Knowing the best options that exist in the market, combined with tips on choosing the best vacuum for cars, will help you make an informed decision on which vacuum to buy.
Vacuums are of great importance to anyone maintaining a home or working place. Car vacuums are no exception and are important tools to have in place for several various reasons.
Although vacuum cleaners are not specifically designed for vehicles, there are a few “car vacuum” models that perform well and meet the requirements of most people. Let’s figure it out right now!
Reasons to Use Car Vacuum Cleaners
Vacuum cleaners for car are smaller and more portable than vacuum cleaners used in the home. However, do you truly require one? To assist you, we have identified the primary reasons why you require a car vacuum cleaner.
A complete cleaning
Not everything hiding in your automobile is visible. Little amounts of debris, including dust, mites, hair, and other contaminants, might occasionally go unseen and can conceal themselves in awkward automobile corners. A vehicle vacuum cleaner can more readily access tight and challenging spaces than a standard dustpan or cloth can since it is smaller.
In order to maintain your automobile free of allergens that may cause health problems and odors caused by the filth that is typically skipped with standard cleaning, vacuuming the car seats, carpets, and cabin is also crucial. This is why it works so well to keep your automobile clean and fresh.
Help you save time and money
With vehicle vacuum cleaners, you can clean the interior of your car yourself and keep it looking clean without having to hire a professional and spend money on the service. Anytime you wish, you may easily do it on your own.
Although fully cleaning the inside of your automobile may seem intimidating and time-consuming, you can do it quickly! The task is completed more swiftly and effectively since it instantly collects more dirt than conventional cleaning techniques.
Versatile and simple to use
The usage of car vacuum cleaners is simple. They have really basic features. Some vacuum cleaners are cordless or portable and just need to be turned on while in use. Moreover, the best vacuum for cars is portable and simple to handle, carry, and store due to their size.
Also, you may use it for both your house and your automobile. It may be used to clean your couches, pillows, and other upholstered furniture. Vehicle vacuums are the ideal size for these kinds of spaces.
Car vacuum cleaners are one of the most important tools for cleaning your car and getting the most bang for your buck. When combined with standard cleaning, you can keep your automobile clean and free of allergies, germs, and stink.
Important aspects to consider in a car vacuum
Suction power
Power is essential for ensuring that you have enough suction to complete the job in a timely manner. Who wants to keep vacuuming the same mess till it’s clean? Power is measured in various ways by different manufacturers (amps, air watts, and/or airflow).
We looked at cordless vacuums with air watts ranging from 15 to 35, which refers to the watts required to move one unit of air through the vacuum, and corded vacuums with at least 4 amps.
Attachments
Think about all the crevices and gaps in your car, including the pockets on the side of the doors and the dusty vents for the heating and air. You’ll require a vacuum that can fit inside each one of them.
The attachments on a vehicle vacuum are crucial since you need to clean a variety of surfaces and materials, such as plastic and burl wood, as well as leather, cloth, and carpets. Was there a tool to get in between the seats and a brush to clean the console without leaving scratches?
Wet/Dry vs. dry
Wet cleaners have a water trap to prevent water from damaging the vacuum’s electrical components while sucking up wet messes. Standard (dry) vacuums lack this protection, and attempting to suck up moisture can cause them to short-circuit.
The decision between a wet/dry vacuum and a dry-only vacuum depends on your needs and the types of messes you deal with on a daily basis.
Tank capacity
As tanks come in different sizes, you might need to empty the tank more or less regularly. We discovered that all of the car vacuums we tested had large enough tanks to clean your entire vehicle, even if it had a lot of dirt, sand, and food crumbs. If you have room for a larger machine, the Armor All has the largest tank of any of the vacuums we tested (at 2.5 gallons).
Weight/Size
We considered whether any of the vacuums were too large, heavy, or unwieldy, as it is critical that car vacuums be lightweight and convenient. The vacuums we tested ranged in weight from 2.5 pounds for the light to 7 pounds for the heaviest Armor All.
Battery runtime
How long can a cordless vacuum run before it needs to be recharged? Most batteries will power the vacuum for about 10-15 minutes total, so will that be enough to clean your entire car before it shuts down? We discovered that turning it on and off as we worked through our cars was usually enough time to get the job done.
The BLACK+DECKER – BDH2000PL Pivot, our top pick, lasted closer to 20 minutes and lost little power. This is due to the fact that it is powered by a 20-volt lithium battery.
Suggestions for the best vacuum for cars
Black+Decker Dustbuster Hand Vacuum
- The cyclonic action and lithium-ion battery
- The slim nozzle rotates 180°
- The pull-out crevice tool
- The flip-up brush
- The translucent dirt bowl
- The washable dirt bowl and filter
- An extra layer of versatility
- On-board extension
This hand vacuum is not only great for cleaning cars, but it is also great for cleaning around the house. If you’re looking for a wet/dry vacuum, bear in mind that the cordless vacuum, which weighs only 2.6 pounds, can only be used on dry items.
