Any seasoned car detailer will tell you that a good car vacuum is a cornerstone in any serious car cleaning arsenal.
Some use one all-round vacuum, others have two or more specific ones they use depending on the job at hand. Car vacuums can be corded or battery powered. They vary from large powerhouses to light, agile compacts.
There’s no such thing as the perfect vacuum cleaner, all have their advantages and drawbacks.
These are the ones we recommend:
Why You Shouldn’t Use a Handheld Vacuum To Clean Your Car Interior
Although those popular small household handheld vacuums found in most product reviews seem agile and promise great suction power, in our tests none of them performed satisfyingly for car detailing use.
First of all they’re just not powerful enough to remove dust and sand particles from deep within car carpets. Although they may work fine to suck breadcrumbs and such, their tiny filters get clogged almost immediately when they suck fine dust, typically found in car carpets, resulting in even worse performance.
Their bulky housing also makes it impossible to reach under car seats or in any other crevice. To make things worse, you will bump and scratch your car’s interior while trying. Adding a nozzle makes them even longer and less maneuverable.
Before you know it, you’ll run out of battery power too. Customer reviews clearly show that their batteries underperform and often die after just a year of use and in most cases they can’t be replaced.
To quickly remove those cookie crumbles: sure. For car detailing: a big no-no!
Our advice: if you’re serious about car detailing, stay away from small handheld vacuums and use a specialized vacuum instead.
Why Use a Car Vacuum Instead of a Household Vacuum?
Typical household vacuums with their upright design and long ergonomical add-ons are optimized to clean floors and reach deep under couches and cupboards, but they don’t do well in confined spaces like car interiors where agility is key.
Car vacuums on the other hand are agile and have high suction power to allow for car carpet deep-cleaning. Most of them come standard with extra long power cords and extended suction hoses for easy mobility. Special car cleaning nozzles are included so you can easily reach all nooks and crannies of your car interior. This makes a world of difference.
What Are the Different Types of Car Vacuums?
Basically, there are three types of car vacuum cleaners:
Compact Portable Car Vacuums
These powerful, lightweight vacuums are small enough to take inside the vehicle and have a carry handle and/or shoulder strap instead of casters. The ones that work best are the ones with a hose and attachments. Some are corded, others are battery-powered (cordless).
Stay away from the small battery-powered household handhelds, they are just not powerful enough to remove fine dust from deep within car carpets.
Full-Size Car Vacuums With Casters
These full-size car vacuums are very powerful and come equipped with casters for maximum mobility. They are easy to pull around the garage and driveway and don’t need to be taken inside the vehicle because they have long power cords and extra long hoses that allow for easy cleaning.
Most are 110/120V corded, some are battery powered (cordless) or a combination of both (hybrid).
Wall-Mounted Car Vacuums
These car vacuums are mounted anywhere in the garage and are always 110/120V mains powered. Some are fixed (dedicated), some are portable. They are very powerful and are equipped with very long (30ft+) hoses. When positioned right, they can be used in-place to vacuum in and around multiple vehicles in large garages without the risk of bumping or scratching them with your vacuum.
Just flip the switch and start vacuuming. It doesn’t get more convenient…
Things To Consider When Buying a Car Vacuum
Suction Power (CFM)
It isn’t hard to get lost in the jungle of abbreviations when it comes to comparing the suction or cleaning power between car vacuum cleaners. Many different units are used, depending on the manufacturer’s marketing goals. These are some of the most common measurement units in the US market: Air Watts (AW), Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM), Cubic Feet per Hour (CFH), kiloPascals (kPa), Motor Watts, Watts (W), Voltage (V),…
When push comes to shove however, what really matters is how much air is sucked in the nozzle, measured in CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute). This is the most relevant value. It measures the suction power that extracts dust and debris from your car interior.
Hepa Filtration System
To be classified as HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air filtration) by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an air filter must remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and other airborne particles that are 0.3 microns and larger. To put that into perspective: the smallest pollen are about 10 microns and the smallest mold spores are 5 microns.
Wet/dry
Most car vacuums are designed to suck dry dirt, which should be sufficient for car detailing. Some can also be used to suck wet or moist dirt and even water. These are called wet/dry vacuums.
