Les meilleurs aspirateurs de voiture pour un intérieur propre

Les aspirateurs de voiture sont souvent très abordables, énumèrent des fonctionnalités intéressantes, ont de bonnes critiques et ne fonctionnent généralement pas. Ils promettent de faciliter le nettoyage de la voiture :il suffit de les brancher sur votre port 12 V ou de les retirer du chargeur, et en quelques secondes, vous pouvez empêcher vos sièges, tapis de sol et console de se salir. Ils sont livrés avec des accessoires spécifiques à la voiture tels que des suceurs plats, de longs tuyaux et des brosses, et se rangent dans des sacs de rangement pratiques. Il est si facile de remettre à plus tard le nettoyage de la saleté dans votre voiture et avant que vous ne vous en rendiez compte, c'est incontrôlable. Avec un aspirateur de voiture, vous devriez pouvoir le sortir à tout moment, le ranger et vous mettre en route.

Votre expérience réelle sera probablement beaucoup plus décevante. Lorsque nous avons commencé les tests, nous avons été surpris de voir à quel point ils étaient mauvais. Notre sélection de l'éditeur fait un excellent travail, et il existe de nombreux autres aspirateurs à batterie ou filaires qui fonctionneront très bien sur votre voiture, mais nous n'avons trouvé aucun aspirateur de voiture 12 V que nous recommanderions.

Cela ne veut pas dire qu'il n'y a pas de bonnes options. Les aspirateurs d'atelier ont beaucoup de puissance et de longs tuyaux, et sont le premier outil que tout détaillant éclate lorsqu'il démarre à l'intérieur d'une voiture. De plus, ils sont très utiles à la fois dans le magasin et pour les travaux ménagers. Il existe également des ordinateurs de poche conventionnels que nous aimons.

Comment nous avons évalué les aspirateurs de voiture

Nous avons acheté une sélection d'aspirateurs de voiture de différents styles à tester. Nous avons demandé à plusieurs personnes de les essayer à l'intérieur des voitures, d'utiliser les accessoires et de les comparer à d'autres enfants d'aspirateurs pour les mêmes travaux. Tous les aspirateurs 12V que nous avons testés étaient trop mauvais pour être recommandés, mais nous en avons laissé un (avec des avertissements) car il est si populaire.

Pour plus d'informations sur les meilleurs aspirateurs de voiture, consultez notre table des matières.

1. Choix de l'éditeur :Aspirateur à main Black+Decker Dustbuster (CHV1410L)

Le Dustbuster ne coûte pas beaucoup plus cher et est bien meilleur que les autres choix. Crédit photo :David Traver Adolphus / AutoGuide.com.

Nous pensons que le meilleur aspirateur à main actuellement disponible est le Black+Decker Dustbuster. Cet aspirateur à main n'est pas seulement un choix idéal pour nettoyer les voitures, mais il est également idéal pour un usage domestique. Pesant seulement 2,6 livres, l'aspirateur sans fil ne peut être utilisé que sur des matériaux secs, ce qui n'est pas vrai pour tous les aspirateurs sans fil portatifs, alors gardez cela à l'esprit si vous magasinez pour un aspirateur humide/sec. Il est évalué à 15,2 watts avec une tension maximale de 16 volts et a une puissance d'aspiration de 15,2 watts d'air (AW). Le bac à poussière lavable a une capacité de 20,6 onces et c'est l'un des aspirateurs à main les plus faciles à vider et à nettoyer. L'alimentation du Dustbuster est une batterie lithium-ion qui prend environ quatre heures pour se recharger complètement. Mieux encore, le chargement est facile car il utilise une base de chargement. La société affirme que la batterie est capable de conserver une charge jusqu'à 18 mois, ce qui vous permet de la garder facilement dans votre voiture.

Nous avons testé six aspirateurs jusqu'à présent en 2022, et ce modèle de Dustbuster est de loin notre préféré pour nettoyer une voiture. Les seuls inconvénients sont qu'il est plus grand et un peu plus bruyant que la plupart des aspirateurs 12 V et certains autres aspirateurs à batterie, il peut donc être difficile de s'adapter dans des endroits restreints. Sinon, il surpasse tout ce qui se trouve de ce côté d'un aspirateur domestique de 110 V, ramassant facilement de petits graviers et autres débris. Un suceur plat intégré fonctionne très bien pour pénétrer dans les sièges, les porte-gobelets et d'autres petits endroits, et il a assez de puissance pour retirer la saleté des tapis de sol, bien qu'il ne fasse pas un aussi bon travail qu'un aspirateur d'atelier (ou à pression). machine à laver). La qualité de construction est également une étape importante au-dessus de chaque aspirateur 12 V que nous avons testé, ce qui nous donne l'assurance qu'il durera des années.

