Finding the best car vacuums can greatly simplify and enhance the cleaning process for your vehicle’s interior. Igor Pomishchyk, the owner of EcoStates Elite Car Detailing, says that when choosing a vacuum, it’s important to put quality and strength first. The vacuum nozzle should ideally be small, thin, and long so that it can reach and clean every part of the car, including the spaces between and under the seats.
To evaluate the vacuums, we carefully timed how long it took to take them out of the box and set them up, how well they cleaned common car debris like cereal, sand, mulch, and hair, and how easy it was to empty the dust bin. We also took eight models home and tested them for two months in our own cars.
Kids will drop snacks, pets will shed hair, and mud will get on the furniture. A car interior vacuum, on the other hand, can make your car look like it just came out of the showroom. These vacuums are very portable and light, and they work best on low-pile carpets. They also come with a variety of tools that can be used to clean hard-to-reach places like cracks. Below we have mentioned the best car vacuums.
Best Car Vacuums comparison table
| Vacuum Model | Power Source | Corded/Cordless | Compact Size | Pet-Friendly | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bissell Cleanview Deluxe Corded Handheld | Corded | Corded | No | No | $30-$50 |
| Dewalt 20-Volt Cordless Handheld Vacuum | Battery | Cordless | No | No | $100-$150 |
| Worx 20V Power Share Cordless Cube Vac | Battery | Cordless | Yes | No | $50-$80 |
| Black & Decker AdvancedClean+ Pet Hand | Battery | Cordless | Yes | Yes | $70-$100 |
| Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ | Battery | Cordless | Yes | Yes | $100-$200 |
Bissell Cleanview Deluxe Corded Handheld Vacuum
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Corded |
| Voltage | 120V |
| Motor | 4 amps |
| Filtration | Multi-level filtration system |
| Dirt Capacity | 0.78 liters |
| Cord Length | 18 feet |
| Attachments | Crevice tool, wide mouth tool |
| Weight | 3.75 pounds |
| Warranty | 1 year limited warranty |
The Bissell CleanView Deluxe Corded Hand Vacuum is a great choice for people who have pets because it has strong suction that doesn’t wear out and pulls pet hair into a dust bin that is surprisingly big. Even though the rubber pet hair tool on this vacuum is not very good, the other attachments do a good job of getting rid of pet hair that gets stuck in every nook and cranny of a car. Even though the rubber pet hair tool sounded great in theory, it wasn’t very useful because the holes weren’t big enough to pick up big clumps of hair. Also, more hair got stuck to the rubber bristles on the outside of the vacuum than inside.
But we liked the other attachments, which made it easy to clean everywhere in the car. When used with the crevice tool, the hose attachment was great for getting into smaller cracks. We also liked that this vacuum was small and easy to carry around and use in a car. The large handle is also easy to hold, but it was inconvenient that the button to open the dust bin was right next to the carrying handle. It was hard to empty the vacuum because of this. We found that it was easiest to hold the vacuum between our legs while unlatching and emptying the unit with both hands. Overall, it is one of the best car vacuums that you can buy.
Pros
- Powerful suction for thorough cleaning
- Long cord length for extended reach
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
Cons
- Limited mobility due to the corded design
- Requires access to an electrical outlet for operation
Dewalt 20-Volt Cordless Handheld Vacuum
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Cordless |
| Voltage | 20V |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion |
| Motor | 2.5 amps |
| Filtration | Washable filter |
| Dirt Capacity | 0.5 liters |
| Runtime | Up to 15 minutes |
| Attachments | Wide nozzle, crevice tool |
| Weight | 3.2 pounds |
| Warranty | 3 year limited warranty |
The DEWALT 20-Volt Max Stick Vacuum comes with a number of useful attachments five, to be exact that make it a good cleaning tool for the car, workshop, and home. The HEPA filter keeps finer dust and dander inside the vacuum, and the 46 CFM makes it possible to clean very quickly. This vacuum is made to pick up everything from dropped nails to big bits of sawdust, so its interior can handle mulch and other things in your car. This vacuum is advanced because it has a belt loop hood and an LED light built into the body.
This vacuum’s suction power was strong enough to pick up cereal and clumps of hair from hard surfaces, but it had a little trouble picking up sand from soft surfaces like carpet. The crevice tool also helped get rid of dirt and dust between and under car seats. We really liked the gulper brush because it made it easy to clean large areas quickly, like the trunk of a car. Thus, it is one of the best car vacuums that you can buy.