Wall-Mounted
A wall-mounted car vacuum can be mounted on any garage wall, preferably in a central location. This type of vacuum is fitted with an extra long hose enabling you to reach the furthest corners of your garage without breaking a sweat. Some can be taken from their wall bracket and moved around (portable), some are permanently screwed in place (dedicated). It’s the vacuum of choice for many professional car detailers because they are very powerful and the long hose is very maneuverable without the risk of bumping or scratching your vehicle’s exterior while pulling along a bulky vac.
Casters
Most full-size car vacuums have four casters (multi-directional wheels) for maximum mobility.
Small portable ones normally don’t because casters add weight and bulk. The wheels could also damage or soil the car interior (e.g. leather upholstery or plastic trim) when the vacuum is moved around the car interior.
Corded or Batteries
Battery-powered car vacuums have the obvious advantage of being cordless and can be used off-grid too. However, working time is limited and corded ones are more powerful.
If you don’t want to compromise, go for a hybrid solution that offers the flexibility to choose between corded power and the freedom of battery packs.
Container size capacity
When it comes to detailing a “normal” daily driver, a car vacuum’s container size or capacity is hardly ever an issue. For utility vehicles or off-road trucks and 4×4’s, this should however be considered. Try to assess the average amount of dust and dirt your car vacuum will have to handle. When in doubt, choose a larger capacity.
Included Accessories/Attachments
Most car vacuums come with a crevice-tool and a couple of other nozzles, which is sufficient to start with. The optional extended flexible crevice tool is one of our favorite extras we wouldn’t wanna do without, though. This professional claw nozzle works great too. Both fit most standard hoses.
How we did our review
Guilty as charged, we’re car detailing nuts, and have been for decades… So, our natural first step was to consult experts in the field: professional car detailers. They are the ones that work with car vacuums every day, year round. Those people know best what works for car interior cleaning and what doesn’t. Their living depends on it…
We asked them which car vacuums they preferred to clean car interiors specifically. They told us what they considered important and what to avoid when buying a car vacuum to get professional results with the least effort. They told us which brands they liked best and trusted and the ones to walk away from. We enquired about their preferences concerning power supply: battery or mains and the type of vacuum: handheld, wheeled or wall-mounted.
Their answers were surprisingly coherent and in line with our own experience.
With these findings we went on an expedition to the far ends of the internet jungle and sucked up all the information we could find about a wide variety of vacuum creatures. After spending hours reading user comments and online reviews and comparing manufacturer specs, we made our test selection.
Our test criteria focus on what clearly matters most for professional car detailers and weekend warriors alike: suction power, agility, ease of use and stamina/durability. We’ve selected the best in each field, but always with the focus on car detailing and with different preferences in mind: Best Full-Size Corded, Best Compact Corded, Best Full-Size Cordless, Best Mini Cordless, Best Portable Wall-Mounted, Best Dedicated Wall-Mounted, Best Hybrid Cordless+Corded. We’ve only listed the very best, we don’t do second best. Best doesn’t mean expensive though. You’ll find great vacuums for every budget.
Happy detailing!
Best Car Vacuums
Best Full-Size Corded Car Vacuum
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Best Full-Size Corded Car Vacuum
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- Suction Power : 76.51 CFM – 130.66 CFM
- Hepa Filtration system: Yes
- Wet/dry: Both wet and dry, also blower
- Wall-Mounted: No
- Casters: Yes
- Corded or Batteries: Corded
- Container size capacity: 3.96 gallons
- Included Accessories: Suction Hose 1-1/16” x 11-1/2-Feet, Disposable Filter Bag, Crevice Nozzle, Upholstery Tool
- Hose Length: 11.5 ft
- Cable Length: 18 ft
- Dimensions: 18-1/2″ x 12-19/32″ x 17-1/8 “
- Weight: 24.69 lbs
It’s the Cadillac of dust extractors, the king of vacuums. Or should we say the Mercedes of car vacuums? This pro tool is not made in China like most vacuums nowadays, but in Germany. This compact, lightweight entry-price model is a true Festool vacuum with the renowned quality parts and performance. When it comes to suction power and reliability, this is the cream of the crop at almost half price!