Avec plusieurs aspirateurs actuellement dispersés dans le garage AutoGuide, le Black + Decker Dustbuster est le seul que nous recherchons (à part parfois un Bissel AeroSlim pour les endroits exigus) qui n'est pas un aspirateur d'atelier. Black+Decker soutient le Dustbuster avec une garantie de deux ans et propose des options de service client et de garantie via des formulaires Web et des e-mails sur le site blackanddecker.com, mais nous n'avons pas pu trouver de numéro sans frais.

  • Avantages /Les accessoires font partie de l'aspirateur et ne peuvent pas être perdus, support de recharge puissant
  • Inconvénients /Plus grand et plus cher que les aspirateurs de voiture 12V
  • Produit promu :Aspirateur de voiture portable haute puissance ANKO

    Voici un aspirateur sec et humide qui contient du sérieux puissance d'aspiration. L'aspirateur de voiture portable 12 volts d' ANKO offre une aspiration de 4 300 à 4 500 PA (unités de pression pascal), ce qui le rend suffisamment puissant pour ramasser facilement deux iPhone 6s. En d'autres termes, avec ce type de puissance d'aspiration, la poussière et la saleté n'ont aucune chance. L'aspirateur de voiture portable ANKO est également exceptionnellement silencieux, ne générant que 75 dB de bruit.

    Bien que l'aspirateur soit filaire, ce cordon mesure plus de 15 pieds de long, soit plus que suffisant pour pénétrer dans à peu près n'importe quel coin ou recoin de votre véhicule. Il est également livré avec de nombreux accessoires - une longue bouche, une brosse et un long tube souple - vous aurez donc le bon outil pour n'importe quel travail, qu'il s'agisse de poils d'animaux, de miettes de nourriture ou même de liquides. C'est un aspirateur eau et poussière, après tout, il a donc une réponse à presque tous les dégâts.

    Mieux encore, ANKO offre une garantie de satisfaction à 100%, ce qui signifie que si vous ne l'aimez pas, vous récupérerez votre argent. Si vous cherchez un aspirateur de voiture portable polyvalent, vous l'avez trouvé.

    *Il s'agit d'un emplacement sponsorisé.

  • Avantages /Aspirateur d'atelier eau/poussière, portable, livré avec 3 accessoires utiles, grande puissance d'aspiration
  • Inconvénients /Cordon
  • 2. Meilleur aspirateur sec/humide pour voitures :Aspirateur sec/humide Armor All de 2,5 gallons

    La taille compacte et la puissance utile font de l'aspirateur Armor All un bon choix pour un nettoyage de voiture plus intensif. Crédit photo :Amazon.com.

    Vous ne vous souciez pas d'un aspirateur à main sans fil ? Si vous avez un accès facile à une prise de courant et que vous avez besoin d'un aspirateur sec/humide, l'aspirateur d'atelier Armor All de 2,5 gallons est un excellent choix. Il n'est pas trop puissant avec un moteur de deux chevaux, et son réservoir de stockage de 2,5 gallons n'est pas le plus grand disponible, mais cet aspirateur est assez petit pour entrer dans votre voiture pour le nettoyage, où un aspirateur portable pleine grandeur serait trop gros. manœuvrer.

    Il est livré avec un cordon d'alimentation de 10 pieds et comme il ne s'agit que d'un réservoir de 2,5 gallons, cet aspirateur est facile à déplacer pendant que vous passez l'aspirateur dans votre voiture. Un tuyau de six pieds est également inclus, ce qui devrait aider à minimiser le besoin d'une rallonge. Comme les autres aspirateurs d'atelier, le passage du tuyau d'admission à l'échappement convertit facilement l'aspirateur en souffleur.

    L'aspirateur organise ses accessoires inclus dans des fentes dans le cadre d'un système complet d'organisation d'aspirateur, y compris une buse utilitaire 2 en 1, un suceur plat, une buse de voiture de luxe, une buse soufflante, une brosse de détail, un filtre en tissu réutilisable et une mousse anti-éclaboussures réutilisable. manche. Une garantie de deux ans est standard sur ce petit aspirateur.

