Best Car Vacuum Cleaner

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Best Car Vacuum Cleaner

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How to Pick the Best Car Vacuum Cleaner

Yes, they’re called car vacuum cleaners, but they can be used for so much more. Don’t let their relatively small size put you off – these handheld vacuum cleaners are powerful and more than capable of doing any job. So, what should you look out for to find the best car vacuum? First and foremost, decide whether you prefer a battery-powered or plugged-in car vacuum. Check out the following specs to make sure you’re getting a high-quality product.

Best Car Vacuum Cleaner

Battery or Plug-In – The difference between these two types is pretty straightforward – the former work on batteries, the latter on wall outlets, or your car’s cigarette lighter. Which one is better? Honestly, it all depends on your preference. If it’s solely for your car, the battery-type should do it. However, if you also want to vacuum your stairs, bed, couch, and everything in between you might want to go for a corded vacuum. Similarly, if it’s a big car, or you reckon you’ll need more than 20 minutes to make it sparkle, a corded vacuum is the way to go.

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Battery Life – There are several different types of batteries used in vacuum cleaners. The best ones feature a modern, Lithium-Ion battery. They are an ideal choice because they hold charges much longer, are quicker to recharge, and have a very long life expectancy. To make this easy for you, we’ve only included car vacuums that offer a high-quality battery with good battery life and solid performance. Nothing is worth than an underpowered battery that drops out right in the middle of a cleaning job. No worries there, we’ve got you covered.

How to Pick the Best Car Vacuum Cleaner

Watt – Wattage tells us how strong the vacuum motor is and in turn how effective it is at picking up dust and dirt in your car. Picture it as being similar to horsepower in a car. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll speak of the important stuff, and limit ourselves to output power. It’s important to note that when we speak of vacuums, we may see Air Watts here and there. Don’t let this confuse you – some manufacturers choose to use this unit instead of the usual Watt to stress the suction power of their vacuums. If you want to compare, anything over 15 Air Watts is more than acceptable.

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Bagless Design – When it comes to the convenience factor, bag-less vacuums definitely take the cake over their bagged counterparts. Not having to buy bags is more budget friendly and green. Additionally, bag-less vacuums are easier to empty. We definitely recommend a bag-less design, since it’s better and more modern. Some people prefer the opposite, and the choice comes down to personal preference. If you want to save money, we highly suggest going bag-less.

Best Car Vacuum Cleaner

Dimensions – Unless you plan to take the vacuum with you or store it in a small space, the dimensions are not that important. However, many people might prefer a small model, so we included them for each product. Generally, you can apply the following method: If it’s small and cheap, it ain’t powerful; if it’s small and powerful, it ain’t cheap; if it’s cheap and powerful, it ain’t small. Of course, there are exceptions to this, but it’s a decent rule of thumb. What’s the right choice? Buy a car vacuum that’s powerful first and foremost. It will save you time and will be much more convenient to use.

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Weight – Car vacuums are handheld devices, so weight is a big deal. While it’s true that heavier vacuum cleaners tend to be more powerful, there are many exceptions. This is the result of more light-weight, modern materials used in their design. Anything under five pounds is light enough to hold comfortably, even during longer cleaning sessions. We have included only lightweight vacuum models, since your goal is probably to quickly clean your car and not get a full arm workout, right? Below you will find the weight for each reviewed vacuum so that you can compare for yourself.

Top 10 Products

Without blowing any more hot air, let’s get right down to the best car vacuum cleaner and the best cheap car vacuum. After researching 30 new and bestselling products, we’ve picked 10 excellent products that offer a smart balance of features and value. There are two top choices and eight great alternatives, so you’ll be sure to find the vacuum that fits your needs and budget.

Dyson V6 Car Vacuum

Dyson V6 Car Vacuum
Our top pick for this list is the brand new Dyson V6 Car Vacuum Cleaner. When it comes to cutting-edge design and technology, Dyson is the powerhouse of the industry. The company is known for powerful performance and easy usability, and that’s showcased in the Dyson V6. It weighs only a little bit over three pounds and is battery powered, yet this car vacuum packs a massive punch. The proprietary Dyson V6 digital motor cleans ultra-efficiently, and coupled with the long-lasting battery, it should give you over 20 minutes of excellent suction. That’s enough to clean sedans and even large SUVs easily. The power of the suction comes from Dyson’s propriety cyclone system – 15 cyclones arranged in two tiers work in parallel to create fantastic suction and pickup performance. In short, this is the best car vacuum cleaner. No other product matches its convenience and cleaning performance. We highly recommend it. Try it, and you won’t need to buy another car vacuum again.
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Hikeren Car Vacuum