Why is it so affordable compared to other Festool vacuums? They want to suck you in (get it? 😉 ) with a crazy offer. It’s a slightly stripped down version of the much more expensive ones but with the same build quality. The guys from Festool know that once you’ve tried one of their products, you can’t go back. You’ll be hooked for life. You’ll be coming back for more. That’s how good these vacuum cleaners are…
The first thing we noticed unboxing this vac is the sturdy construction and storage-friendly straight-edge design. No brittle plastics, all rugged materials. The digital front control panel includes a variable power control with push-buttons and a power outlet. When a power tool is plugged in the outlet, the vacuum will simultaneously turn on and off.
Quality and innovation is where the money went, not quantity. There’s not much included: one dust bag, two basic nozzles and a long hose. Nozzles can be stored in the top lid, the hose can be strapped to the top with an elastic band for transport. Festool opted for a durable two-hook system on the back side to loop the electric cord around instead of a self-retracting mechanism. They have a bunch of great optional quality accessories, but they don’t come cheap. The CT15 can even be upgraded with a retractable handle for easy rolling, a brake, a larger topside storage compartment for its hose and more.
In our test this professional grade car vacuum performed to the highest standards. Suction power is very strong and can be adjusted electronically which works well, but the push button controls can be fiddly when you wear working gloves. Operation is surprisingly silent for such a powerful vacuum cleaner, without the typical irritating high pitch. By plugging the hose in the air outlet, it can be used as a blower too.
Filtration is according to HEPA standards and the filter element is easily accessible from the side for a quick clean if needed. The dust bag can easily be removed and replaced (or emptied) by loosening two side clamps and taking the top end off. A great option is a reusable dust bag, which saves a lot of money not having to buy expensive replacement bags.
We love the big, sturdy casters and the stable ride. There’s little risk of flipping this guy. In the unlikely event that something breaks, spare parts are readily available.
If you’re looking for professional quality car vacuum for an affordable price, this is the one!
Still not convinced? Check out Festool’s near-perfect customer review score, that says it all…
PROS:
- Great deal for a premium professional quality car vacuum
- Crevice and upholstery nozzles included
- Robust, stable chassis with steel axles
- Electronically adjustable high-performance turbine: 350 W – 1200 W
- Touch operation for intuitive control
- Low-noise operation: 70 dB(A)
- High performance main filter surface area: 3369 cm²
- Long 18 feet rubber-insulated mains cable length
- Long 11.5 feet hose
- Designed and built in Germany
CONS:
- Not battery-powered, mains needed
- Still multiple times the price of a budget vac (but worth every penny!)
- Lacks some features the more expensive Festools have
- Only 2 nozzles included
- Accessories are pricey
- Wet filter not included
Best Compact Corded Car Vacuum
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Best Compact Corded Car Vacuum
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- Suction Power: 53 CFM
- Hepa Filtration system: No
- Wet/dry: Both, can also be used as a blower
- Wall-Mounted: No
- Casters: No
- Corded or Batteries: Corded
- Container size capacity: 2.5 Gallons
- Included Accessories: 6 Ft. x 1-1/4 Inch Hose, Reusable Cloth Filter, Foam Wet Filter, 2-in-1 Utility Nozzle with Brush, Crevice Tool, Deluxe Car Nozzle, Blower Nozzle with Adaptor, and Detail Brush
- Hose Length: 6 ft
- Cable Length:10 ft
- Dimensions: 10.6″ x 14.2″ x 14.4″
- Weight: 7.41lbs
Armor All’s compact car vacuum is specifically designed to clean the interior of your car. This small, lightweight vac with its solid polypropylene tank easily vacuums liquid and dry debris and comes with a selection of accessories that makes cleaning your car a breeze.
Great features include a 10-foot cord with wrap, a 6-foot 1.25-inch hose, a reusable cloth filter, a reusable foam sleeve, a 2-in-1 utility nozzle, a crevice tool, a deluxe car nozzle, a blower nozzle, and a detail brush.
A 2 HP motor provides ample suction power while the 2.5 gallon polypropylene tank is small enough to carry around, but large enough for most jobs.
This vacuum cleaner also features an automatic shut-off to prevent overflow and a built-in air and noise diffuser for efficient and quiet operation. When the job is done, the top handle and onboard accessory storage make for easy carrying. A built-in air and noise diffuser minimizes volume. It comes fully assembled too.