    L'aspirateur humide/sec Armor All de 2,5 gallons est idéal pour les propriétaires de voitures qui lavent souvent leur voiture à la maison et qui ont accès à une prise de courant pratique. Le réservoir, bien que plus petit que les autres aspirateurs d'atelier, devrait être suffisant pour votre séance de nettoyage. C'est l'un des aspirateurs d'atelier les plus portables que vous puissiez acheter, donc le transporter à la poubelle pour le vider et le nettoyer n'est pas aussi encombrant que les appareils plus grands.

  • Avantages /Aspirateur d'atelier sec/humide, portable, comprend plusieurs accessoires utiles, garantie de deux ans
  • Inconvénients /Filaire, réservoir plus petit, cordon et tuyau plus courts que les aspirateurs d'atelier pleine grandeur
  • 3. Meilleur si le prix n'a pas d'importance :Déclencheur sans fil Dyson V7

    Vous pourriez acheter 10 Dustbusters pour le prix d'un Dyson, mais c'est un très bon aspirateur. Crédit photo; Amazon.com.

    Il est assez difficile de faire une liste d'aspirateurs sans inclure un produit de Dyson. L'entreprise est spécialisée dans la fabrication d'aspirateurs de haute qualité, et vous ne trouverez probablement pas de produit qui nettoiera plus efficacement votre voiture. Le Dyson V7 Trigger est l'option la plus chère de notre liste, mais il est recommandé pour ceux qui veulent le meilleur.

    Le V7 est doté d'un puissant moteur numérique Dyson et est capable de fonctionner jusqu'à 30 minutes grâce à ses batteries lithium-ion. Given its compact size, it’s no surprise its capacity is at 0.15 gallons, but it’s also one of the easiest vacuums to empty. There’s no need to touch any of the dirt, simply pull the lever and release all its contents into a waste bin.

    Completely cord free, Dyson includes a two-year warranty with its product, along with a mini motorized tool, combination tool, and crevice tool. Dyson even tests using the IEC 62885-2 international standard for vacuum cleaners, if vacuum cleaner testing is one of your hobbies.

  • Pros /It’s a Dyson!, powerful suction, up to 30 minutes of runtime, hygienic bin emptying
  • Cons /Expensive, small capacity tank
  • 4. Best Dustbuster Alternative:Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip Corded Handheld Vacuum (SD20005RED)

    Dirt Devil is direct competition for the Dustbuster, but isn't cordless. Photo credit:Amazon.cm.

    Dirt Devil is likely a brand you have heard of when it comes to vacuums, and its Scorpion Quick Flip bagless handheld vacuum is a great choice for cleaning a car. Finished in Dirt Devil’s signature red, it features an integrated Quick Flip crevice tool that makes cleaning tight spaces a breeze. Attached to the vacuum is a 16-foot power cord, which is shorter than the Eureka vacuum. Included with the vacuum is a 2.5-foot hose, a dusting brush, sliding brush, and upholstery tool.

    Weighing 3.75 pounds, the Dirt Devil Scorpion is slightly heavier than the Dyson V7 trigger, but it is significantly cheaper. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable car vacuums on our list. It’s powered by a seven-amp motor and comes with a three-year limited warranty, which is the best of the bunch and impressive considering the price of the vacuum.

    The Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip vacuum is recommended for car owners who are looking for a cordless handheld vacuum that just “does its job” without anything fancy. Its price makes it a compelling option for everybody looking for a simple, affordable solution.

  • Pros /Seven-amp motor, quick flip crevice tool, very affordable, variety of attachments, three-year warranty
  • Cons /Not extremely lightweight, average length power cable
  • 5. Best Full Size Shop Vac:DeWALT DXV10P 10 gallon Quiet Poly Wet Dry Vacuum

    A full size shop vac takes up a lot of room, and offers a lot of power and versatility. Photo credit:David Traver Adolphus / AutoGuide.com.

    Not every household needs a wet/dry vacuum such as this one, but when the AutoGuide Garage needed a shop vac, we went with DeWalt’s 10-gallon wet/dry vacuum. Powered by a 5.5-peak horsepower motor, it’s designed for large applications, so whether it’s your work truck that needs cleaning from bumper to bumper, or your minivan filled with spilled cereal, this vacuum will handle it all. We’ve been so impressed by how quiet and light it is for the power, that we end up using it in place of a household vacuum, especially for big jobs, and a shop vac is part of every workshop.