Hikeren Car Vacuum
If you want a nice, clean car and look to save money a the same time, the best choice is the Hikeren Car Vacuum. The vacuum does a great job, while not breaking the bank. Yes, it does feature a manual with somewhat broken English, but regarding cleaning performance, it shines. It’s a plug-in model that uses your car’s cigarette lighter to draw energy (just make sure your car’s voltage is 12V). The vacuum includes everything you need to get started immediately. You get two excellent HEPA filters, a 14-foot cable, a soft long vacuum tube, several useful cleaning attachments, and even a carrying bag for ease of storage. All this, paired with the ability to get the job done, makes the Hikeren Car Vacuum a great budget choice. Its small, lightweight, and packs a punch – but most importantly, the Hikeren won’t suction too many dollar bills out of your wallet when you buy it.
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Dirt Devil Scorpion

Dirt Devil Scorpion
The Scorpion from Dirt Devil is one mean, lean sucking machine. Speaking of suction, the Scorpion takes its power from any standard wall outlet, but don’t worry! The cord is about 16 feet long, so you can easily reach any and all areas in your car, and even give your stairs a do-over without unplugging. There’s no car cigarette outlet adapter, so you can’t power it from the car itself. It’s quite lightweight, as it should be, and even your kids will have no problem slaving away with it… erm, we mean helping you clean the car. This thing is powerful and will pick up sand and even smaller pebbles with ease, so you can just as easily use it to clean your cat’s litter box. As far as warranty goes, you get three years limited coverage. Overall, this is a great car vacuum with an affordable price.
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Onshowy Car Vacuum

Onshowy Car Vacuum
The Onshowy Car Vacuum Cleaner will plug into any 12-Volt car cigarette lighter outlet and is ready to go. The cord is about ten feet long so you can tug it around to reach even the areas previously thought unreachable in your car. The included attachments make it easy to clean the floor, trunk, and everything in between. The Onshowy Vacuum comes in two design choices- black & white and all black. There are differences between these models, including the power output (the black version has the higher number). It’s a reliable vacuum that does a good job and quickly cleaning your entire car. If you happen to not like the product, the manufacturer is prepared to give you a full refund or a replacement device, no questions asked (at the time of writing). The warranty covers a 1-year period. This vacuum does a great job, give it a go.
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BLACK + DECKER CHV1410L

BLACK + DECKER CHV1410L
If you haven’t come across the name Black + Decker in your rummaging for best household devices, you’ve missed out. The CHV1410L is the perfect example of their functional design, excellent quality, and great affordability. There’s a reason why Black + Decker is a trusted name for all kinds of hardware. The CHV1410L is a handheld cordless model which uses a strong Li-Ion battery capable of holding a charge for up to a year and a half. As far as runtime goes, it gives you about 15 minutes, which is more than enough for a sedan and small SUV. To charge it, you’ll need a 14.4-Volt power source (16V max). The vacuum incorporates a translucent dirt bowl so that you can easily see when it’s time to empty it. There’s only one attachment nozzle, but it rotates to give you several cleaning angles. The product comes with a 2-year limited warranty and is one of the best we’ve found.
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Dyson DC34 Handheld

Dyson DC34 Handheld
Despite the name, you can use the Dyson DC34 Handheld Car Vacuum on boats, stairs, closets, or whatever else you need to be cleaned. You can think of it as the older brother to the Dyson V6 Animal, our top pick of the list. Just like its sibling, the DC34 is powered by the Dyson proprietary digital motor, giving it up to three times the speed of the industry’s baseline. It’s a very powerful and easy to use product, in fact, one of the best car vacuums in this review. The whole design is ergonomically driven, and cleaning with it is fun and easy. It’s a bit on the heavy side with 5 pounds, but because of the excellent form factor, the vacuum feels light. However, it more than makes up for the weight in power – you’ll have no problems cleaning car spills, your cat’s litter box, carpeted stairs, and more. Best of all, the vacuum comes with a two-year limited warranty on parts and labor, making it a great investment.
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Lolldeal Car Vacuum