What struck us while unwrapping, is the simplicity of this handy tool. It basically consists of an oval bucket with a motor on top and a hose. It doesn’t get much simpler than that! And that’s not a bad thing in our opinion. Sometimes less is more.
The flat bottom is stable without casters damaging or soiling the car interior. Because of its small size and weight, it needs no casters anyway. The sturdy top handle is all you need to move it in and around the vehicle. When testing it on a typical daily driver with some grit and sand on the carpets, it worked well with sufficient suction. It’s not a full-size power house of course, but it gets the job done. This car vacuum also comes packed with a comprehensive nozzle set, which is a great plus in our book!
Another nice feature is that you can plug the hose into the air outlet to convert it into a blower. We used it to blow away drops and puddles from hard-to-reach spots in our wheels after having washed and rinsed them. Again, ample air pressure to get the job done. Nice!
When the job was done, we emptied the “bucket” by simply undoing the two side-mounted clips. A surprisingly large volume of dust and dirt could be chucked into the trash can, which felt very rewarding… No expensive replacement bag was needed.
All accessories, hose included, can be put inside the vacuum for storage. This results in a very small footprint on your garage shelf!
Customers say that it’s a great little vacuum and the most bang for your buck. A few complain about the side clips not closing tight enough. People love all the different nozzles that make it easy to reach difficult spots in their car interior. Almost 9 out of 10 customers would recommend this car vacuum to friends and family.
PROS:
- Long 16’ reach: 6 foot 1.25-inch hose, 10’ cord with handy cord wrap
- Powerful 6A 120V~60Hz 2HP motor
- Sturdy 2.5 gal polypropylene tank
- Ample suction: cfm: 53 / water lift (in): 48
- Blower function – easy conversion
- On-board accessory & hose storage
- Wet/dry suction
CONS:
- Not battery-powered, needs mains
- Not as powerful as a full-size vacuum
Best Full-Size Cordless Car Vacuum
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Best Full-Size Cordless Car Vacuum
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- Suction Power: 74 CFM
- Hepa Filtration system: Yes
- Wet/dry: Dry
- Wall-Mounted: No
- Casters: Yes
- Corded or Batteries: Batteries
- Container size capacity: 2.1 Gallon
- Included Accessories: 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Dual Port Charger, 2x 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion 5.0Ah Battery, 36V brushless 2.1 gallon Dry Dust Extractor, 10x plastic disposal bag, HEPA filter, damper filter, pre-filter, tool cuff adapter 24mm for 1″ hose, tool cuff adapter 22mm for 1″ hose, tool cuff adapter, 38mm for 1″ hose, anti-static hose, 1” X 11’
- Hose Length: 11 ft
- Cable Length: n/a
- Dimensions: 14-3/8″ x 13-1/8″ x 14-1/2″
- Weight: 17.1 lbs / 18.4 lbs with batteries
Makita’s cordless 36V HEPA car vacuum is equipped with a Makita BL™ Brushless motor that delivers 74 CFM using two 18V LXT® batteries. Its efficient three-stage HEPA filtration system captures 99.97% of particulates sized 0.3 microns and larger, such as dust, pollen and mold. The integrated filter cleaning system is designed to maintain optimal suction efficiency and longer filter life.
Makita claims that this full-size car vacuum is capable of 75 minutes of continuous run time on low setting and 40 minutes on high setting. In our real-life test, we got about 32 minutes of continuous working time at full power deep-cleaning three car interiors, which is great compared to the competition. With its 11ft hose there was no need to lug it around from side to side either. Every inch of the car interior could be reached with ease from the same position. It is surprisingly quiet and suction power is exceptional for a battery-powered car vacuum. We can imagine that under less load and in slightly different conditions, Makita’s alleged 40 minutes runtime is achievable. Remaining battery power is accurately displayed at all times with led indicators.
The vac will automatically turn off in case of overheating or a clogged filter, displaying blinking battery indicator leds.
We love the build quality, typical for Makita power tools. Everything clicks and shuts firmly with confidence. It also has an enormous on/off switch that can be handled with one foot if needed, which we think all full-size vacuums should have. It’s a pity they don’t include any nozzles at this price level. However, different tool cuff adapters are included, so we used our own detailing nozzles instead.