The washable dustbowl has a capacity of 20.6 ounces and is one of the easiest hand vacuums to empty and clean.
A lithium-ion battery powers the Dustbuster and takes about four hours to fully charge. Best of all, charging is simple because it employs a charging base. The battery can hold a charge for up to 18 months, allowing you to keep it in your car for convenience.
Otherwise, it easily picks up small gravel and other debris and outperforms anything on this side of a 110V household vacuum. Although it doesn’t perform as well as a shop vac, a built-in crevice tool can be used to reach into cupholders, seats, and other tight spots and has enough force to clean the dirt off the floor mats.
Armor All 2.5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
- Multi-use cleaning capabilities
- On-board hose and accessory storage
- Clean up both solids and liquids
- The 2.5-gallon polypropylene tank
- A 2 horsepower motor
- Built-in air and noise diffuser
- A 10-foot cord with a wrap
A cordless, handheld vacuum isn’t your thing? The 2.5-gallon Armor All shop vacuum is a wonderful option if you require a wet/dry vacuum and have easy access to a power outlet.
This vacuum is small enough to fit inside your car for cleaning when a full-size portable vacuum would be too bulky to maneuver. It has a two-horsepower motor and a 2.5-gallon storage tank, neither of which are the largest ones on the market.
For auto owners who frequently wash their vehicles at home and have access to a convenient power outlet, the Armor All 2.5 Gallon Wet/Dry vacuum is excellent. While smaller than those of other shop vacuums, the tank ought to be sufficient for your cleaning session.
It’s one of the more lightweight shop vacs available, so moving it to the trash to empty and clean isn’t as difficult as with larger models.
Dyson V12 Detect Slim
- With laser illumination
- Up to 60 minutes of run time
- Intelligently optimized suction
- A Piezo sensor
- A precisely angled laser
- LCD screen
- Two advanced cleaner heads
The new Dyson V12 Detect Slim combines many of the qualities of the V7 that we liked—high power, long runtime, and intelligent design—into a more compact and mobile form factor.
None of Dyson’s cordless vacuums are true handhelds; instead, they are all stick vacuums with a detachable base unit that can be used as a handheld. We believe the Dyson V12 Detect Slim is the best vacuum for cars because it is the lightest option and includes accessories like a long crevice tool and a compact roller head.
The large device will still be difficult to maneuver inside an automobile, so we recommend using a shop vacuum like the one in position #5. Although we favor DeWalt for a thorough cleaning, the cordless Dyson is far more portable, practical, and great for cleaning things other than cars.
Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip Corded Handheld Vacuum
- Long-lasting suction power
- A .45L dirt cup
- A detachable 2.5ft hose
- The 15’ power cord and attachments
- The lightweight and portable design
- The car cleaning kit
Dirt Devil is a well-known vacuum brand, and its Scorpion Quick Flip bagless handheld vacuum is an excellent choice for cleaning a car.
It has a built-in Quick Flip crevice tool for cleaning small spots and is finished in the distinctive red of Dirt Devil. The vacuum’s power cord is 16 feet long, which is less than the Eureka vacuum’s.
The Dirt Devil Scorpion is somewhat heavier than the Dyson V7 trigger at 3.75 pounds, but it costs a lot less. It’s really one of the least expensive vehicle vacuums on our list.
The finest of the lot and astounding given the vacuum’s price, it features a three-year limited guarantee and a seven-amp motor.
The Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip vacuum is the best vacuum for cars owners looking for a cordless handheld vacuum that simply “does its job.” Its low cost makes it an appealing option for anyone looking for a simple, low-cost solution.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL Compact Vacuum
- Powerful performance and ultimate versatility
- Armed with a Brushless Motor
- Exclusive 2-stage debris separation
- 5 dedicated accessory solutions
- The portable vacuum’s orientation
- Fully equipped with an extension wand
If you use Milwaukee M18 batteries, the 0940-20 M18 FUEL Compact Vacuum is an obvious addition to your toolbox. It’s similar to Dyson, a brushless, cordless stick vacuum that converts to a handheld vacuum, but without the Dyson price. It also lacks Dyson’s cyclonic filtration and Dyson’s excessive price.
Switching to a brushless motor addresses one of the previous model’s main complaints, insufficient power, while also extending runtime. It comes with six tools, the majority of which are useful in a car, as well as a stick for use at home.
When you add the battery, it weighs somewhat less than the Dyson and is very big, measuring roughly 13 x 6.4 x 11.7 inches. To get the most out of it, we recommend at least a 4.0-ah battery (not included).