    It features five durable rubberized casters at the bottom for smooth swiveling and easy movement. An extra long 20-foot power cord and long seven-foot hose means you have plenty of reach without having to plug or unplug the vacuum as you clean. The exhaust port also functions as a built-in blower port, using the suction hose, if you want to reverse the function of the vacuum. Lastly, the large built-in tank drain makes it easy to clean up liquid messes. When vacuuming wet messes, a washable foam filter keeps water out of the motor.

    For convenience, there’s large a built-in accessory bag that’s conveniently attached to the backside of the vacuum, allowing you to keep the included extension wands, floor nozzle, utility nozzle, and crevice nozzle organized; and an elastic hook secures the hose in place when not in use.

  • Pros /Powerful motor, large capacity, rubberized casters for mobility, 20-foot power cord, heavy duty vacuum
  • Cons /Corded, may be too large and cumbersome for some users
  • 6. Best for Cordless Tools Battery Systems:Milwaukee M18 Lithium Ion Cordless Compact Hand Held Vacuum

    If you have Milwaukee batteries, the 18V vacuum is a great option. Photo credit:Amazon.com.

    Milwaukee makes the most popular line of cordless power tools, so it makes sense they’d offer a cordless small vacuum (in fact they have three). In the middle of the lineup is the 0882-20, a large, powerful handheld that sucks up 40 cu.ft. per minute. An included HEPA filter removes allergens while you vacuum, which is particularly important inside a car.

    Included accessories are a crevice tool, floor cleaner and two extensions. The extensions are the right length to use it as a stick vacuum around the house, or you can use the four-foot flexible hose and set it down flat while vacuuming your floors and seats. However, it does not include batteries. You must get or already have Milwaukee’s M18 18 volt lithium ion batteries. The good news is they are compatible in various capacities up to 6.0Ah, which will give you extended run time and potentially power. Plus, you can keep running your portable vacuum cleaner as long as you have fresh batteries to swap in.

    Milwaukee offers an outstanding five-year warranty on their cordless handheld vacuum.

  • Pros /18v battery system, 40 CFM, lock switch
  • Cons /Needs Milwaukee batteries, expensive, large for a handheld
  • 7. BISSELL AeroSlim Cordless Vacuum

    The Bissel AeroSlim doesn't have much power, but it's convenient. Photo credit:David Traver Adolphus / AutoGuide.com.

    The Bissel AeroSlim is surprisingly well reviewed, but we’re not sure why. It’s definitely a step up from 12V vacuums, and does have at least a little suction, but not very much. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, this vacuum operates for up to 12 minutes on a single charge, which may or may not be enough depending on the size of your vehicle—and the mess. As with all rechargeable batteries, if you use it frequently and need to charge it often, battery life and performance will start to degrade.

    Features on this handheld vacuum include a duel level filtration system that uses washable and reusable filters, a small but easy-to-empty dirt bin, and USB charging. That means you can charge this vacuum with your vehicle if it’s equipped with a USB port. It doesn’t come with very many accessories however, with the sole 2-in-1 crevice tool and dusting brush found inside the box. We found that while it would pick up dust and light dirt, it couldn’t get sand out of the crevices of a floor mat, and didn’t get seats very clean.

  • Pros /Compact and sleek design, USB charging, washable filters, fairly quiet
  • Cons /Low power and small capacity
  • 8. Not Recommended:ThisWorx Model 1.0 Car Vacuum Cleaner

    ThisWorx is all style and no substance. Photo credit:David Traver Adolphus / AutoGuide.com.

    This is not just the best selling car vacuum on Amazon, but one of the best-selling automotive products, period. We’ve left it in our list for just that reason, but we don’t recommend buying it, either for yourself or as a gift. It’s very quiet, we’ll give it that, but that’s because it isn’t doing much. It is also very light and easy to clean, although the housing is a static dust magnet.

    But it isn’t good to use. It wouldn’t pick up anything heavier than light dust, and lacked the power to suck up anything at all through the extension tube. In fact, none of the accessories seemed to work, because there really isn’t any air moving through them. We have no idea why it’s so popular, other than it looks interesting? If you really must have one, you can buy the identical vacuum with slightly different colors and accessories from innumerable other brands. Some of those will be cheaper, but they will not be any better.