Customers praise this car vacuum for its incredible weight/size to performance ratio and they are relieved that they can work cordlessly. They think it’s ideal for car detailing but that it lacks runtime for large DIY projects.
PROS:
- Powerful Makita-built BL Brushless motor
- Up to 75 minutes of continuous run time on low setting /
40 (30) minutes on high setting - 74 cfm and 39″ water lift of suction
- 2x 18V LXT Lithium-Ion batteries (36V)
- Efficient three-stage HEPA filtration system
- Filter cleaning system for optimal suction efficiency
- 66 dB(A)
- Includes: 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Dual Port Charger, 2x 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion 5.0Ah Battery, 36V brushless 2.1 gallon Dry Dust Extractor, 10x plastic disposal bag, HEPA filter, damper filter, pre-filter, tool cuff adapter 24mm for 1″ hose, tool cuff adapter 22mm for 1″ hose, tool cuff adapter, 38mm for 1″ hose, anti-static hose, 1” X 11’
CONS:
- Batteries have to be recharged after max 75 min of continuous use
- Dry suction only
- No nozzles included
Best Mini Cordless Car Vacuum
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Best Mini Cordless Car Vacuum
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- Suction Power: 27.5 CFM
- Hepa Filtration system: Yes
- Wet/dry: Dry
- Wall-Mounted: No
- Casters: No
- Corded or Batteries: Batteries
- Container size capacity: 7 oz.
- Included Accessories: 4ft flexible hose for extended reach, on board accessory storage, one touch emptying, washable filter, Crevice Nozzle (1), Brush Attachment (1), 20V Power Share 2.0Ah Battery (1), 20V Maxlithium Battery Charger
- Hose Length: 4 ft
- Cable Length: None
- Dimensions: 5.91” x 7.17” x 8.58”
- Weight: 3 lbs
This awesome mini cordless car vacuum provides powerful suction in a compact size. It’s perfect for use in tight spaces like a car interior.
The total weight with battery is only 3 lbs, making it extremely lightweight and ultraportable. And it looks great too… Its flexible hose extends up to 4 ft. long. The small crevice nozzle and the brush attachment get into the tightest spaces. You can select high or low setting for various cleaning applications.
When you’re done, the filter is easy to remove and washable. The nozzles can be stored in their dedicated on-board compartments until next use…
The same battery can power over 75+ 20V, 40V, and 80V lifestyle, garden, and power tools in the Power Share™ family.
If you’re looking for a tiny, light, well-made battery-powered vacuum cleaner for your car, look no further! This is the one to get! And it won’t break the bank…
We particularly love the innovative way it can be emptied without getting your hands dirty. In our test it soon became clear that this tiny fella is very agile but it’s no heavy lifter (to state the obvious). It works well for a weekly refresh of the daily’s seats and a light carpet cleanup, but it lacks power and stamina to deep-clean an entire vehicle. But that’s OK, that’s not what it was designed for. It’s the handy little helper that is always there when you need it. You can park it permanently in your trunk or camper or shelve it somewhere within arms length for convenience. It does an awesome job at removing the kid’s breadcrumbs from the backseats and excels at vacuuming in the tightest spots where a big vacuum can’t get to. Nope, it’s not a heavy-weight, but this featherweight packs a heavier punch than any of its competitors!
Customer reviews confirm that the battery lasts long enough to vacuum a car front to back and under the hood too. Most people are very satisfied with the suction power of this tiny vacuum.
PROS:
- Lightweight and portable: total weight with battery is only 3 lbs
- Provides powerful suction in a super-compact size
- The ideal side-kick
- Awesome design
- Comes with a small crevice nozzle and a brush attachment for getting into the tightest spaces
- High and low speeds for various cleaning applications.
- Easy to remove washable filter
- Flexible hose extends up to 4 ft. long
- The same battery powers over 75+ 20V, 40V, and 80V lifestyle, garden, and power tools in the Power Share™ family.
CONS:
- Not full-size vacuum suction power
- Won’t suck larger debris like leaves
Best Portable Wall-Mount Car Vacuum
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Best Portable Wall-Mount Car Vacuum
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- Suction Power: 110 CFM
- Hepa Filtration system: No
- Wet/dry: both, can also be used as a blower
- Wall-Mounted: Yes, also portable
- Casters: No
- Corded or Batteries: Corded
- Container size capacity: 5 gallon
- Included Accessories: 11′ x 1-7/8″ Standard Hose, 10′ x 1-7/8″ Flexible Hose, Remote Control Handle, (2) Extension Wands, Car Nozzle, Utility Nozzle, Crevice Tool, Blower Concentrator Nozzle, Washable Cartridge Filter, Foam Wet Filter, Wall Mount Storage Rack.
