Handheld vacuum cleaners for car are ideal for cleaning all of your vehicle’s corners and crevices, and they can even help you clean small areas in your house.
A hand vacuum is easier to store and use than a classic vacuum because it is smaller, lighter, and more portable.
If you have a pet that sheds a lot, you’re in luck because many sticks and handheld vacuum models are specifically designed to combat difficult-to-remove animal hair, which is especially important if someone with pet fur allergies is getting into your car.
Handheld vacuum cleaners for car are the best solution for those who suffer from back pain and sores. Discover our extensive selection of options below. Our extensive handheld vacuum collection can accommodate any preference or budget. Keep reading!
Things to think about when selecting a handheld vacuum
When looking for the best handheld vacuum cleaners for car, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you make the right decision. They are as follows:
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Weight
Aside from cleaning power, we believe that the small size and manageable weight of these small vacuums are the most important features. If your handheld vacuum is too heavy and bulky, you might as well buy an upright vacuum for its superior cleaning power and use its hose or attachments for spot cleaning.
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Corded vs. cordless devices
Handheld vacuums for cars used to come with cords that needed to be plugged into an electrical outlet, but that appears to be a thing of the past. We actively sought out a standout corded model, and the only worthy corded option was the Dirt Devil Scorpion.
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How long will it take you to clean?
Because cordless handheld vacuums are so common, they all have a built-in limiting factor: how long the battery charge lasts.
A typical run-time is 10 to 20 minutes, so if you find yourself needing to clean for longer periods of time on a regular basis, we recommend looking for a lightweight, easy-to-maneuver upright or stick vacuum cleaner with appropriate accessories for getting into those hard-to-reach places.
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Attachments
Many of these handheld vacuum cleaners for car, like any vacuum, come with a variety of accessories for more precise cleaning. Most should include a crevice tool, and other useful attachments could include specialty brushes for carpets and pet hair, dusting brushes, and even hoses for greater reach.
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Suction level
The suction capabilities of handheld vacuums vary greatly, and they sometimes get a bad rap for not being powerful enough, though a 12-volt product should be more than adequate for light housework. Despite the fact that many only have one, a good portable vacuum will have several different suction settings.
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The capacity of the dustbin
Size does matter. While you want a lightweight, easy-to-use handheld vacuum, you should also consider the dust bin size and how much you will be cleaning.
Typically, the smaller the dust bin, the lighter the vacuum, but a standard dust bin size for a handheld appears to be around a half-liter. Look for designs that have see-through containers so you can see how much debris has accumulated while cleaning.
Top suggestions for handheld vacuum cleaners for car
Ryobi 18V One+ Performance Hand Vacuum Kit
- Wet/dry capability
- Dual filter system
- Part of the 18V ONE+ System
- Industry’s most powerful wet/dry hand vacuum
- Included accessories to give versatility
- Dust brush is gentle
The Ryobi 18V One+ Performance Hand Vacuum Kit outperforms almost every other cordless handheld vacuum we’ve tested in terms of suction power, battery life, and bin size. It picks up dust, cereal, and other common messes with ease.
It lasts 18 minutes and recharges in under an hour, which is faster than any of the other handheld vacuums we tested. Many of its parts are easily replaceable, including its filters and battery, and its battery is compatible with all One+ Ryobi tools.
The pivoting dust brush and crevice tool make it easy to get into corners and crevices. It has one of the best warranties among the vacuums we tested, with a three-year warranty.
Although this Ryobi model has only one suction mode, its power is comparable to or equal to that of other hand vacs on their highest setting, commonly referred to as “boost mode.” Most vacuums we tested ran out of power after a few minutes in boost mode; this Ryobi model, on the other hand, lasted 18 minutes.
The battery has an indicator that, when pressed, shows the charge level—a useful feature that most other handhelds we tested lack. It had an average noise level, measuring around 80 dB depending on the attachment we used.
Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ HHVK515JP07
- Up to 4x more suction power
- Two speeds plus POWER BOOST
- Extra-long crevice tool
- 125% longer runtime
- One-touch easy empty dust bin
- Motorized brush head
The Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ HHVK515JP07 is specifically made to aid you in your struggle against fur-shedding pets. Thanks in part to its motorized brush, which has bristles designed to catch fur, it performed better than any model we tested in our testing when it came to picking up hair, especially on upholstery.
