Table of Contents
- View The Best Car Vacuums Below
- 1. Vaclife handheld vacuum
- 2. Dyson v6
- 3. Jinpus car vacuum handheld
- 4. Meg Handheld vacuum
- 5. Kimitech handheld vacuum cleaner
- 6. Hotor corded handheld car vacuum cleaner
- 7. Lozayi Car Vacuum – wet/dry
- 8. Black Decker Dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum
- 9. Thisworx for Car Vacuum Cleaner
- 10. Reserwa [5th Gen] Car Vacuum
- Car Vacuums Buyers Guide
A generic hand vacuum will often lack the battery and suction power to make an effective car vacuum. Most regular vacuums are not a wet and dry vacuum either, meaning it will only work on dry surfaces, limiting the cleaning ability. Most of us don’t have the money or need for a bulky wet and dry shop vac.
This can lead to frustration. Our car interiors will become grimy if they only receive a surface once over, with crumbs and dirt and gravel building up in the nooks and crannies of the car. To combat this, consider buying a specially designed handheld car vacuum cleaner to target those hard-to-reach areas.
This will give you that new car feeling all over again without investing in a professional shop vac, as smaller handhelds will make a much better alternative for us regular car owners. It can be hard to know what to pick for your needs with so many options out there: wet and dry, dry, cordless, handheld, or powerful mains powered professional vacuums. So let our handy top 10 list help guide the buying process for you.
View The Best Car Vacuums Below
1. Vaclife handheld vacuum
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This cordless, hand vacuum from Vaclife has many great features that are great for making light work of any grimy car interior. It’s sleek, and the lack of power cord means it’s super portable and useful for cleaning tight spaces. It comes with heaps of different attachments, including a thin nozzle crevice tool, and a brush to help get up stubborn stuck in dirt from carpet or seat fabric.
These will help you reach any tough spots in your car. It has a built-in LED light that makes it great for spot cleaning or cleaning dark corners of your car, as it helps you to see in those tiny places and spot the little bits you may have missed. For a handheld vacuum, the Vaclife has powerful suction making it effective on food debris, pet hair, and even gravel. It comes with a stainless steel HEPA filter built-in, which means no buying endless paper filters.
Pros:
+ A stainless steel HEPA filter
+ Cordless handheld car vacuum
+ Long-life battery and fast charging with powerful suction
+ Great price for the features, including the helpful crevice tool that it comes with
+ Powerful enough for cleaning all sorts of debris
Why We Like It – This little vacuum is, maybe, the best car vacuum around for spot cleaning when you’re away from a power source, or just at home for general interior cleaning. It’s sleek and easy to use, with a great crevice tool. It also comes with a few other attachments, including a brush tool and a suction brush.
2. Dyson v6
Branded as the most powerful handheld car vacuum on the market, it’s hard to deny this cordless tool a spot as a top contender of one of the best vacuum cleaners for cars that you can buy. With its innovative cyclone system, it can pick up coarse dirt through to fine dust. It also comes with a motorized tool attachment that will spin to remove stubborn pet hair and debris from the upholstery.
A variety of helpful tools come included with the purchase to assist with cleaning, including a crevice tool, extension hose, and a dusting brush. The brilliant battery will give you up to 20 minutes of powerful suction and charges quickly using the included power cord, meaning there’s no need for an awkward power cord to get tangled in.
Pros:
+ Great battery – 20 minutes of powerful suction with a release trigger, so you only use the battery for cleaning
+ Tons of useful attachments are also included
+ The most powerful handheld car vacuum cleaner for suction on the market
+ Extension hose for hard to reach places
+ Compact vac perfect for travel and spot cleaning
+ Fast charging
Why We Like It: Dyson has hit every nail on the head with this product – powerful suction, a hose that’s long enough to be useful, attachments for every purpose, making those hard-to-clean places accessible.
These features have combined into what’s one of the best car vacuum cleaners that you can buy. It is a dry vacuum, but the versatility more than makes up for that. This is a vacuum with a powerful motor that’s used by automotive professionals, such as detailers and valets.
3. Jinpus car vacuum handheld
This little car vacuum offers some serious value for money. It’s budget-friendly and is packed with great features. It’s not handheld, but the 16.4ft cable more than makes up for that with its reach. Alongside the well-designed HEPA filter, high suction power, and included attachments, it’s also the first wet/dry vacuum to make our list.
