If the clear bin on your Shark Lift-Away vacuum has become dirty, dusty or started to smell, you can give it a much more thorough clean than simply emptying it.
In this guide I'll show you how I clean a Shark upright dust bin, including some of the awkward areas where dirt tends to collect.
The exact shape varies between Shark Lift-Away models, but the general cleaning process is very similar. The most important part comes afterwards: the bin needs to be completely dry before it goes anywhere near the vacuum again.
The video above is useful for this job because some of the areas I'm referring to – particularly around the internal mesh and upper lip – are much easier to identify when you can actually see them.
What You'll Need to Clean a Shark Vacuum Bin
You don't need anything particularly specialist. I normally use:
- A general-purpose household cleaner suitable for the surfaces you're cleaning
- An old toothbrush
- A small paintbrush or soft cleaning brush
- A microfibre cloth
- Warm water
The toothbrush is useful for stubborn areas, while the paintbrush gets into some of the corners that are difficult to reach.
1. Empty the Shark Dust Bin
Start by removing the dust bin from the vacuum and emptying all the loose dirt.
Open the bottom flap and remove as much dust, hair and debris as possible before introducing any water.
If your bin also opens from the top, check there too. Hair and fluff can remain trapped around the upper section even after the main compartment has been emptied.
2. Start Cleaning the Bin
Take the empty bin to the sink and apply a small amount of your chosen cleaner to the dirty plastic surfaces.
Use the toothbrush to work around the bin and loosen the layer of fine dust that sticks to the clear plastic.
Pay particular attention to the upper edges and lips. Dirt often becomes trapped underneath these areas where simply rinsing the bin won't reach it.
3. Be Careful Around the Lid
While cleaning, I try to keep the dust bin reasonably upright rather than continually filling the complete assembly with water.
In particular, avoid unnecessarily forcing water into enclosed sections of the lid or release mechanism.
Water trapped inside these areas can take much longer to escape and dry, which can leave the bin smelling unpleasant afterwards.
The aim is to clean the dirt from the bin, not fill every cavity with water.
4. Clean Around the Permanent Mesh Filter
Inside the Shark dust bin you'll see a permanent mesh or filter section.
This is an important area to keep clear because air needs to travel through the cyclone and filtration system on its way through the vacuum.
Fine dust can gradually coat the mesh, while larger pieces of fluff and hair can become wrapped around it.
Use your toothbrush or soft brush to remove the accumulated dirt.
5. Don't Miss the Lip Underneath the Mesh
One particularly awkward area on this style of Shark bin is the lip underneath the permanent mesh filter.
Dirt tends to collect inside it, but there's very little room to physically get a toothbrush or cloth into the gap.
As shown in the video, I clean this by directing the cleaning solution through the mesh towards the dirty area and then carefully rinsing through it.
You may not get every microscopic mark out of an old vacuum bin – and you don't need to. The objective is to remove the accumulated dust, debris and smells and get the bin clean enough for normal use again.
6. Use a Soft Brush for the Awkward Areas
Once you've removed the worst of the dirt with the toothbrush, go over the bin again with a small paintbrush or soft cleaning brush.
This is particularly useful around:
- Edges and corners
- The internal mesh
- Small recesses in the plastic
- Around the bin openings
- Areas the toothbrush can't comfortably reach
Give the bin another rinse and then inspect it for any obvious areas you've missed.
7. Give the Shark Bin a Final Rinse
Once you're happy with the cleaning, rinse away the remaining loosened dirt and cleaning residue.
Again, avoid unnecessarily flooding enclosed sections of the bin assembly.
Wipe the accessible surfaces with a clean microfibre cloth to remove as much surface moisture as possible.
8. Leave the Shark Bin to Dry Completely
This is the most important part of the entire process.
Do not put a freshly washed or damp dust bin straight back onto your Shark vacuum.
On many Shark Lift-Away uprights, the motor and airflow path sit directly beneath the dust-bin assembly. You don't want the vacuum drawing moisture into areas that need to remain dry.
Leave the bin somewhere dry and well ventilated until you're certain that all the water has evaporated.
I like to leave the bin on its side and then turn it over later. This helps any water trapped in recesses or around the lid find its way out rather than collecting in one place.
Overnight may be sufficient in good drying conditions, but don't rely purely on a set number of hours. If any part of the bin is still damp, leave it for longer.
Can I Put My Shark Bin Back On While It's Damp?
No – wait until it's completely dry.
Even if the outside looks dry, check the lid, corners, recesses and internal areas for trapped moisture.
There's very little benefit in saving a few hours of drying time if it means risking moisture being pulled through the vacuum.
How to Stop a Shark Vacuum Bin Smelling
If your Shark dust bin smells even after you've emptied it, the smell is often coming from fine dirt trapped around the mesh, lips and internal surfaces rather than the loose debris itself.
A proper clean can make a noticeable difference, but also check the vacuum's filters. Dirty filters are another common source of unpleasant vacuum smells.
If you've cleaned the bin but the vacuum still smells when it's running, the filters would be the next place I'd investigate.
Shark Lift-Away Bin Cleaning Checklist
- Remove and completely empty the dust bin.
- Brush away loose dirt before washing.
- Clean the clear plastic with a toothbrush or soft brush.
- Pay attention to the upper edges and hidden lips.
- Clean accumulated dust from the permanent mesh filter.
- Avoid unnecessarily filling enclosed lid mechanisms with water.
- Rinse away dirt and cleaning residue.
- Remove surface moisture with a microfibre cloth.
- Leave the bin in a well-ventilated place until completely dry.
- Only then refit it to the vacuum.
A Shark Lift-Away bin is fairly straightforward to clean once you know where the dirt hides. Take a little extra time around the internal mesh and awkward edges, then give the bin plenty of time to dry before putting your vacuum back together.