BISSELL AeroSlim Cordless Vacuum
- Dual Level Filtration System
- Washable and reusable filters
- 7.2V lithium-ion battery
- 12 minutes of powerful cleaning
- 2-in-1 Crevice Tool & Dusting Brush
- The sleek design
Although it doesn’t have a lot of suction, the Bissel AeroSlim is undoubtedly an improvement over 12V vacuums.
This vacuum runs on a lithium-ion battery and can last up to 12 minutes on a single charge. Depending on the size of your vehicle and the mess, this may or may not be enough time. Like all rechargeable batteries, their performance and battery life will begin to suffer if it is used regularly and needs to be charged frequently.
This handheld vacuum has a USB charging port, a small yet accessible dirt container, and a dual-level filtration system that uses washable and reusable filters. That means if your car has a USB port, you can use it to charge this vacuum.
Nevertheless, only a single 2-in-1 crevice tool and dusting brush are included, and they are both located within the box. We discovered that while it would pick up dust and light dirt, it couldn’t remove sand from a floor mat’s crevices and wasn’t particularly effective at cleaning the seats.
The best vacuum for cars: Cordless vs. corded car vacuums
Are you debating whether you need a cordless or a corded vacuum? It all depends on your specific situation. A corded vacuum may be appropriate if you are cleaning your car in a garage with an AC outlet nearby.
You don’t have to think about charging the vacuum, nor do you have to be concerned about the vacuum losing power as the battery drains. This is a common complaint about battery-powered vacuum cleaners. Corded options typically (but not always) have stronger suction. Corded models are available in small and large sizes, whereas cordless models are more compact.
If being attached to an electrical outlet seems bothersome, or if you want to use your vacuum on the go, a cordless model may be more suited to your needs. You can use cordless vacuums almost anywhere, but unlike corded vacuums, you must remember to keep them charged.
Cordless vacuums made it easier to reach the most inaccessible areas of our vehicles without a cord getting caught in the door or on a tire. We had enough time to clean one car with the cordless options we tried.
Some car vacuums, as a third option, plug into your vehicle’s 12-volt outlet. This makes the vacuum extremely useful for cleaning your car and provides a consistent power source. However, due to the vacuum’s 12V outlet functionality, you can only use it in your car.
Handheld vs. car vacuums
In terms of mobility, car vacuums are comparable to handheld vacuums, but they are created expressly to effectively clean the interior of a car. Any handheld vacuum can be used to clean your car, but automotive vacuums are designed to fit into tight spots and have specialized attachments for areas like underneath pedals, between seats, and in-door pockets.
Furthermore, the majority of car vacuums will have brushes to collect dust from console areas and air vents without leaving scratches.
Moreover, car vacuums must be strong enough to remove all types of debris. Consider hard beach sand, mud, and boulders from treks, ground-up snack items from your youngster, or pet fur that you adored leaving behind. We decide to test either dedicated car vacuums or portable vacuums with car-specific accessories.
Who then can utilize a car vacuum? Whether you have kids or pets, you must have a vehicle vacuum. A vehicle vacuum is for you if you clean your own car or if you want a useful tool to maintain your car pristine between professional cleanings.
FAQs
What is the price of a vehicle vacuum?
The majority of the major brands’ automobile vacuums range in price from $100 to $150. There are less expensive choices, but they often have fewer features, produce less suction, and last a shorter time. You do get what you pay for, though, right? You can make your car cleaner and ultimately spend less money if you get a high-end car vacuum.
How frequently should I empty my vacuum cleaner?
Each and every time you use it. Debris will accumulate in your vacuum’s filter over time, reducing its ability to produce suction. To keep it running smoothly, clean the dust collector and the filter before and after each use. Furthermore, the dirt and grime that you clean up are disgusting, and food particles can attract vermin and insects. You don’t want anything to fester in your vacuum.
What types of messes can a car vacuum remove?
Car vacuums are excellent for removing dirt, grass, pet hair, and other small particles that make our vehicles appear worn. Some can even clean up wet messes like mud, slush, and spilled drinks. To avoid costly damage, make sure your vacuum is designed to suck up liquid before attempting to suck it up.
Do I need to purchase any additional attachments or filters?
The majority of car vacuums come with a number of attachments. At the very least, expect to receive a brush and various nozzle sizes. Some even include attachments designed specifically to remove stubborn pet hair. Replacement filters are usually available with high-quality vacuums from reputable manufacturers.
To conclude,
When selecting the best vacuum for cars, there are numerous factors to consider. Which type—corded or cordless—do you prefer? Do you require a vacuum that can handle wet spills as well? These decisions will be impacted by how organized your garage is and the kind of messes you usually clean up.
