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The best portable car vacuum cleaners
Car, trucks, minivans, and RVs get dirty as you use them regularly. Dust, dirt, and other types of squalor accumulate inside the vehicle. It soon turns into an uncomforting place to sit and drive if you don’t clean it soon. Most of the people focus only on cleaning their vehicles from outside. Interior cleaning seems like a daunting job, but the best car vacuum makes it easier.
You get overwhelming options in car vacuum models when you decide to buy a new one. Every model seems perfect for the job the way manufacturers market their product. Does every car vacuum cleaner perform as it is marketed? No! You need to assess many important features and check the reviews to pick the best car vacuum.
Our experts have assessed many types of vacuum cleaners to pick top 10 car vacuums! You can jump directly to the review section to find 10 best car vacuum cleaners if you are in a hurry. Or, let’s find out import factors to consider before buying a car vacuum cleaner.
Best affordable & great for sand
Cherylon portable car vacuum cleaner
This portable car vacuum got the best suction power!
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The Cherylon portable car vacuum is the finest cleaning tool you can buy for your car. It offers the power of a 150W motor that generates strong suction for quick and efficient cleaning. It is a corded car vacuum cleaner and you get it with a 16.4-foot long power cord. You can power it through your car’s 12V power outlet and clean the entire vehicle in one attempt.
Although it’s a handheld car vacuum, it got decent tank size and impressive suction power. You get multiple nozzle attachments with it to clean the entire car interior perfectly. It is compact, durable, and quite reliable. 24-month service support from the manufacturer ensures long and trouble-free service. That’s why it’s the best car vacuum you can buy today!
Best for detailing
ThisWorx TWC-01 portable car vacuum cleaner
This car vacuum will clean all types of dirt and mess to make it more comforting.
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Thousands of car owners chose ThisWorx TWC-01 and they all praise it for cleaning performance. This corded car vacuum is quite easy-to-use because it is superbly maneuverable. It weighs only 2.4 lbs, but you get 8.8 amps motor with the metal turbine. This motor delivers strong suction to help you in finishing the cleaning job quickly.
You get this vac with a 16ft cord that is connected to car’s 12V power outlet. The power cord is durable and it won’t get stuck in the car. The TWC-01 has an ergonomic shape and it will help you in making the car squeaky-clean within a few minutes. That’s why it’s the best car vacuum for car detailing work.
Best cordless
Black+Decker portable car vacuum cleaner
It’s the best cordless car vacuum!
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The CHV1410L from Black+Decker is the best cordless car vac. It is quite stylish, durable, and it delivers outstanding performance in terms of battery life. Charge this battery-powered cleaning tool completely and it will hold the charge for the next 18 months!
This car vacuum can deliver 15.2 AW suction power and it got 20.6-ounce dustbowl onboard. You can charge it much faster than other cordless vacuums because it uses smart charging technology to charge faster. You get washable filters with this vac and nozzle attachments to clean hard-to-reach areas inside the car easily. It is an impressive choice as the car vac to carry inside the car. So, buy this vacuum cleaner and try it for keeping your car clean.
Best for large cars
Armor All portable car vacuum cleaner
It provides multiple onboard accessories along with storage!
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It is probably one of the most powerful portable car vacuum cleaners available in the market. It comes with a 2.5-gallon polypropylene tank and a powerful 2HP motor. It can generate much stronger suction than other handheld vacuums. However, its poor maneuverability does not impress many car owners.
You can also use it as a blower when you want to clean the dust from the car’s body. Onboard storage and accessories make cleaning pretty handy. The AA255 is a decently priced vacuum cleaner that you can use in your shop, home, and also carry in the car. Therefore, it is another impressive choice as a handheld vacuum cleaner.
Best mini handheld option
Hotor portable car vacuum cleaner
This car vacuum is pretty impressive and effective!
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The Hotor WZW-007 got a perfect design and impressive build quality which impress many car owners. It is a lightweight car vacuum cleaner that gains power through your car’s 12V power outlet. 16.4ft long cord allows you to clean a large size SUV conveniently. Its filters are covered with a filter wrap that ensures no impurities will escape of the vac.
Other features such as detachable dustcup, 3 nozzle attachments, and built-in LED make car cleaning an effortless job. It also got a decent size tank and ergonomic design for improved maneuverability and great dust capacity. That’s why many people consider it the best car vacuum in 2021.