The AdvancedClean+ HHVK515JP07 boasts the largest dustbin of any handheld vacuum we recently reviewed and an easy-to-use emptying mechanism (models with smaller bins got quickly clogged with fur). It is also quieter than most of the vacuums we evaluated, at 75 dB.
Its integrated, extendable crevice tool easily sucked up the baking soda, glitter, birdseed, Cheerios, and cat litter from carpets and bare floors. Fur clung to its flexible, rubbery bristles as its rotating brush and suction extracted dog, cat, and rabbit hair from rugs and couches and deposited it in its bin.
The only time we had difficulty was when we attempted to vacuum dog fur from the clingy upholstery of a car trunk, but even then, the AdvancedClean+ HHVK515JP07 removed more fur than any of the other models we tested.
Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean CHV1410L
- On-board extension
- The nozzle rotates 180°
- Adds an extra layer of versatility
- A flip-up brush
- The translucent dirt bowl
- For effortless maneuvering and handling
If you don’t have pets and only need a hand vac for spilled Cheerios or coffee grounds, get the Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean CHV1410L. It’s a perennial best seller with positive owner feedback, and we found it to be both comfortable and effective in our testing.
In 2023, it proved to be one of the best basic handheld vacuums available. However, it has a shorter run time than our top picks and isn’t very good at cleaning upholstery.
Although the CHV1410L has the same hand-heaviness as the majority of handheld vacuum cleaners for car, we found it to be manageable. It weighs 2.6 pounds, which is rather little, and has a curved, closed handle that is easy to hold. The vacuum’s built-in swing-out combination brush and slide-out crevice tool have a small range of motion but could be useful.
With handheld vacuums at this price, the recharge time was roughly three hours. The CHV1410L also has a handy charging base that enables the vacuum to stay upright when being stored; nevertheless, we discovered that it often wobbles when bumped.
Shark CH950UKT
- Two ultra-powerful cyclonic air streams
- Incredible suction and long-lasting filter
- Detachable self-cleaning
- Features an XL dust cup
- Contains a washable filter
- CleanTouch dirt ejector
- Lithium-ion technology
We do enjoy using a Shark vacuum cleaner, especially when they are so inexpensive. Also, this one is cordless and handheld, which can aid with pet hair since it is made to compete with some of the best vacuums for pet hair and control cookie crumbs.
The three included attachments for this vacuum, a crevice tool, a dusting brush, and a motorized pet tool, are all easily interchangeable depending on the work at hand and can handle any quantity of debris. The main unit may be used on a variety of surfaces as well, but any one of these attachments was helpful to have to target any specific locations.
When the attachments were in use, the suction remained unaffected even when the battery was getting low. And the battery might be improved to last for 10 minutes. The vacuum just requires a four-hour charge, and you can always plug it in for less time to do the job more quickly.
Worx 20V Power Share Cordless Cube Vac WX030L
- Strong suction & fade
- Suction Power:24 AW
- Replacement filter
- Premium pleated filter design
- Easy-to-clean 17 oz. capacity dirt bowl
- Charging station and base included
If you’re going to spend a lot of time cleaning your car or if you have hand or wrist problems, you might prefer a hand vacuum with an extension hose and practical attachments. One of the better handheld vacuum cleaners for car of this kind, with slightly varied strengths and weaknesses, is the Worx 20V Power Share Cordless Cube Vac WX030L.
They both have comparable prices and lengthy, flexible hoses that you can operate while placing the vacuum’s body on the ground with one hand.
The Worx WX030L has inbuilt tool storage and a lovely, compact design. It can run for up to 25 minutes and just takes an hour to recharge. The battery may be changed and is compatible with other Worx tools. While in environmental mode, it was excellent at taking up dust, it struggled with heavier particles and was useless on pet fur.
Eufy HomeVac H30
- Incredible 80 AW / 16kPa suction power
- At 1.78 lbs
- Keep everything charged and stored in one place
- Easy to install
- Activate Max mode and use all 80 AW
- A rubber ring encircles the filter
- Washable filter
The Eufy HomeVac H30 Mate by Anker is so small and light that it can easily fit in a desk drawer or be slipped behind a car seat for quick clean-ups. It is approximately the size of a bottle of wine. If not for the expense, it would be higher on our list, but with the current state of the economy and rising costs of living, we feel that this does hold it back a little.
It standouts because of a lot of power for such a small vacuum. In a single pass, dust, crumbs, and even compost from a fell indoor plant were removed. Our go-to tool for cramming into small, awkward spots and our favorite for cleaning the boot of her automobile was the 2-in-1 crevice tool.