  • Pros /Quiet, easy to clean
  • Cons /It's a bad vacuum cleaner
  • Everything You Need to Know About Car Vacuums

    It may not seem like a car vacuum is a necessity unless you’re an absolute clean freak, but they’re an important investment in keeping your car in tiptop shape. You likely spend at least an hour in your car each day, so you might be surprised at how much dust and dirt can gather up inside your cabin. There’s also the chance something may spill in your car and having to find a car wash with an accessible vacuum isn’t always possible, and those quarters add up fast.

    Car vacuums are even more important if you’re often traveling with kids. In 2013, Honda started what has become a trend, outfitting its Odyssey minivan with a built-in car vacuum. Since then, other makes and models including the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica have been equipped with integrated car vacuums. In a way, a car vacuum is like what you thought was a luxury item that you find you can’t live without once you own one.

    Having your own car vacuum has plenty of benefits and many car vacuums are portable enough to fit in your car’s trunk so it’s easily accessible when you need it. But shopping for the right car vacuum can be overwhelming, with a plethora of options available across various price ranges. There are a few things to consider before you click the add to cart button, don’t simply just pick the highest rated or most affordable option available within your budget.

    Why Do You Need a Car Vacuum?

    Your first instinct might be to just use your household vacuum to clean up your car, and it may do an adequate job depending on the vacuum. Some household vacuums are now cordless and come with a variety of attachments, but they will never be as convenient as a car vacuum. Upright or canister household vacuums will, at the very least, need a hose attachment to help clean your car, and you’re unlikely to be use a stick vacuum at all. All large household vacuums are cumbersome and can tip over, making the task of cleaning your car’s interior more difficult than it should be.

    As you can imagine, household vacuums are designed to clean large surface areas efficiently and quickly. They may work well enough on your car’s floorboards and floor mats, but some home vacuums will have a difficult time getting into hard-to-reach places. Like most things automotive, you need the right tool for the job, which is why a car vacuum is recommended to keep your cabin nice and clean.

    Can I Use My Household Vacuum in My Car?

    We’ve certainly done that—hauled our household upright bagged vacuum outside, run an extension cord, hooked up accessory hoses and cleaned a car. But it’s cumbersome and inconvenient, and can potentially damage your vacuum as you stretch short and easy-to-tear hoses to reach inside. Stick vacuums are lighter than traditional uprights, but often don’t have the optional hoses to reach many spots, or the powerful suction to deal with dirt and gravel from your floors. Canister vacuums are a much better choice, have the best suction of all three types of household vacuums, and are always equipped with longer hoses. You’ll still have to deal with getting it, its cord and hoses and accessories out to your car, and potentially scraping it along the ground as you work.

    Should I Use a Carpet Cleaner on my Car Upholstery?

    No. Our short answer is no. Car upholstery is easy to stain, whether with coffee, kids or pets, but in our testing carpet cleaners do a poor job of removing those stains and often leave marks of their own. Even if you rent a Rug Doctor or the equivalent carpet cleaner with a special upholstery wand, in our experience it won’t clean evenly, leaving permanent dark and light spots or strips. If you have seats that need cleaning, it’s worth using a professional detailer, and to preserve your car’s appearance and resale value, we recommend a high-quality set of waterproof, washable seat covers.

    If you’re able to, you can remove you car’s seat fabric and test an area you’ll never see, like the underside. If it doesn’t stain or discolor, then you can risk using a carpet cleaner on the seating surfaces.

    Choosing the Right Vacuum for Your Car

    One of the most important factors in picking the right vacuum for your car is determining how your car is used every day. Maybe your vehicle is often used for work and gets wet and muddy, or you have a pet that loves taking rides with you. If you have kids, there’s a good chance they’ll accidentally spill food inside the car. If your car sees heavy duty use, you’ll likely want to pay close attention to the car vacuum you’re planning to purchase. Some vacuums specialize in picking up pet hair, while others will operate wet or dry.

    Now if none of the above applies to you, then a lightweight, handheld cordless vacuum might suffice. Determining how often you need to clean your car’s interior plays an important role in choosing the right car vacuum.

    Aside from budget, you’ll want to decide whether you want a corded or cordless car vacuum. Cordless vacuums are generally more expensive and have the added convenience of not being tethered or having to look for a power outlet. The downside, of course, is that they are often less powerful need to be charged after use. If you are unable to vacuum your car within a garage, there are also corded car vacuums that use the 12-volt cigarette lighter in your car. While they may seem to be the best option, they’re not as convenient as cordless vacuums and are often not as powerful as vacuums that plug into a wall.

