We spent 41 hours on research, videography, and editing, to review the top choices for this wiki. Don’t allow the interior of your car, truck, or SUV to become overrun with dust, dirt, leaves and gunk. Keep it tidy and presentable with one of these vacuums instead. They’re all ideal for auto use, but many are lightweight and portable enough to utilize around the house as well. They’re available in a variety of sizes and styles to suit different needs. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to support our work.
10. Carrand AutoSpa
- Easy to change attachments
- Convenient built-in carrying handle
- Yellow tip coloring flakes off
| Brand | Carrand |
|---|---|
| Model | 94005AS |
| Weight | 5.9 pounds |
| Rating | 3.6 / 5.0 |
9. Eureka EasyClean
- Removable and washable dust bin
- Long 20-foot power cord
- Somewhat heavy and unwieldy
| Brand | Eureka |
|---|---|
| Model | 71B |
| Weight | 6.8 pounds |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5.0 |
8. Vandek Automotive
- Includes a handy carrying case
- Sucks up pet hair effectively
- No integrated cord storage
| Brand | VANDEK |
|---|---|
| Model | 1001CV |
| Weight | 3.3 pounds |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5.0 |
7. Lolldeal Mini
- Backed by a 1-year warranty
- Not very noisy while running
- Zipper on carrying bag is weak
| Brand | LOLLDEAL |
|---|---|
| Model | LOLLDEAL |
| Weight | 1.4 pounds |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5.0 |
6. Black & Decker Cordless
- See-through dust bin
- Charges fully in 4 hours
- Requires frequent cleaning
| Brand | BLACK+DECKER |
|---|---|
| Model | CHV1410L |
| Weight | 3.6 pounds |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5.0 |
5. Hotor Cleaner
- Hepa filter is easy to clean
- Built-in led light
- 2 suction power settings
| Brand | HOTOR |
|---|---|
| Model | pending |
| Weight | 2.4 pounds |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5.0 |
4. Fortem Suction
- Suitable for wet and dry use
- Simple to empty the canister
- Plugs into cigarette lighter socket
| Brand | FORTEM THE EXTRA MILE |
|---|---|
| Model | pending |
| Weight | 2.7 pounds |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5.0 |
3. Metropolitan Compact
- Extremely durable and well-made
- 2 long extension wands
- A dusting brush
| Brand | Metro Vacuum |
|---|---|
| Model | VNB-83BA |
| Weight | 13 pounds |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5.0 |
2. ArmorAll Peak
- Converts to a blower easily
- Shuts off automatically when full
- Onboard accessory and hose storage
| Brand | ArmorAll |
|---|---|
| Model | AA255 |
| Weight | 8.7 pounds |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5.0 |
1. Metropolitan Vac N Blo
- Wheels make it easy to move
- Comes with a tool caddy
- Made in the united states
| Brand | Metropolitan Vacuum Cle |
|---|---|
| Model | PRO83BA |
| Weight | 25.7 pounds |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5.0 |
What Makes A Vacuum Suited For Cars
In most cases, using a regular home vacuum cleaner inside of a car can be strenuous, take too much time, and it won’t even pick up all of the dirt and debris inside of the vehicle.
A car vacuum has special features designed with the compact and complex landscape of a car in mind. A model with a slim nozzle is crucial since even the widest aisles between car seats is rarely as broad as a full-size vacuum cleaner. But the carpet and flooring between seats is still the easiest part of the car to vacuum; you still have the space under seats, the area between the sides of seats and the doors, the floor beneath the gas and brake pedals and (if you’re really thorough) the trunk, with all of its pockets and crevices.
With that cluttered landscape in mind, you want a car vacuum that has various smart attachments, like a visor that can slide into low areas, crevice tools for detailed cleanup, and even blower nozzles for those areas you just cannot reach. When you think of all the eating you do in your car, and the bacteria that comes with it, it’s important that no corner goes unvacuumed.
Ideally, you don’t eat in your car since a study has found it can reduce the bluebook value of a vehicle. But if it’s a habit you can’t break, you need to thoroughly clean up the messes that come with it. Since navigating a vacuum around a car is much more difficult than moving one around a home, a model that is lightweight, or even has a shoulder strap for easy carrying, will be very helpful. Cordless varieties are ideal for cars, too, so you don’t need to worry about a wire getting wrapped up around the seats.
Tips For Vacuuming Your Car
Professional car wash services will have you believe that they can clean the inside of your car better than you can. But that’s not true; save the average $35 to $50 it costs to have a professional do it, and follow these tips. First, remove all of your floor mats and vacuum these outside of the car; this will also let you clean up any particles that may have been stuck underneath them.
Use the largest nozzle to vacuum the floors so that you can suck up as much dirt in one motion as possible. Remember to move your seats all the way forward and all the way back so you can thoroughly vacuum under them. Use a narrow attachment to thoroughly clean the area around your brake and gas pedals. Use that same attachment to reach between the console and seats.
If you have kids or pets that have soiled the carpet, vacuum that area to remove any surface debris and apply some stain remover. Once the area is dry, go over it again with the vacuum to pick up any remaining dirt. Clean the seats and dashboard with a soft brush attachment as this will be a little more gentle on the materials of these parts.
The History of Vacuum Technology
Before vacuum cleaners, people would remove dirt and dust from their rugs by hanging them up, and beating them with a large stick until most of the debris had flown off of them. Fortunately for carpet cleaners everywhere, in 1869 an inventor named Ives McGaffey invented a hand-pumped vacuum cleaner called the Whirlwind. This primitive model consisted mainly of wood and canvas. McGaffey’s hand-operated vacuum had some features that have remained staples of this device, like a tall, erect body that allowed the user to stand up straight while they used it.
Two of the major vacuum systems that came after the WhirlWind depended on horse-driven carriages to operate. A man named John Thurman had a horse-drawn vacuum cleaner service in the early 1900s, that would go door-to-door in St. Louis charging four dollars per cleaning. Thurman went on to file for several patents relating to vacuum cleaners and their parts, including a hand-operated one. The British inventor Hubert Cecil Booth had the second famous horse-driven vacuum system. It ran on petrol, and to use it, one would have to drag its long hoses into their home.
In 1907, a janitor at an Ohio department store James Spangler created one of the first portable vacuum cleaners. His invention consisted of little more than a soap box, a broom handle and a fan motor. Spangler went on to improve his vacuum significantly, found the Electric Suction Sweeper Company, and sell his patent rights to William Hoover of the Hoover company.