A wet/dry car vacuum provides versatile use for car cleaning and valeting, as you can apply an upholstery cleaner to the seats or carpet. You can bring up stubborn debris, such as woven in pet hair, food particles, and also mud that may have dried on. Then, simply go over the spaces with this neat little hand vacuum to suck everything up in one swoop.
Pros:
+ Wet/dry capability
+ Small and very handheld, easy to use and maneuver
+ Long power cable means you don’t have to be right next to your power source.
+ Powerful suction for its price
+ High power cleaning in a compact vac
+ Well designed HEPA filter with a 12-month guarantee
+ Elastic hose included
Why We Like It – This is a budget-conscious but powerful wet and dry vac with a long cord and great price. The included small hose attachment can reach narrow spots. It’s got plenty of attachments, as well as good suction.
It will provide a lot of use. It’s not battery powered, which means it’ll never die halfway through cleaning. Just plug and play with its super long cord and clean your heart away. The guarantee means you can get a new HEPA filter, should it break.
4. Meg Handheld vacuum
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This is a cordless handheld vac that is super lightweight and portable. It charges in under three hours, and should the lithium battery run out during cleaning. You can plug it into your cigarette lighter with the 12v adapter and carry on.
This versatility between the cord and cordless means that you will never run out of power, or use for this nifty little car vacuum. It may be a dry vac, but it’s not limited in its use, as it’s powerful enough to suck up all sorts of grit and dirt from your car. It’s one of the smallest on the list too; it’ll go anywhere with you!
Pros:
+ Small handheld vacuum with great portability
+ Clear dust chamber so you can see the build-up
+ A long-life battery that will power up to half an hour of suction
+ Cigarette lighter 12v adapter, so you never run out of suction power
+ Elastic hose included for those pesky crevices + multitude of handy attachments
Why we like it – This is one of the smallest yet strongest performing vacuums about. It’ll reach tight spaces and cover your floor and seats with ease. It can be plugged into your car, so you don’t have to worry about the battery running out. This super lightweight vacuum cleaner will clean just about everything with ease.
5. Kimitech handheld vacuum cleaner
This is a great choice for a car vacuum. There’s no power cord needed, but you can plug it into a USB charger and use it on the go, or you can use it on its excellent battery life too. It has a useful LED light for seeing dark corners and spot cleaning. It has brilliant suction in a small package, with the vacuum weighing in at less than 3lbs.
Kimitech has incorporated a steel HEPA filter that can be washed with water over and over again, making the filter longer lasting and more durable than most dry vacuum cleaners. It comes with a crevice tool, a hose attachment, and two different charger cords to adapt to any situation.
Pros:
+ Fast charging
+ Durable, stainless filter providing superior cleaning use after use
+ Anti-backflow feature preventing dust spillage out of the nozzle
+ Cordless or can be plugged into a power source via USB or 12v with provided power cord
+ Lightweight hand vacuum with exceptional cleaning and suction power
+ Many attachments including hose and LED light
Why We Like It – It’s versatile, maneuverable, and a portable hand vacuum. This is a great vac with good power, suction, attachments, and long-life battery for the price. It’s received well by reviewers; the handy USB power cord with adaptors makes it easy to use on the go or at home and marks it out as one of the best for adaptability and on the go cleaning
6. Hotor corded handheld car vacuum cleaner
This model features a washable and durable HEPA filter. As a car vacuum, it proves to have great use and functionality. It has a built-in ultra-bright LED light (in fact, one of the best-reviewed lights on this list!), and there is no need to worry about battery life. It has a built-in cord that is long enough to reach all corners of the car.
There is also no need to worry about a power source, as it plugs right into your 12v port, meaning that this vacuum cleaner is one of the best for portability. The cord is durable and well designed, and the vac itself has high power, making it a great car vacuum cleaner for the price. It will clean just about everything you could find in your footwell or seats.