    Recently, some automakers have been outfitting their vehicles with AC power outlets, which is something to consider when shopping for a car vacuum. If your vehicle has a power outlet built-in, you could use a corded option without having to fuss with the power outlet in your garage, although you should be careful of draining your battery.

    Is a Wet-Dry Car Vacuum Right for Me?

    As its name suggests, a wet-dry vacuum serves a dual purpose, allowing you to vacuum wet and dry parts of your interior. A wet-dry vacuum has a bucket or a collection chamber, so that wet materials never pass through any electrical or mechanical components. A wet-dry vac is ideal if you’re worried about having to deal with spills, wet, or muddy floor mats and carpeting.

    In addition, almost all wet-dry vacuums have a blower function, allowing you to blow air out rapidly. This could be useful for blowing dust or other particles from your interior.

    Basically, a wet-dry vacuum is designed to vacuum liquid, so it’s protected from possible short circuits. A typical dry vacuum is not made to hold liquid, so it’s possible whatever you vacuum can leak into the electrical components, potentially even causing a fire. Avoid using a car vacuum on wet surfaces if its description doesn’t specifically state that it’s safe to use on liquids.

    What’s a Shop Vac?

    You have likely heard of or seen shop vacs before, which are intended for heavy-duty use. They can also be used as a car vacuum, especially for vehicles that often get filled with mud or dirt. Most shop vacs feature a huge canister to hold debris and liquid, along with a long and tough hose. They’re also versatile since they typically have wheels, making them very mobile and easy to maneuver.

    Shop vacs are typically equipped with a longer hose and more powerful motor than a household vacuum, and can handle much heavier objects. For cars, however, there are smaller shop vacs available that are lightweight and compact. They’re a great all-around option if you’re willing to spend a bit more and don’t need a handheld, ultracompact vacuum. Shop vacs are highly recommended if you’re often dealing with spills or food in the car, or you travel in harsh weather conditions. They’re also handy for cleaning up all kinds of hard-to-handle messes not just in a basement, garage or shop, but throughout the house as they can easily suck up things like broken glass, dirt from a spilled plant or water off the floor from a leak.

    What to Look for When Shopping for a Car Vacuum

    Regardless of whether you’re shopping for a corded or cordless car vacuum, you will want to pay attention to a vacuum’s power rating. But don’t be fooled into thinking the bigger the number, the better. Along with wattage, you will want to research its suction pressure, which is often measured in pascals, along with cubic feet per minute of airflow—basically, how hard it can suck and how much it is sucking.

    You will also want to check whether the car vacuum you’re looking at comes with a variety of accessories. You may not need any of those accessories if you’re using the vacuum for general cleaning, but having additional nozzles and brushes could prove handy if your car sees heavy use.

    If you’re shopping for a cordless vacuum, pay close attention to its advertised battery life and weight. You might find it uncomfortable to use a heavy handheld vacuum for an extended period of time in awkward positions. If you have a larger vehicle, smaller batteries may not allow you to completely clean your car on a single charge.

    One aspect that’s often overlooked when shopping for a car vacuum is its tank capacity. For smaller, compact cars, you may not need a large canister. But if you own an SUV or a minivan, you’ll want to make sure you don’t have to constantly empty out the canister while vacuuming your car. Along the same lines, you may want to do some research to see how easy or difficult it is to clean a particular vacuum. You likely don’t want to purchase a vacuum that’s complicated to disassemble and maintain.

    Prepare to be overwhelmed by the number of manufacturers who offer car vacuums. You’ll likely recognize familiar brands such as Black+Decker, Bissell, and Dyson, but they may not necessarily be the best for your needs. If you’re shopping for a shop vac, Armor All is a brand you likely recognize since the company specializes in car detailing products.

    Once you’ve decided whether you want a corded, cordless, or shop vac, narrow down your product choices by budget and power. You will also want to pay close attention to the warranty that is offered when comparing vacuums. Sometimes it’s worth it to pay a bit more for a product from an established company, knowing you have warranty support you if something breaks.

    The last thing you should consider is how easy it is to find replacement parts for the vacuum you’re interested in. Can you purchase replacement filters easily? If you’re looking at a cordless vacuum, are replacement batteries expensive? Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, so eventually you’ll have to purchase a replacement. You may also want to check if accessories can be purchased separately, in case you only need one specific item.

