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Best Car Vacuums





Introducing the Ultimate Guide to Car Vacuum Cleaners! In our review, we've examined four top-notch options to help you choose the perfect vacuum for your vehicle. From the powerful Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ to the compact BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim, we cover a range of features and benefits. Dive in to discover which vacuum suits your needs best, whether you're battling pet hair, crumbs, or general dirt.



Shark UltraCyclone


The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ emerges as our top pick for car vacuums, offering a blend of compact design and robust performance. While it may not be the smallest handheld vacuum available, its size remains manageable for storage either on a garage shelf or in the trunk of your vehicle. Despite its lightweight construction, it feels sturdy and durable.


This vacuum excels in debris management on various surfaces, effortlessly tackling messes on flat, hard surfaces as well as effectively cleaning carpeting and floor mats. What sets it apart is its generous dirt compartment, which eliminates the need for frequent emptying during cleaning sessions.


The CH951 variant of the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ includes a crevice tool for accessing tight corners and a miniature turbo brush. However, the turbo brush attachment falls short in effectively handling pet hair on fabric surfaces, highlighting its bulkiness and limited efficiency. Additionally, the vacuum's battery life spans just over 10 minutes, which is notably shorter compared to other handheld vacuums, necessitating swift cleaning sessions.


Furthermore, the non-removable battery restricts the option of replacing it if performance diminishes over time. Another downside is its inadequate sealing of fine particles, leading to potential escape from the exhaust. For users prioritizing allergen containment, the Wyze Handheld Vacuum offers superior performance in trapping allergens.


While the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ excels in suction power, it may struggle with bulkier materials that could potentially clog its inlet. These considerations prompt a comparison with the Wyze Handheld Vacuum, which prioritizes allergen containment over raw suction power, catering to different cleaning needs.








BLACK+DECKER dustbuster


The Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum stands out as a compelling mid-range option for car cleaning tasks, striking a balance between affordability and performance. While lacking the turbo brush attachment found in the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+, it remains effective for most cleaning needs, albeit with some limitations.


One notable drawback compared to the Shark is its longer recharge time, coupled with a relatively short battery life of approximately 10 minutes. Additionally, akin to the Shark, the Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum suffers from a non-replaceable battery pack, restricting user convenience when it comes to battery replacement.


However, it compensates for these shortcomings with a lower price point, utilizing a more cost-effective filter, and offering a higher-capacity dustbin that requires less frequent emptying. Despite its bulkier size, the vacuum remains lightweight, ensuring easy portability for on-the-go cleaning needs.


A distinguishing feature of this vacuum is its integrated extension wand/crevice tool, facilitating cleaning in tight and hard-to-reach spots such as between car seats and the center console. Moreover, its built-in hard-bristle brush serves as a convenient solution for scrubbing away stubborn dirt from seats and plastic surfaces, further enhancing its versatility.


With its user-friendly design and practical features, including the flip-away brush for hassle-free storage, the Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum offers a reliable solution for car cleaning tasks at an accessible price point.








Investing in a shop vac can significantly enhance your car cleaning arsenal, especially if you frequently encounter both dry and wet messes. Among the top contenders in the realm of cordless car vacuums, the RYOBI 18V One+ 3 Gal. Project Wet/Dry stands out for its versatility and performance.


While it may not match the compactness of handheld models like the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+, the RYOBI vac offers a relatively compact design suitable for storage on a shelf or under a work table when not in use. However, its larger size may pose challenges when manoeuvring within the confines of a car interior.


Yet, this larger footprint brings notable advantages, including a significantly larger debris capacity and a powerful suction motor. This robust performance enables effortless clearing of heavy debris and liquids, though it's essential to remove the filter before tackling wet messes to prevent damage.


Despite the included 4.0 Ah battery providing approximately 15 minutes of runtime, the RYOBI vac offers the convenience of battery interchangeability. Users can easily swap out depleted batteries for fully charged ones, leveraging the compatibility with other RYOBI One+ products such as cordless drills or reciprocating saws.


However, as the canister fills up with debris, portability may become somewhat cumbersome, particularly since the motor unit/canister body is designed for single-handed carrying. While equipped with a crevice tool for extended reach, the short hose length may limit access to the farthest recesses of the car interior and tight spots beneath seats.


Despite these considerations, the RYOBI 18V One+ 3 Gal. Project Wet/Dry remains a compelling choice for those seeking a cordless shop vac capable of handling various car cleaning tasks with ease.









For those placing a premium on portability, the BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim emerges as a top contender among handheld vacuums tailored for car use. While it may not boast the debris capacity of its larger counterparts like the Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum, its compact design sets a new standard for maneuverability, especially in confined car interiors. Its diminutive size even allows it to stand upright in oversized cupholders, further enhancing its usability in tight spaces.


Admittedly, the absence of specialized attachments like a miniature turbo brush or wide-nozzle upholstery tool may limit its effectiveness on larger fabric-lined or carpeted areas such as trunks or floor mats. Nevertheless, the inclusion of a crevice tool facilitates extended reach into seat crevices and cupholders, while a slide-on soft-bristle brush tackles delicate plastic surfaces with ease, such as the center console.


Crafted from high-grade plastic, this vacuum exudes durability, defying its modest price point. Its user-friendly design simplifies the emptying of its small dustbin and accessing its filters, ensuring hassle-free maintenance. With a battery life averaging around 15 minutes, it offers commendable runtime for a handheld device, further bolstering its appeal for car cleaning tasks.


However, while adept at tackling pet hair and lightweight debris, the vacuum's narrow suction inlet may struggle with larger particles, such as cereal pieces, potentially leading to clogging. To mitigate this, pre-clearing sizable debris by hand or with a broom prior to vacuuming is advisable.


In essence, the BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim shines as a compact and efficient solution for on-the-go car cleaning, combining portability with reliable performance to meet the demands of automotive maintenance with ease.







How We Tested

  1. Performance: The effectiveness of each vacuum cleaner in removing various types of debris, including pet hair, crumbs, and dirt, from different surfaces such as carpets, upholstery, and hard floors.

  2. Portability: The ease of carrying and maneuvering the vacuum cleaners, especially in the confined spaces of a car interior, and their suitability for on-the-go cleaning tasks.

  3. Battery Life: The duration of the battery charge and its impact on the cleaning session's duration, considering the typical cleaning needs of car owners.

  4. Accessories and Attachments: The availability and usefulness of accessories and attachments, such as crevice tools, upholstery brushes, and extension wands, for reaching difficult-to-clean areas and achieving optimal cleaning results.

  5. Build Quality and Durability: The construction quality and durability of each vacuum cleaner, including the materials used, overall sturdiness, and longevity of performance.

  6. Ease of Use: The user-friendliness of the vacuum cleaners, including the simplicity of operation, ease of emptying the dustbin, and accessibility of controls and features.

  7. Value for Money: The overall value proposition offered by each vacuum cleaner in terms of its performance, features, and price point, relative to competing products in the market.

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