Trade in your old vacuum when Shark’s Karang Guni truck comes to your neighbourhood this Sep. 2026

“KARANG GUNIIII!” the karang guni man would holler, occasionally pausing to honk his familiar squeaky horn.

No matter where you lived, you could hear him as he made his rounds. My sister and I would look forward to his visits, and mimic his call ourselves, much to the consternation of our mother.

From our vantage point, standing on the sofa to look out of the window, we could sometimes see our neighbours and other neighbourhood residents coming down, carting along a fascinating assortment of pre-loved goods.

They would bring it to the karang guni man, who would take it off their hands in exchange for a token sum.

I regret never actually participating in such an exchange. My mother was something of a minimalist long before the world knew who Marie Kondo was, and she was always quick to clear out anything that might be considered clutter.

Now sadly, the karang guni man has become an extremely rare sight in Singapore’s neighbourhoods. You might still see one now and again, but it’s no longer a common childhood experience.

That is, until Shark revived the concept with their vacuum trade-in campaign.

Trade in and upgrade to Shark’s latest range of cordless vacuums

Shark, America's No.1 Floorcare Brand, recently launched its latest range of cordless vacuums.

They are designed to take the hassle out of everyday cleaning with smarter cleaning technology and easier maintenance.

​​Their latest range of powerful cordless vacuums, including the Shark PowerClean360, Shark BOOST+ and Shark BOOST, tackles common cleaning frustrations with Reverse Clean Technology, which picks up dirt on both the forward and backward pass.

This gives you twice the clean in every pass and potentially halves the time spent cleaning.

It also features Anti-Hair Wrap Technology to prevent hair and fur from tangling around the brushroll, smart sensors that automatically adjust suction where more power is needed, and an Auto-Empty System that takes care of the mess once you’re done cleaning.

So, if your current cleaning appliance is due for an upgrade, here’s your chance.

From Sep. 4 to 6 and Sep. 11 to 13, don’t be surprised if you hear the familiar call or the horn around your neighbourhood.

Shark is bringing a modern karang guni to Singaporeans with its special fleet of Karang Guni trucks at 24 stops across six neighbourhoods, over the six days mentioned earlier.

Bring down and trade in any old cleaning appliance to unlock an exclusive offer available only at the Shark Karang Guni truck.

Trade-in offers are limited at each stop and available on a first-come, first-served basis, while stocks last. This is limited to one vacuum purchase.

And yes, whether the vacuum is working or not, you can bring it down and trade it in.

With limited trade-in offers available at each stop, check the schedule below to find out when the Shark Karang Guni truck is coming your way.

Remember, the truck will only accept vacuums. Please don’t bring down old washing machines or mops.

How it works

Trade in your old vacuum cleaner of any brand and in any condition, and secure the discount.

Payments must be made via credit card at the truck. Cash, nets, and American Express (AMEX) are not accepted.

Once payment has been confirmed, they can collect the vacuum on the spot.

Not ready to trade in just yet? Drop by anyway.

Still deciding whether it’s time for an upgrade? You don’t have to trade anything in to join the fun.

Drop by the Shark Karang Guni truck, soak in the nostalgic neighbourhood vibes and enjoy a free coconut water while stocks last.

You can also get a closer look at Shark’s latest cordless vacuum range before deciding whether it’s time to make the switch.

The days of the karang guni man may be over, but Shark is paying tribute to his legacy, if only for a little while.

The next time you’re dust-busting with your new vacuum cleaner and enjoying a spic-and-span house, spare a thought for the older gentleman and his cry of “KARANG GUNIIII!”, and his indelible mark on our country’s history.

This branded article by Shark makes this writer want to clean his house ASAP.