- Hose Length: 21ft (10 ft +11 ft)
- Cable Length: 20ft
- Dimensions: 12.70” x 17.80” x 19.00”
- Weight: 22 lbs
This silent, lightweight, compact 5 gal wet/dry car vacuum can easily be taken off its wall mount. You can carry it around by its convenient, sturdy handle to use elsewhere around your house, workshop or driveway. With its exceptionally long extension hose (21 ft!), this car vacuum can effortlessly be used to clean the entire garage and its cars in it without having to move it around.
The set comes with a complete car detailing accessory kit along with a wall mount and an XL extension hose. The hose handle even has a remote control to switch the vacuum on or off! Very handy feature indeed…
Because it has no castors, this vacuum cleaner stays in place when you put it next to your car during detailing. It won’t be pulled against your car body.
Customer reviews state that this car vacuum is remarkably silent. They like the fact that it is easy to carry around and love the remote on/off button on the wand. They also think the shape is much more practical and less space-consuming than the old round-shaped shop vacs. Reviews highlight the extremely long hose as being hugely beneficial and time-saving. Many use it as a leaf-blower to clear out leaves from their garage floor too.
PROS:
- Powerful wet/dry suction
- Blower function converts this vacuum into a blower
- Quiet operation
- Very long 41-foot cleaning reach: 21-feet of hose and a 20-foot power cord
- Remote control handle at the end of the hose
- Large container size: 5 gallon capacity
- 5 HP 2-stage motor
- Comes in blue or red
- Accessories included: 11′ x 1-7/8″ Standard Hose, 10′ x 1-7/8″ Flexible Hose, Remote Control Handle, (2) Extension Wands, Car Nozzle, Utility Nozzle, Crevice Tool, Blower Concentrator Nozzle, Washable Cartridge Filter, Foam Wet Filter, Wall Mount Storage Rack
CONS:
- No castors (ideal for car detailing)
- Not cordless
Best Dedicated Wall-Mounted Car Vacuum
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Best Dedicated Wall-Mounted Car Vacuum
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- Suction Power /Airflow: N/A
- Hepa Filtration system: NO
- Wet/dry: Wet and dry, can also be used as a blower
- Wall-Mounted: Yes
- Casters: No
- Corded or Batteries: Corded
- Container size capacity: 4 Gallon
- Included Accessories: 2 Extension Wands, Large Area Wet Floor Cleaning Tool, Multi-Surface Floor Tool, Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, Small Upholstery Tool, Precision Suction Tool, Includes a 32-foot hose and accessory bag to store tools.
- Hose Length: 32 ft
- Cable Length: 5 ft
- Dimensions: 11″ x 11″ x 26″
- Weight: 25 lbs
This competitively priced dedicated wet/dry car vacuum is a useful addition to any garage. The long-reach 32-foot hose is perfect for cleaning the whole garage and detailing the cars parked in it.
It has two-stage filtration and also converts to a blower that can be used to clear leaves or debris from your garage floor or driveway or even to inflate items like air mattresses or pool toys.
Bissell’s wall-mounted vacuum cleaner comes with seven versatile attachments: a crevice nozzle, a dusting brush nozzle, a small upholstery nozzle, a precision suction nozzle, a multi-surface nozzle, a multi-surface floor nozzle, a large-area wet-cleaning nozzle and two extension wands.
The removable dirt tank is semi-translucent, so it’s easy to see when it needs to be emptied. Plus, the LED full-water tank indicator means there’s no guessing when it comes to emptying wet messes from the machine.
Customers like the fact that this vacuum has such tremendous suction power that it even rivals the car wash vac’s suction. They confirm that this Bissel model is a very handy tool to have on your garage wall. Thanks to its long reach hose, their cars as well as their garage floor can be kept clean with ease, they state.