She could handle stray hairs on the upholstery that she couldn’t even see with the help of the small motorized pet brush.
This handheld vacuum cleaner has a little longer runtime than the other models in our list, up to 20 minutes. It does, however, have a very small dust bin, which is unpleasant because you have to empty it more frequently, especially because it impacts the suction as it fills up.
ROIDMI NANO P1 PRO
- Strong suction
- Two strengths
- Battery life is impressive
- Easy to recharge
- Intuitive to use
Even though some of the handheld vacuums in our guide have larger or more attachments, the Roidmi Vac is still a great option for smaller spaces. Due to its strong suction, it is a top choice for upholstery and cars as well.
When we tested this handy vac, we adored its compact form and lengthy battery life. It’s a tiny machine with a 0.1-liter capacity, but it’s great to keep in kitchens to clean up smaller spills as you go. It would also be the ideal travel companion due to its small weight.
The compact size and light weight of the design do not indicate a lack of power either. The rice was easily picked up by this vacuum, along with other debris.
The cost is higher than that of many other portable vacuums on the market. It is not the most agile, so you can find it difficult to vacuum every crevice, but it is really strong.
Care and maintenance
Too frequently, vacuum owners claim their machine is damaged when all that is needed is a quick cleaning to get it back in working order. While manufacturers of bagless vacuums, especially portable vacs, market their products as being more convenient because they don’t use bags, regular cleaning and maintenance are still necessary for the machines.
Actually, most people won’t clear it out as frequently as they ought to, which will lead to problems. Here are the four basic things you should do to clean and maintain your handheld device:
- Clean and empty the trashcan. An overloaded bin restricts airflow, which lowers the suction. Tap the container until it is empty while holding it over a garbage can. If the trash can becomes soiled, take it out, wash the entire bowl, and then let it completely dry.
- Clean or swap out the filters. For detailed instructions on cleaning the filter on your vacuum, consult the owner’s manual, and follow the manual’s recommendations as regularly as possible (PDF). The filters (PDF) in each of our choices are washable (PDF). Clean the filters frequently, at least after each usage.
- Check for clogs. Anything excessively large or slightly sticky increases the danger of clogging the pipes. Pull out anything you observe after peeking into the machine.
- Make the attachments clean. Remove any hay, threads, fur, or hair. A hair-clogged brush means the motor is going to pull a lot more power out of the battery and really restrict the amount of time that you can get out of the vacuum.
- See whether there is a charging issue. The batteries may be dead or there may be another issue with the charging mechanism, such as filthy charging connections or a damaged power adapter.
FAQs
How frequently should you clean your car’s interior?
The interior of your vehicle should be thoroughly cleaned once a month, but you should also do everything possible to remove surface dust and trash from the vehicle on a regular basis. Trash can make your car smell bad, and odors are more difficult to remove.
Why put carpets in cars when they’re so difficult to keep clean?
The carpet is a harsh surface. Carpet attracts garbage, dirt, and filth, and it can become stained. It’s just not designed to deal with the filthiness of the outside world.
This plastic is run through rollers to make it extremely flat. And then thousands of barbed needles stab this flat layer to tangle the fibers, resulting in what is known as a needle punch carpet.
It’s dense, and the holes between the fibers are much smaller, so crumbs, leaves, and dirt will be extremely difficult to remove.
Why should you clean your car before a trip?
Depending on where you are going, your car will probably pick up some mud, grime, or even sand while moving. It will be simpler to clean your car in the future if you have it cleaned beforehand.
Your car’s paint will benefit from a wax coating to preserve it from the elements. And vacuuming the interior will prevent crumbs and other debris from becoming even more lodged in the carpets.
What are the advantages of vacuuming a car?
Food and drink residue collects in the vehicle’s crevices and crevices. Over time, this lead to the accumulation of dust and debris. The likelihood of mold growth is decreased by vacuuming the carpets, furniture, and seats to remove dust and debris.
In conclusion,
The handheld vacuum cleaners for car are so popular for those who have typically targeted consumers that want an alternative to the traditional upright vacuum cleaner. These handheld vacuum cleaners are quite versatile and can be used as both an upright vacuum cleaner and a hand vacuum cleaner. They can easily be carried to clean the small space in your vehicle, and stored inside your car or traveling bag.
The best vacuum for car offers a few advantages over other types of vacuum cleaners. They are easier to use, especially if you are manual dexterity challenged. Consider the factors mentioned above to make your final decision!
