for optimal performance on both carpets and hard floors, enhanced by HyperVelocity suction for powerful dirt pickup. With Anti Hair Wrap Technology, it prevents hair tangles, while the detachable handheld mode lets you easily clean tight spaces, furniture, and stairs. The LED display keeps you informed of battery life and cleaning modes, and LED headlights on the floorhead reveal hidden dust and debris for a thorough clean every time.
Click here to see the full range of Shark vacuums.
Henry Vs Miele Vs Shark Vacuums
| Feature | Henry Vacuum Cleaner | Miele Vacuum Cleaner | Shark Vacuum Cleaner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Cylinder / Bagged | Cylinder & Cordless Stick (various) | Cordless Stick, Robot, Handheld, Steam Mops |
| Suction Power | Strong, reliable suction | Powerful with vortex & adjustable suction | Powerful with HyperVelocity & FloorDetect |
| Filtration | HEPA filter (some models) | HEPA / Hygiene AirClean filters | Anti-Allergen Complete Seal |
| Pet Hair Handling | Basic pet tools, good suction | Specialized pet tools & Electro brushes | Anti Hair Wrap / Anti Hair Wrap Plus tech |
| Bagged or Bagless | Bagged | Both options available | Mostly bagless |
| Corded / Cordless | Corded | Corded and Cordless options | Cordless and Robot options |
| Run Time (Cordless) | N/A | Up to 55 minutes (e.g., Duoflex HX1) | Up to 70+ minutes (PowerDetect models) |
| Weight | Typically heavier (around 7-8 kg) | Lightweight options available | Lightweight (around 5-6 kg for sticks) |
| Special Features | Robust, durable, simple to use | Adjustable suction, multi-floor heads | Auto-empty, LED headlights, app control |
| Price Range | Budget-friendly to mid-range | Mid to high-end | Mid-range to premium |
| Best For | Heavy-duty cleaning, budget, durability | Multi-surface cleaning, allergy sufferers | Pet owners, tech-savvy users, busy homes |
Whichever vacuum you choose—Henry’s reliable durability, Miele’s precision engineering, or Shark’s cutting-edge technology—you’re investing in a cleaner, healthier home. For the full range of these trusted brands and expert advice, be sure to shop at irwinsmegastore.ie and find the perfect fit for your cleaning needs today!