Pros:
+ Comes with many attachments, including a handy crevice tool, one stretchy hose and also a brush tool
+ Innovative and unique detachable dust cup, so you can dump debris easily as you go
+ Bright LED light making it easy to see as you clean
+ Lifetime replacements on the HEPA filter
+ Three nozzle attachments included
+ A long cord, so no worries about the life of the battery or losing power halfway
Why We Like It – This vacuum is super durable and lightweight, with high power and a cable that plugs straight into your car. The vac itself may be small, but it’s cleaning power certainly isn’t, and customers have found that it makes light work of really ingrained dirt. It’s a great dry vacuum that will make it easy and quick to clean any car.
7. Lozayi Car Vacuum – wet/dry
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No products found.
Here is another wet/dry vac that’s made it to our list. This little device is durable, hardy and makes light work of agitated and wet upholstery. It boasts not only a high power cyclone cylinder, that separates air and dust but also a low decibel noise level to make cleaning a much more pleasant process.
The container is see-through, so you can see how full it is and empty it accordingly. This helps maintain the best suction power possible throughout cleaning. It isn’t cordless but has a 16ft cable that means you can work happily, even if there’s no immediate power source. It also means you won’t run out of battery while you’re trying to clean your car. It comes with a lifetime guarantee on the filter, which is always good news.
Pros:
+ See-through dust chamber
+ Separates air and dust as you go in 360-degree cyclone cylinder
+ Wet/dry vacuum specifically designed for your car
+ Comes with a crevice tool, multiple nozzles and also a useful carry bag
+ Fast and strong suction
Why We Like It – This is a price-conscious wet/dry vacuum with big power in a small package. This will make light work of all types of cleaning and is one of the most highly reviewed car vacuums we’ve seen. The cable is long enough not to worry about being near an outlet. With it’s included attachments and accessories, you’re bound to get a lot of use out of this one device.
8. Black Decker Dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum
Black Decker has produced a seriously punchy product with this little vacuum. It’s super lightweight, portable, and dexterous. It has a very impressive lithium-ion battery that will hold its charge for up to 18 months without use, throwing Black Decker to the top of the tree when it comes to battery performance.
The dust compartment holds a solid 20 ounces of debris, and its see-through design means that it’s easy to tell when it needs emptying. The smart charge technology that Black Decker has implemented means that it used 50% less energy than its market counterparts, and charges much faster than a lot of competitors. The slim nozzle rotates for maximum reach, and versatility and this car vacuum also comes with a 2-year warranty.
Pros:
+ Unique Black Decker design that stands out amongst competitors
+ Rotating nozzle for ultimate versatility of use
+ Energy-saving technology and superior battery performance
+ Cyclone filter action for clean filtration
+ See-through dust compartment for easy cleaning
+ 2-year warranty
+ Powerful suction
Why We Like It – This car vacuum may be the best for innovative design and cordless performance. The battery is fantastic, and the charging is fast and long-lasting. It has an integrated pull-out crevice tool for difficult to clean areas. The price is excellent, and it offers so much versatility. You really can use it anywhere; it’s a real stand out contender.
9. Thisworx for Car Vacuum Cleaner
This is a great handheld option that offers professional results from a fantastically priced vacuum. It comes with a hose and lots of nozzles and accessories that give it extended reach and good ease of use. It has reliable and powerful suction, and will clean up any dirt you throw at it.
The included hose has superior reach compared to other models, and the cordless ergonomic design is one of the most comfortable to use according to reviewers. It has a transparent dust chamber, so you know when it needs emptying, and the collecting compartment features a shutoff lid feature to prevent spillage if it becomes full.
Pros:
+ A comfortable, ergonomic design developed to be held for long periods so that you can + Clean comfortably
+ Slimline, lightweight vacuum
+ Super strong suction
+ Professional results for an affordable price
+ A long cord that allows you to work comfortably without interruption
Why We Like It – This is a great option for those who value comfort. It has an ergonomic handle grip to make cleaning enjoyable. Alongside a great filter, large chamber, and suction equal to professional car vacuums, this is an excellent option as a portable car vacuum. The cord is long enough to reach an outlet in most places.
10. Reserwa [5th Gen] Car Vacuum
This is a super convenient vacuum with a 16ft power cord that plugs into your 12v cigarette lighter, making it portable and versatile, perfect for your on-the-go cleaning needs. Reserwa has further upgraded it’s handheld vacuum’s suction capability, meaning that it has a powerful and uninterrupted suction that will make easy work of debris in your car.