PROS:
- Great value
- Wet and dry suction
- Comes with long 32-foot hose and accessory bag to store tools
- Powerful 11-Amp cleaning performance
- 2-in-1: vacuum or blower
- Large Container size : 4 gal
- Seven versatile tools and attachments included
- Semi-translucent dirt tank holds up to four gallons of debris
- Convenient storage: vacuum and hose mount on the wall
- Easy to use and maintain: washable filters and dirt tank make cleaning up after the cleanup easy
- Added bonus: Bissell saves homeless pets
CONS:
- Dedicated, not mobile
Best Hybrid Cordless + Corded Car Vacuum
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Best Hybrid Cordless + Corded Car Vacuum
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- Suction Power: 127 CFM corded power / 74 CFM battery powered
- Hepa Filtration system: Yes
- Wet/dry: dry suction only
- Casters: Yes
- Wall-Mounted: no
- Corded or Batteries: both corded and cordless
- Container size capacity: 4 gal
- Included Accessories: (2) 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion 5.0Ah Battery, (1) 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Dual Port Charger ,(1) Anti-Static Hose, 1-1/2” x 8’,(1) Curved Pipe, (1) Straight Pipe, (1) 13″ Ivory Crevice Nozzle, (1) 12″ Universal Floor Nozzle, (1) Anti-Static Hose 1” x 11’, (1) Tool Cuff Adapter 24mm for 1″ hose, (1) Tool Cuff Adapter 22mm for 1″ hose, (1) Tool Cuff Adapter, 38mm for 1″ hose , Plastic Disposal Bag 10/pk, (1) HEPA Filter, (1) Damper Filter, (1) Pre-Filter
- Hose Length: 8 feet + 11 feet
- Cable Length: 19.7 feet
- Dimensions: 14-3/8″ x 13-1/8″ x 16-1/2″
- Weight: 21.2 lbs – 22.6 lbs (with battery)
Can’t decide between a cordless or a corded car vacuum? Well, you don’t have to with this full-size versatile guy. It has both options available. For small jobs or in places where you don’t have mains, you can use battery power. For larger jobs that require maximum suction power you can use it corded. Best of both worlds, right?
This vacuum cleaner has a triple layer HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter and is built to last. Great batteries too, those LXT’s!
In our tests, this more expensive AC/DC version of the aforementioned battery-powered Makita XCV07PTX had identical performance when battery powered but outperformed when we plugged it into a wall socket. Although this hybrid vacuum performed very well with just battery juice, the power increase was night and day. It was like flipping a turbo switch!
Our advice: if you’re looking for the best battery-powered car vacuum and don’t mind spending a bit more to be able to also use AC power, this Makita offers the best of both worlds.
PROS:
- Cordless (2 x 18V = 36V) as well as corded
- Long battery powered continuous use (max, in minutes) : 65 min.
- Low working sound level : 64 dB(A)
- Large Container size : 4 gal
- Large air flow rate : 127 cfm / Static water lift of 96″
- Powerful 36V battery pack included: 2X 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion
- Dual-port charger included
- Equipped with an efficient HEPA filter with cleaning function: filters 99.97% of airborne particles with a size of 0.3 micron (dust, pollen, mold,…)
- Also included: curved pipe, straight pipe, crevice nozzle, floor nozzle, 11’ anti-static hose, tool cuff Adapter 24 mm for 1″ hose and 38 mm for 1″ hose, 10 plastic disposal bags, HEPA filter, damper filter, pre-filter
CONS:
- Airflow 74 CFM and 36” water lift of suction on battery operation (still sufficient)
- Dry suction only
Comparison Table Of The 7 Best Car Vacuums
| Brand | Name | |
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| Best Full-Size Corded Car Vacuum | Festool | CT 15 HEPA Dust Extractor |
| Best Compact Corded Car Vacuum | Armor All | 2.5 Gallon 2 Peak HP Wet/Dry Car Vacuum |
| Best Full-Size Cordless Car Vacuum | Makita | 36V LXT BL 2.1 gallon HEPA Dust Extractor Kit |
| Best Mini Cordless Car Vacuum | WORX | 20V Power-Share Cordless Compact Cube Vacuum |
| Best Portable Wall-Mount Car Vacuum | Vacmaster | 5 Gallon Wall-Mount Wet/Dry Vacuum with Remote Control Operation |
| Best Dedicated Wall-Mounted Car Vacuum | Bissell | Garage Pro Wall-Mounted Wet/Dry Car Vacuum/Blower With Auto Tool Kit |
| Best Hybrid Cordless + Corded Car Vacuum | Makita | LXT® Lithium-Ion Cordless/Corded HEPA Filter Vacuum Kit |
Final Thoughts
Frazzled about which is the right car vacuum for you? Well, you should be…
There’s so much to consider: size, weight, mobility, corded or not, suction power, noise level, durability, which attachments, dry or wet & dry, what’s included or optional, budget…
Also, an important question you should also ask yourself is if you’re going to use it exclusively for car detailing or combined use (workshop, around the house…).