Best wet & dry option
ThisWorx portable car vacuum cleaner
Cleans wet and dry messes efficiently
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It is a newly upgraded variant of ThisWorx’s one of the most widely sold car vacuums. It is probably the most stylish vacuum cleaner available for cleaning vehicles. You get 110W motor for strong suction power, sleek and ergonomic design, HEPA filter, and LED light for better cleaning.
The brand claims that it removes all kinds of mess within a fraction of a second. Users back that claim by praising the performance of this vacuum cleaner. 16ft cord is long enough to clean a large-size SUV in one attempt. You get three nozzle attachments to deal with different kinds of mess. Thus, it doesn’t feel too difficult to keep the car’s interior clean all the time.
Best premium cordless option
Vaclife portable car vacuum cleaner
It helps you in cleaning the entire car in one charge!
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The VacLife VL106 has impressed thousands of users with its battery capacity. Its battery power can power the tool for 30-40 minutes in one charge. Strong suction power allows you to clean the entire vehicle twice during this span. People are also using this vacuum cleaner in their homes and offices because it satisfied them with impeccable performance.
It is equipped with HEPA filters and the filter comes with innovative wraps. Remove the detachable dust cup and you can clean the filter and dustbowl within a few seconds. Use one of several nozzle attachments to clean different surfaces efficiently. Ordinary cordless vacuum cleaners do not offer such impressive features. Therefore, VacLife VL106 is one of the finest car vacuums you can buy today!
Best for pet hair
Black+Decker portable car vacuum cleaner
It cleans dust and debris efficiently and prevents them from escaping out!
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Black+Decker has produced many top-quality power tools. Now, this brand is providing you with a powerful cleaning tool. The BDH2020FL vacuum cleaner is an excellent choice for cleaning cars, small homes, and offices.
This vacuum cleaner comes got a 2.6-ounce dustbowl and 24 AW suction power. Whether there is dust, pet hair, human hair, spilt liquid, or other debris, it will suck all the mess in a few minutes. This battery-powered car vacuum comes with a 3-stage filtration system. Dust and debris never escape out once removed by this 3.2lbs car vac. Therefore, it is an excellent choice as a car vacuum cleaner.
Best cheap option
Banaton portable car vacuum cleaner
It’s the most affordable car vacuum with strong suction power!
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Very few brands have managed to deliver high-quality products at affordable prices. Banaton is one of those brands. It is a handheld car vacuum that delivers awesome 5000Pa suction power. You can clean both wet and dry mess with it. Feel free to move its nozzle over pet hair, dust, sand, food particles, gravel, and other debris hiding underneath the car seat.
This multifunctional vacuum has a 16.4ft long cord and a decent size tank to collect all the mess. It got an LED lamp to clean dark areas flawlessly. Ergonomic design allows you to hold and use the vacuum cleaner for a long time. You would love to use it to clean your car perfectly until you get the best cleaning results.
Best for dust
BLACK+DECKER Flex portable car vacuum cleaner
This corded car vacuum is portable and it requires minimum space for storage.
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It is another reliable vacuum cleaner from Black+Decker. It is a compact car vacuum that comes with 19-ounce dustbowl capacity. Decent suction power allows it to remove daily mess from the car’s dashboard, seats, floor, and trunk.
You get a 2-in-1 flip-up brush, a 4-foot long flexible hose, and a long crevice tool for cleaning. Plug its adaptor into your car’s DC power supply and it will work smoothly. Users have reported that this vacuum cleaner doesn’t generate too strong suction, but it is easy to carry. Therefore, we consider it another dependable car vacuum.
What to look for in a good car vacuum
Check the following things when assessing a new car vacuum cleaner:
Corded or cordless
There are mainly two types of car vacuums, corded and cordless. Car owners use both types of vacuum cleaners widely because both come with certain perks and limitations.
Corded car vacuums come with a power cord that is plugged into a power source to power the machine. All the car vacuums reviewed in this post take power from the car’s 12V power outlet. Make sure the power cord is long! Thus, you can easily take the vacuum cleaner to the back portion of the car. This type of car vacuums often has stronger suction power than cordless models.
Cordless car vacuums are more maneuverable than corded models. The modern variants of cordless car vacuums come with a rechargeable battery. It may take 3-4 hours to charge the battery completely. You can run the vacuum cleaner for 20-30 minutes in one charge and clean the vehicle efficiently.
Cordless car vacuums have battery indicators to inform you about the runtime of the machine. Both corded and cordless vacuums can have LED lights installed on the head and other features to make cleaning easier.