Lolldeal Car Vacuum
The Lolldeal Car Vacuum comes with a 15-foot long power cord, so you can reach any area in your car, and even give hard-to-reach areas in your home a thorough going-over. The vacuum connects to any 12V car cigarette lighter outlet, or an equivalent, which gives it a decent 75W power output. If you want to use it with a standard wall outlet, you can do so, just use a compatible adapter. For cleaning purposes, the vacuum has a slim, pivoting nozzle, which should give you access to even the most tucked away nooks and crannies. The filter behind it is fully detachable and can be washed as well. It’s a great product that offers a convincing mix of price and features.
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Black+Decker BDH2000PL

Black+Decker BDH2000PL
Yet another wonder of mechanical engineering coming from Black + Decker, the BDH200PL. It’s a great cleaning device, both for the car and your household. The BDH200PL is powered by a Li-Ion, fade-free battery. This means that it won’t lose suction power as the battery depletes, offering full performance until you have to recharge. The interesting part is the pivoting nozzle, which gives you better access without needing to contort. Especially under seats and in other hard to reach areas, this comes in handy. Plus, if there’s an area you can’t get to, just use the onboard crevice tool, and it’ll do the trick. You can clean virtually anything with this vacuum, thanks to its high-performance motor and three-stage filtration system. It also comes with a two-year limited warranty for peace of mind.
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iTavah Car Vacuum

In case you need some serious power when cleaning your car, you might consider the iTavah Handheld Vacuum. The beating heart of this product is the high-end 120W turbine motor, which gives you enough suction to get even the most stubborn pet hairs hiding in the crevices. This comes with a small drawback – the motor can overheat, so you shouldn’t use it for longer than 15 minutes at a time. That’s plenty of time to clean, though, so this is only a minor issue.
The iTavah Car Vacuum set includes the vacuum cleaner itself, four separate cleaning attachments (brush and flat nozzle included), a flexible tube, and, of course, the 15-foot power cord ending in a 12V car cigarette lighter jack. One more thing – the vacuum cleans both wet and dry dirt, so you can even use it for spills.
In case you need some serious power when cleaning your car, you might consider the iTavah Handheld Vacuum. The beating heart of this product is the high-end 120W turbine motor, which gives you enough suction to get even the most stubborn pet hairs hiding in the crevices. This comes with a small drawback – the motor can overheat, so you shouldn’t use it for longer than 15 minutes at a time. That’s plenty of time to clean, though, so this is only a minor issue. The iTavah Car Vacuum set includes the vacuum cleaner itself, four separate cleaning attachments (brush and flat nozzle included), a flexible tube, and, of course, the 15-foot power cord ending in a 12V car cigarette lighter jack. One more thing – the vacuum cleans both wet and dry dirt, so you can even use it for spills.
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HOTOR Vacuum Cleaner

The HOTOR Portable Car Vacuum Cleaner does exactly what it promises, and more. The vacuum is powered by a 12V DC outlet (i. e. any standard car cigarette lighter or equivalent plug), which gives its 106W motor enough strength to pick up dirt and small objects, let alone hairs, grains of sand, dust motes, and Skittles. When it comes the time to empty the vacuum, simply pull the filter out and give it a quick wash with a brush. Keep in mind, the vacuum cleans both wet and dry spills, so cleaning it with some water is often the best way to go.
The set includes not only the vacuum cleaner and the 16-foot cord, but also a host of different attachments, such as an extension hose, brush, crevice tool, and even a carrying bag for more efficient storage. Best of all, the manufacturer offers a money-back guarantee or replacement within one year from purchase (at the time of writing).
The HOTOR Portable Car Vacuum Cleaner does exactly what it promises, and more. The vacuum is powered by a 12V DC outlet (i. e. any standard car cigarette lighter or equivalent plug), which gives its 106W motor enough strength to pick up dirt and small objects, let alone hairs, grains of sand, dust motes, and Skittles. When it comes the time to empty the vacuum, simply pull the filter out and give it a quick wash with a brush. Keep in mind, the vacuum cleans both wet and dry spills, so cleaning it with some water is often the best way to go. The set includes not only the vacuum cleaner and the 16-foot cord, but also a host of different attachments, such as an extension hose, brush, crevice tool, and even a carrying bag for more efficient storage. Best of all, the manufacturer offers a money-back guarantee or replacement within one year from purchase (at the time of writing).
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About the Author

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Jennifer Trimbee

Expert Researcher and Writer

Jennifer Trimbee, a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped, is an expert writer with many years of experience. Jennifer writes about technology, sports, outdoor, and gear products.

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Article last updated on:

September 30, 2019

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Dyson V6 Car Vacuum

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