It has a low noise level at 75db, which means it’s comfortable for your ears. The sleek design makes it comfortable for your hands, too. This small vac is wet/dry capable, which makes it super convenient and useful. It offers good value for the money.
The interior components are all painless and easy to wash, preserving hygiene and cleanliness. It comes with three accessories, including a long nozzle and a hose, which are sure to come in useful for all sorts of purposes.
Pros:
+ Low noise level and comfy design
+ Good selection of accessories included with the vacuum
+ Wet/dry capabilities providing versatility
+ 12v cable means you’ll have power no matter where you go, brilliant for travel and road + trips
+ Transparent and high volume capacity dust chamber for ease of emptying and use
+ Included with the purchase is a brush for agitating wet upholstery to loosen grit and debris
Why We Like It – This is the ultimate road trip vac, with its strong suction, 12v power cord, and large holding capacity. It’s great for on the go and at home, and it comes with enough tools for every use. It’s easy to take apart and clean.
It’s easy to store in small areas, so you can just put in the trunk and forget about it until you need it! This is a super convenient vac and would suit those with their first car to help keep it tidy and clean without breaking the bank for a professional wet/dry vacuum.
Car Vacuums Buyers Guide
With so many options on the market, and all offering similar services with slightly different USP’s, what’s the best car vacuum for you to spend your money on this year? Well, that depends on what you’re after and what you want to spend.
There are so many choices for handheld vacuums around that you’re bound to find something to fit your personal preference. But let our useful buyer’s guide help you along in the process of picking out a vac that will suit your needs and lifestyle the best.
Here are a few things you need to consider before spending out on a vacuum for your car. So, let’s start at the top!
Cord VS Cordless
On first thought, it may seem that the obvious contender for the best car vacuums on the market would be cordless vacuums. While it may be the case that a cordless vac is the right choice for you, there are many reasons to consider car vacuums with a cord as well.
Handheld vacuums that have a cord are a good option for those of you who find themselves cleaning for longer periods, or going into close detail to pick up every bit of dust and grain you can spot. They will never run out of charge halfway through a clean.
This means that for really dirty cars, or cars that only see a few cleans a year, there is a better chance of completing the vacuuming, as you won’t forget to finish while waiting for your vacuum to charge.
A corded vacuum is also a good option for those who valet cars professionally, who may have to clean multiple cars one after the other. They might find the battery of handhelds without cords constricting and frustrating when cleaning their car.
A lot of corded car vacuum cleaners now have 12v cables or adapters that can plug straight into your 12v cigarette lighter. This makes them just as portable as a chargeable vacuum, if not more so, as you never have to find a spot to recharge. You can do it straight from the car. If you go on a lot of long journeys or road trips, then a corded vacuum may be the best option for you.
Vacuums without cords have their own set of advantages too. They are less cumbersome, more maneuverable, and, with recent advances in technology and batteries, last more than long enough to decently clean your whole car. They often have just as powerful suctions as plug-in car vacuums.
They are great for on-the-spot cleaning or, for people with no nearby outlets where they can clean their car. Some options, such as the Dyson v6 and Black Decker, are regularly deemed superior to their corded counterparts when it comes to suction. These are both used by professionals in all types of vehicles.
All the options on the review list have great battery lives and comparable suction to their plug-in competitors. For day to day use, and most non-intensive cleaning, they make a great option for almost all car owners.
Both corded and cordless vacuum cleaners come in a diverse price range, offering a wide range of features and benefits. You can’t go wrong with either. Have a think about which would suit your needs more and check out the products on the list to see the full range of features and innovations that come along with each of the options.
Just Dry VS Wet/Dry
Advances in technology have meant that wet/dry vacuums have become much smaller and much more affordable. It’s also seen these types of vacuums handheld, almost matching their dry only competitors.
But do you really need a wet/dry, or would you be better off going with a dry? It only may perform slightly better within a similar price range when it comes to general suction, but what about filter and battery life?
A dry vac would probably be a more than good enough investment for most car owners. The ones on the list will all do a great job of cleaning up debris and grit from your upholstery, which is what most of us need a good vacuum to do. However, a wet/dry is a super versatile option as well. It allows you to apply cleaner and agitate to lift up stubborn dirt and dust, as well as dried mud or food super easily.