Your frequency of use will most likely determine too which budget you want to spend. If you’re gonna use this vacuum cleaner a lot it makes no sense to buy the cheapest one. You’ll pay more in the long run in replacement cost. On the other hand, for sporadic use, the most expensive vac may be overkill…
Combined Use
For combined use around the house and in your garage and workshop too, we’d definitely recommend the Festool Cleantec or the Hybrid Makita.
They’re just great quality tools with awesome suction power and superior filtering that will last for years to come.
While the Festool build quality and its smart design is second-to-none, the Hybrid Makita is the better choice when it comes to mobility. Besides corded, it can also be used cordless with its 36V battery pack.
Wall-Mounted Car Vacuum
We also love a good dedicated, wall-mounted vacuum cleaner though…It’s always there when you need it, plugged in, ready to use with no hassle.
We really like the Bissell dedicated car vacuum. It does what you expect it to at an entry-price level. With its long reach you can use it all around the garage. Oh, and you can tell your spouse you’re saving homeless pets by buying it. Checkmate…
If you don’t want it to be permanently fixed to the garage wall, we’d choose Vacmaster’s portable wall-mounted car vacuum. It’s a great compact mobile device that has a permanent parking spot on your wall. It just has that extra advantage of being mobile if you need it to.
Battery Powered Car Vacuum
Don’t want to be limited by power cords? Want to use your vac off-grid too?
Makita’s 36V full-size battery-powered vacuum cleaner is the one we’d recommend. It’s got enough suction and stamina to complete a car detailing job. It runs on two premium 18V LXT battery packs that surpass market quality and endurance standards.
On the other side of the spectrum we have the Worx mini cordless detailing vacuum, which is quite the opposite of Makita’s battery powered heavyweight champion. Its tiny-sized designer looks may have you thinking that it is just all about looks. Well, you’re wrong!
This tiny, good looking fella really punches above its weight and actually does a pretty decent job. In both high and low suction settings, this vacuum cleaner is surprisingly silent. It only weighs about 3 feathers and reaches the hardest-to-reach places. This handy detailing tool is all about maneuverability and ease of use. It’s even got onboard storage space for its accessories.
Love it!
Back To Basics
Don’t care about batteries and all that fancy stuff? Looking for a no-nonsense corded car vacuum that does the job without whistles and bells?
Well, we have just the thing for you: Armor All’s corded compact car vacuum. It’s simple, straight-forward and its build quality won’t let you down.
Now that we’ve spoken our peace, the final decision is of course up to you…
We know our selection sucks, and it should!
Pun intended 😉
Happy detailing!
FAQ
Is a Car Vacuum Cleaner Worth it?
Absolutely! Car vacuums make a lot of sense because they are especially designed with confined spaces in mind. Contrary to your classic upright household vac, they have the flexibility, attachments and a longer reach to clean all nooks and crannies of basically any vehicle and the garage it’s in.
What Is a Good CFM For a Car Vacuum?
That depends on what you plan to use it for. If you’re gonna use it for quick weekly car interior fresh-ups and “cookie-crumbs interventions“, anywhere between 20 and 30 CFM should do the job. On average, a decent full-size car vac is between 50 and 100 CFM, which is plenty for car detailing. Anything above that value is considered very strong suction power which is excellent to professionally deep-clean car interiors.
Can I Use a Regular Vacuum For My Car?
Of course you can, but a regular vacuum won’t have the long reach and agility a car vacuum has. With their extended hoses and cords and special nozzles, car vacs allow you to get to those hard-to-reach places with much less effort like between and under car seats, in vent grills,… without causing collateral damage.
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