I bought this product myself and this review is based on my own experience.
When I bought the Shark StainStriker, I wasn’t looking for a fancy cleaning gadget. I was trying to save six dining chairs that had become so badly stained I was seriously considering replacing them or covering them.
I’d already tried other upholstery cleaners and hadn’t been impressed, so I wasn’t especially confident this would be any different.
I bought the Shark StainStriker in May for around £120.
It ended up being one of those purchases that made me wonder why I hadn’t bought one sooner.
Why I bought it
Our dining chairs had taken a real beating.
Between everyday family life, spills and general wear, they had become heavily stained. I’d tried cleaning them before, but nothing had really shifted the marks enough to make them look good again.
By that point, I was genuinely considering getting rid of them.
That was what pushed me to try the Shark.
What happened after the first clean
I cleaned all six chairs outside and went over each one once.
After they had dried, I could already see a noticeable improvement.
They were much better, but there were still some stains and areas that weren’t as even as I wanted.
That first clean was enough to convince me it was actually doing something, so I decided to go over them again.
After the first clean — already a big improvement, but I could still see some staining, so I went over the chairs a second time.
The second clean made the difference
After the second clean, the chairs looked considerably better.
The remaining marks had lifted and the fabric looked much more even.
That was the point where I stopped thinking about replacing them.
I wish I’d taken a proper “before” photo, but at the time I genuinely wasn’t expecting to end up reviewing the machine. The photos I do have show the difference between the first and second clean, and you can clearly see how much better the chair looked after going over it again.
After the second clean — this was the result that convinced me. The remaining marks had lifted and the chairs looked good enough that I no longer felt I needed to replace or cover them.
I’ve used it on much more than the chairs
Since then, I’ve also used the StainStriker on our sofas and footstool.
That’s one of the reasons I think it has been good value for us.
It isn’t something I bought for one specific job and then put away. It has become a useful machine for all sorts of cleaning jobs around the house.
I can also see it being really useful for things like car seats, carpets, pet beds and holiday-let furniture.
What I like
The biggest thing is simply that it works.
I’d tried other upholstery-cleaning options before and hadn’t had the result I wanted. With this, I could actually see a difference.
I also like that it is compact. It doesn’t take up a huge amount of storage space, which matters when you’re trying to avoid filling cupboards with appliances.
It is also very easy to clean afterwards.
The removable parts come apart easily and I can rinse them in the sink, so cleaning the machine itself doesn’t feel like another big job.
Is there anything I don’t like?
The main downside for me is the power lead.
I’d like it to be longer.
Depending on where I’m using it, I sometimes need an extension lead or need to make sure I’m close enough to a socket.
It isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s the main thing I would change.
Who I think it would suit
I think this is particularly useful for:
- families with children
- anyone dealing with stained dining chairs or sofas
- car seats
- pet beds
- carpets and rugs
- holiday lets
- people who want something compact rather than a large carpet-cleaning machine
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For me, the value comes from being able to use it on lots of different things rather than just one job.
Busy Life Edit Quick Verdict
Bought: May
Paid: Around £120
Best for: Furniture, family mess, car seats and general spot cleaning
Biggest plus: It genuinely shifted stains that other cleaning attempts hadn’t
Biggest drawback: The power lead could be longer
Would I buy it again? Yes
My verdict
I bought the Shark StainStriker because I was trying to rescue dining chairs I thought might be beyond saving.
It did that.
The first clean made a difference and the second clean made enough of a difference that I stopped thinking about replacing the chairs altogether.
Since then, I’ve used it on other furniture as well, so it has earned its place in the cupboard rather than becoming one of those appliances that gets used once.
For around £120, I think it has been genuinely useful.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely.