Pros
- Washable filter for easy maintenance
- Lightweight and ergonomic for comfortable handling
- Comes with attachments for versatile cleaning options
Cons
- Relatively short battery runtime may require frequent recharging
- Smaller dirt capacity may require more frequent emptying
Worx 20V Power Share Cordless Cube Vac Compact Vacuum
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Cordless |
| Voltage | 20V |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion |
| Motor | 2 amps |
| Filtration | HEPA filter |
| Dirt Capacity | 0.6 liters |
| Runtime | Up to 12 minutes |
| Attachments | Brush attachment, crevice tool |
| Weight | 2.6 pounds |
| Warranty | 2 year limited warranty |
Worx came up with a great idea when they made this vacuum. It’s not often that we see a handheld vacuum with a hose instead of being a self-contained unit, and we’re pretty excited about it. The hose is four feet long, and it has several attachments that make it easy to get dirt out of places that are hard to reach. This vacuum also did very well in our suction tests. On average, it picked up 94% of the dirt in one swipe, and that was when it wasn’t even on its highest setting.
The dust bin is the only thing we don’t like about this vacuum. Unlike some other models, this vacuum’s dust cup isn’t removable. When you need to empty it, you have to take the whole thing with you, and cleaning it can be a bit of a pain. Still, the dust cup is big compared to the size of the vacuum as a whole, so you may not have to empty it as often. Still, it is one of the best car vacuums that you can buy.
Pros
- HEPA filter ensures efficient dust and allergen capture
- Quick and easy to empty the dirt canister
- Comes with attachments for various cleaning tasks
Cons
- Limited runtime may require frequent recharging
- Smaller dirt capacity may require more frequent emptying
Black & Decker AdvancedClean+ Pet Hand Vacuum
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Cordless |
| Voltage | 20V |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion |
| Motor | 3 amps |
| Filtration | Washable filter with scent |
| Dirt Capacity | 0.6 liters |
| Runtime | Up to 20 minutes |
| Attachments | Motorized brush, crevice tool |
| Weight | 3.8 pounds |
| Warranty | 2 year limited warranty |
If you’ve ever traveled with your pet in the car, you know how much hair they can shed on the seats and floor. This model is different because it has an attachment with rubber bristles and a motor that can pick up pet hair. The AdvancedClean+ Pet Hand Vacuum beat out upright and stick vacuums to make our list of the best vacuums for pet hair. This is impressive, given how small it is.
The vacuum is also very quiet, which our testers loved. In fact, the independent certification program Quiet Mark gave it three stars, which is the best rating a vacuum can get for being quiet. The air vents on the sides of this model push air out pretty hard, so you may need to pay attention as you vacuum to make sure you don’t blow your mess somewhere else. Overall, it is one of the best car vacuums that you can buy.
Pros
- Specifically designed for pet hair removal
- Cordless operation allows for hassle
Cons
- Relatively short battery runtime may require frequent recharging
Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model Number | UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ |
| Cordless | Yes |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
| Run Time | Up to 40 minutes |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours |
| Dust Cup Capacity | 0.65 liters |
| Filtration System | Cyclonic |
| Pet Hair Tool | Yes |
| Weight | 6.6 pounds (3 kg) |
| Warranty | 5 years |
The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is the best car vacuum we have tried. It is small enough to fit on a shelf in your garage or in the trunk of your car. It’s also very light, which makes it easy to carry around without making it feel too cheap or flimsy. It does a great job of cleaning up messes on flat, hard surfaces, and it’s also very good at cleaning carpets and floor mats. Thus, it is one of the best car vacuums that you can buy.
It has a large dirt compartment for a handheld model, so you only have to empty it every so often. Even compared to other handheld vacuums, its battery life of just over 10 minutes isn’t very impressive, so you’ll have to work quickly when cleaning out your car. Worse, the battery isn’t meant to be taken out, so you can’t switch it out for a new one if the old one starts to work less well over time.
Pros
- Cordless design allows for hassle-free maneuverability.
- Long run time provides extended cleaning sessions.
Cons
- Relatively long charging time compared to some other models.
- May not be suitable for large-scale cleaning due to limited dust cup capacity.
FAQs
A car vacuum is a small and portable vacuum cleaner that is made to clean the inside of cars. It helps get rid of dirt, dust, crumbs, pet hair, and other things from your car’s carpets, upholstery, and hard-to-reach places.
A car vacuum is a must if you want to keep the inside of your car clean and organized. When you vacuum regularly, you can get rid of dirt, allergens, and other things that can build up over time. It also helps keep the upholstery and carpets in your car in good shape, keeping them looking clean and making them last longer.
There are different kinds of car vacuums on the market, such as handheld vacuums with cords, handheld vacuums without cords, and vacuums that plug into your car’s 12-volt power outlet. Each type has pros and cons, so it’s important to think about things like suction power, battery life (for cordless vacuums), and the attachments that come with the vacuum.