Vacuum cleaner size
Most of the car owners seek a car vacuum that is easy to maneuver and operate. Many people choose a compact size cleaning tool to carry in the car. It will be perfect as a handheld-portable vacuum cleaner, but you might not get the desired suction power.
You should buy an adequately sized vacuum cleaner. It will come with decent suction power, maneuverability, and other advanced features. Thus, you will be able to finish the interior cleaning work within a few minutes. So, carefully assess this factor before you place the order.
Weight
Pick a vacuum cleaner that is lightweight if you are looking for a handheld car vac. A heavy cleaning tool will be too tough to move in and out of the car. Professional cleaners use heavy-duty car vacuum cleaners to finish the job faster. You can choose one of such heavy-duty machines if you will store it in your garage. Go for a lightweight vacuum if that’s not the purpose!
Lightweight car vacuums are also easy to maneuver. You can clean tough-to-reach areas of the car quite conveniently with such a tool. It would be much easier to carry in the car’s trunk. Thus, you can clean the interior wherever you want and whenever you want.
Filtration system
A car vacuum with top-quality filters can deliver perfect cleaning results. The HEPA filter is considered the best for car vacuums. You can consider other options as well, but make sure the filter is as good as HEPA filter or reject the vac.
Vacuums equipped with top-quality filters can pick the smallest debris and hair strands in one attempt. Ordinary vacuum cleaners do not offer such an impressive performance. Therefore, the filter is an important component to check when you are buying a vacuum cleaner.
Tank capacity
Do you want to empty the car vacuum time-and-again when cleaning the car? Choose a cleaning tool with decent tank capacity if you don’t want to face that problem. Many car owners buy vacuum cleaners with poor tank capacity. Cleaning becomes a frustrating experience because you need to remove the squalor multiple times.
You will clean the dashboard, floor, trunk, storage compartments, and car seats. Pick a car vacuum with a large size tank. It will be able to accommodate all the dust and debris in one attempt.
Wet & dry cleaning
You can’t predict what kind of mess you will find inside the car. Dry dust, dirt, and debris are common, but sometimes liquid spills also cause troubles. Suppose you are drinking some soda and suddenly it spills on the seat, it will be tough to remove if you don’t clean it quickly.
Buy a car vacuum with dry and wet cleaning capability. It will suck spilt liquid within a few seconds and keep your car clean. The best car vacuum reviewed in this post is the finest wet and dry car vac. So, buy it and use it!
Suction power
Different car vacuum cleaners have different suction power. Some got strong suction capability whereas the rest got decent or ordinary suction. Choose a vacuum cleaner that meets all the above-listed criteria and still delivers strong suction power.
Corded car vacuums are famous for strong suction power. However, some cordless models also deliver great results. A car vacuum with strong suction can clean a lot more mess than a cleaning tool with poor suction power. You won’t even need to move the nozzle twice over the same surface. So, first, check this feature and then buy the vacuum cleaner.
FAQ
Do all the car vacuums clean wet and dry mess?
No! You must check the product specs before placing the order because many car vacuum cleaners clean the only dry mess. You won’t get the desired cleaning results if you don’t check details carefully!
How long a typical cordless car vacuum takes to charge completely?
An ordinary cordless car vacuum can take 5-6 hours for charging completely. However, models we have reviewed in this post use smart charging technology to charge within 3-4 hours. You also get a long runtime!
Can I use a car vacuum to clean my house?
Most of the corded car vacuum cleaners are built to take power directly from the car’s 12V DC power outlet. You may not be able to plug this machine into your home’s power source. However, you can easily use a battery-powered car vacuum inside your home.
Why all the car vacuums are lightweight?
Vacuum cleaner manufacturers make these machines lightweight because they want these vacuums to be portable. A heavy vacuum cleaner won’t be portable and you will have to take your car to a cleaning centre if you are travelling to another city. Therefore, car vacuums are lightweight, portable, and different from regular vacuums.
Does expensive cost assure better performance of a car vacuum?
No! Expensive cost never promises better performance, whether you are buying a car vacuum or another product. Check the specs, features, and reviews carefully to buy the best product in your budget.
Final verdict
All the car vacuum cleaners we have reviewed in this post are reliable, durable, and known for their quiet and effective performance. Each car cleaning tool got a special feature! We have described it with other key features to help you buy the best car vacuum. So, check the reviews carefully and then buy a perfect car vacuum to clean your car.