    How to Care for Your Car Vacuum

    Making an investment into a car vacuum may not be cheap, so you’ll want to take a few steps to maintain and keep your vacuum clean. If your car vacuum has a filter, change it on a regular basis and more often if you’re using the vacuum frequently. Some filters can also be washed, so you’ll want to check your specific product to see if that’s an option.

    Make sure to empty out your vacuum canister every time you’re done cleaning, even if it’s just a little amount of debris or dirt. This is especially important if you’re using a wet-dry vacuum, since leaving anything wet for a long period of time can lead to mold and mildew.

    If you’re using an attachment that has a brush or roll, make sure you clean it on a regular basis. Over time, certain objects can get caught in the brush or roll, preventing it from spinning and performing as effectively as it should and potentially burning out a motor. If you’re using a vacuum with a hose attachment, make sure nothing is stuck inside the hose after each cleaning, so you don’t cause a clog next time you use the vacuum.

    Should I Wash or Vacuum First?

    We’re fans of the “work your way out” philosophy. Our theory is that when you’re working on the interior, you’re more likely to get the exterior dirty by accident. And when you’re done inside and move to the exterior, you don’t have any reason to open the doors until your cleaning is finished and the whole car is ready.

    On the other hand, we also know very good detailers who start with the exterior, because they feel that way they won’t track anything into the exterior when they start. We think that increases the chance of bringing something wet into the interior, but the professionals know what they’re doing.

    Either way, no one recommends doing part of one and then the other. Do the entire interior or exterior, then move on to the rest. Which you choose first depends on your preference, your style, and your situation.

    How to Vacuum Your Car

    Once you’ve chosen a car vacuum that suits your needs, it’s time to get cleaning. Vacuuming a car may sound like a straightforward task, but here are some tips to make sure you properly do the job:

    1. Before you start, open all the vehicle’s doors so it’s convenient to access every part of your interior and allow any dust you kick up to circulate out. You’ll also be able pull the vacuum’s hose straight through the cabin instead of going around the car.
    2. Make sure to clear out trash and other large items prior to vacuuming. Not only will this make vacuuming easier, it ensures your vacuum won’t get stuck on large debris—plus you won’t suck up any dollar bills. Keep an eye out for sharp objects that can damage your vacuum, and loose items such as strings or hair. While strings or hair shouldn’t clog or damage your vacuum, it could over time make a mess out of an attached brush or roll.
    3. Remove all your floor mats and trunk liners if you’re planning to also vacuum your trunk. Most modern vehicles have hooks or eyelets that are used to secure the floor mat in place.
    4. If your car vacuum came with a brush attachment, use that to vacuum. While suction alone does an adequate job, a brush attachment will help lift up dirt and debris stuck in your car’s carpet.
    5. Thoroughly vacuum the floorboards of your car and make multiple passes to ensure the carpet is free of debris. When vacuuming the front of the car, slide the driver and passenger’s seats as far back as possible so you can cover more surface area. Do the opposite when vacuuming the back of the car.
    6. If you have cloth seats, make sure to run the vacuum over the upholstery. Recline the front seats so you can get in between the seat and seat back.
    7. Use your crevice tool to get into the seams of the seats, between them and the consoles, into door pockets, and any other hard-to-reach area.
    8. You can also run your vacuum along the dash to pick up any dust or debris, but be careful not to scratch it. If your dash is made of soft plastic, just use a microfiber towel instead.
    9. For the floor mats that you removed earlier, shake them out first (or use your shop vac to blow then off) before vacuuming each mat one by one. Properly re-install each floor mat on their hooks once they’ve been vacuumed. This keeps them from interfering with your accelerator or brake pedal.
    10. Lastly, don’t forget to vacuum the trunk. Since it is often the place where large objects are stored, you’ll want to maintain it from time to time.
    11. After you’re done cleaning your car, make sure to take a few minutes to clean your vacuum by emptying the canister and making sure nothing is stuck in the hose or brush attachments.

    Recent Updates:

    October 27, 2022:Updated product links.

    September 1, 2022:Added ThisWorx back to list as an example of what not to buy.

    July 8, 2022:Added hands-on testing and photo to Black+Decker Dustbuster.

    June 30, 2022:Added additional link for Milwaukee 0882-20. Removed ThisWorx vacuum hands-on review.

    June 21, 2022:Removed THISWORX Car Vacuum Cleaner from recommendations due to poor performance and reviews.