You should also consider the fact that wet/dry vacuum cleaners are usually corded, so you’ll need to make sure you have somewhere to plug it in if it doesn’t come with a 12v adapter. You may compromise on suction.
However, this shouldn’t be an issue with most modern brands. A portable wet/dry can make a brilliant alternative to a professional wet/dry shop vac that might set you back thousands.
Attachments
This is something you should definitely consider before making your decision. Each vacuum comes with its own set of accessories. They each have lots of different uses and purposes; some will come with an agitating brush, whereas some will come with a rigid hose, elastic hose or narrow nozzle for hard to reach spaces.
Some models include motorized tools to help get up stubborn dirt and debris from the carpets too. There are so many options that it can be overwhelming to know which accessory pack is the best. The best thing to do is to take a step back and evaluate what your needs actually are and pick out a few accessories that you think would be the most useful to you.
Then, based on those accessories, try to find a vacuum that has the best range of attachments to suit your needs. A lot of the brands also sell separate attachments that you can pick up after you’ve bought your car vacuum.
Selectively whittling down your options to those that have the best accessories for your needs will help you get the most use possible out of your new car vacuum. You’ll be pre-kitted out with everything you need to get right in there and start cleaning. Hopefully, this will also mean that none of the attachments get left unused in your garage or closet, providing better value and convenience for your money.
One attachment that you’ll want to keep an eye out for, though, is a hose. Ideally, it should be stretchy. This is a great option for car cleaning as it’ll allow you to reach down into tricky and inaccessible places with ease, as they are narrow, bendy and elasticated.
If you have a smaller car, or you need to be able to get under the seats without unbolting them from the rails and dealing with the painstaking process of putting them back in, then the hose will make easy work of this. You should definitely try to pick out car vacuums with a hose attachment.
Budget
It’s important to consider what sort of money you’re willing to spend on a vacuum for your car and to evaluate which brands give you the best option for your needs within your budget. There are so many fantastic choices to suit all price ranges, all the way up to the vacuums designed for professional use.
Remember that the right vacuum will be an invaluable tool for many years to come, so investing a little more money may be worth it in the long run for the prolonged use and longevity of your new tool.
Filter
When finding a vacuum, you’ll want to look for a HEPA filter. This is a high-efficiency particulate air filter, that will separate dust from the air, meaning that only clean air escapes the vacuum, providing clean breathing and efficient dust collection. There are two main options when it comes to these filters; paper and steel.
The main ones you’ll be looking at nowadays are steel filters – they are durable, easily cleaned, and more efficient. When looking at steel filtered handheld vacuums, you should find one with a good warranty. Some will come with lifetime replacement warranties, and some will come with one or two years. It’s a good idea to weigh up the pros and cons of the vacuums against the warranties provided when making your purchasing decision.
Paper filters are still useful and effective. They provide a good budget option when searching for a vacuum, so don’t rule them out immediately. Take a look at the other benefits of the car vacuums that include them, as you may find that the other features are more useful to you than a steel filter.
Battery life vs. Battery Charging Time
There are some fast charging vacuums on the market. Although this is great in a situation where you may need to get more than one car done or do a deep clean where you need to charge halfway through, it can often mean a compromise in overall battery life.
The Black Decker has one of the best battery lives of the options on the list, as does the Meg handheld. However, there are faster-charging car vacuums on the list too, so make sure you take a look at this before making your decision and have a think about which you would like to prioritize if you’re going for a cordless option, or whether you want to find a good middle-ground option.
Perhaps consider a car vacuum that can act as both cordless and corded, such as the Meg or Kimitech, so that you can have the best of both worlds in your portable car vac.
Overall, there is certainly a lot to consider when deciding which is the best car vacuum for you, your needs, and your car, as there are so many good vacuum opinions on the market. Hopefully, this guide to the best 10 car vacuum cleaners this year will have gone some way to helping you decide which to buy for your car cleaning needs.
Make sure you take into account the attachments and accessories each car vac comes with. Also, look at the cord length, battery longevity, the suction capabilities, and unique features of each vac. These could be the lifesavers you need to keep your car clean and clear of crumbs, hair, and grit.
Investing in a vacuum for your car will no doubt be a fantastic decision. You’ll be able to keep on top of your interior without the frustration and difficulty you may have experienced before, making your car a much more pleasant environment to be in!
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