Below you will find a series of purchase tips to acquire a car vacuum cleaner, an essential tool in cleaning the interior.
Updated on March 11, 2023: We have modified and updated the list and added an index to facilitate navigation through the article.
Cleaning the car is also a maintenance task that we must carry out periodically. This involves cleaning the car both inside and out. We will need different tools, but one of the most practical is without a doubt a car vacuum cleaner. Here we have prepared a practical guide with buying advice.
A car vacuum cleaner is an ideal complement when it comes to cleaning the interior of the vehicle and the trunk. This tool will allow you to suck up dirt, dust and any residue that has not become impregnated in the upholstery of the car (for which you will need to clean the upholstery thoroughly or in a localized area).
There are many models of car vacuum cleaners available on the market and even if you have a domestic vacuum cleaner you will be able to get the job done. However, this type of vacuum cleaner is bulky and impractical when it comes to sucking up dirt in hard-to-reach corners such as between seats or floor rails.
That’s why we’ve taken a look at everything you need to know and consider when buying a car vacuum and put it together in a handy guide with vital buying tips.
- What to consider when buying a car vacuum cleaner
- Buying guide to choose the best car vacuum cleaner
- The best car vacuum cleaners you can buy
What to consider when buying a car vacuum cleaner
Before taking the final step of buying a car vacuum cleaner, you must take into account a series of essential aspects that will help you choose the model that best suits your needs.
The first thing you should keep in mind is that these are handheld vacuum cleaners, that is, small-sized equipment that is ideal for narrow spaces. This gives car vacuum cleaners great versatility and maneuverability, guaranteeing that we will obtain the best results when cleaning the interior.
It is important to take into account factors such as, for example, what will be the objective of using the vacuum cleaner, since it will have to clean the interior of the car efficiently and it is not the same if only one person regularly travels on board if they do so accompanied family, with small children or pets.
It is also key to know what the frequency of use will be, to determine if you are going to use the car vacuum cleaner very often or if you are only going to use it occasionally. Lastly, don’t overlook your limitations and set yourself maximum goals. This refers to budget limitations or where we are going to be able to store the vacuum cleaner when it is not in use, among others.
Buying guide to choose the best car vacuum cleaner
Once you have discovered that you really need a car vacuum cleaner and have determined how much money you are going to spend on your purchase, it is time to analyze other aspects that are directly related to the product.
These are the characteristics of the vacuum cleaner itself, such as whether or not it has a cable, its price, the level of noise it generates, its autonomy (if it is with a battery), its weight and ergonomics, the quality of the materials, its cleanliness or if it includes more or less accessories.
with or without cable
The first thing is to choose a model that has a cable or not, that is, that is portable and is powered by a rechargeable battery. You must take into account the advantages of each type of car vacuum cleaner.
If it is a cordless vacuum cleaner, you should know that they are more practical and versatile, that they have a battery that will need to be charged after each use, that they are more comfortable and lighter, that they have less limitation in terms of their range of use and that, they are also generally less powerful.
On the contrary, a corded car vacuum cleaner will allow you to vacuum the interior without time limitations and will offer a higher level of power and suction capacity than a cordless vacuum cleaner. On the contrary, they are limited in their range of action, since the cable has a length limit, although they are quite long.
battery autonomy
If you have decided to buy a cordless car vacuum cleaner, you should analyze the autonomy of the battery. Do not choose any model with less than 20 minutes of electric autonomy or you will have to vacuum the car without recreating yourself too much if you do not want to stay halfway through.
Also take into account the recharging times, since in many cases they can exceed 4 hours of charging. There are models that offer fast charging and a range of about 25 minutes, which would be the most recommended.
Power and cleaning ability
Power and suction capacity are other key aspects to consider. If you choose a cordless handheld model, keep in mind that it offers more than 100 W of minimum power, or that it reaches at least 200 W if what you want is a powerful car vacuum.
In the case of a corded vacuum cleaner, a model of about 700 W will be enough for any cleaning mission in the car that we want to undertake.
Deposit
The tank is the place where waste accumulates while we are vacuuming. In the past, removable bags were used, but they are becoming less common among car vacuum cleaners.
The normal thing is a removable deposit that allows to remove the dust and the other residues vacuumed once the cleaning has finished. It is advisable that it have a capacity of more than 500 ml and that it be easy to extract.
Weight and ergonomics
Keep in mind that you are going to spend a lot of time using the vacuum cleaner when you are cleaning the car. In this case, you will have to take into account two key aspects: weight and ergonomics.
On the one hand, that it adapts to your hand and is not uncomfortable or painful after a few minutes. On the other, it should not be too heavy or we will get physically tired. Find a balance between both characteristics and you will have a good car vacuum cleaner.
Material quality
The adjustments and finishes are more or less achieved depending on the manufacturer and the quality of the materials used. In a handheld vacuum cleaner, it is very likely that it will take a hit or fall to the ground while we are using it.
For this reason, it is important that it has quality materials and that it is well built to prevent it from breaking in a bad blow.
filters
For everything to work properly, a car vacuum cleaner is equipped with an internal filter. This component is responsible for filtering the smallest dust particles and releasing the cleanest air. The most recommended filter, in this case, is HEPA.
In addition, it is important to choose filters that are made of paper (disposable) or washable (reusable), to take into account if we must periodically buy spare parts or if we will do the maintenance by cleaning the reusable filters.
Cleaning
A car vacuum cleaner also needs some maintenance. After use, it is common for it to have dust on the outside and for the storage tank to be full of residue.
Something that you must take into account is that the tank is easy to wash under the tap, so it must be removable and be prepared for it.
Noise
This is an aspect that is often overlooked and can later surprise us. The noise level generated by a car vacuum cleaner can be annoying if it is excessive. For this reason, study what are the levels it reaches according to the manufacturer’s technical sheet.
A level that is not annoying is 80 decibels. If it is less, better, if it is much higher than this figure, look for a quieter model.
Accessories
Something that adds value to a good car vacuum cleaner is the number of accessories it offers. You will find all kinds and, in many cases, they can be purchased later. However, it is best to choose a vacuum cleaner model that includes the most important things.
These accessories could be nozzles of different sizes, brushes, transport straps, a brush to clean the tank…
Price
Finally, this guide with advice on buying a car vacuum cleaner also refers to the aspect of prices. As I told you at the beginning, there are different brands, with more or less reputation, which include different powers, accessories and qualities.
This has a direct impact on the price, from the cheapest that are around 20-25 euros, to the most expensive, which can even exceed 100 euros. You choose based on your previously set budget.
The best car vacuum cleaners you can buy
Now that you know what to take into account when buying a car vacuum cleaner, we leave you a short list with some powerful and manageable models that will help you keep your vehicle like a whistle.
These are the best car vacuums you can buy.
- Valberg Cyclonic-H2
- Karcher CVH2
- Cecotec Conga Immortal ExtremeSuction
- Cecotec Conga Rockstar Micro 12000
- Xiaomi Mi Vacuum Cleaner Mini
Valberg Cyclonic-H2
Valberg Cyclonic-H2
This handheld car vacuum cleaner is from the Valdberg brand, from Electro Depot. It has a power of 11.1V and its battery is recharged via USB. The load capacity of this vacuum cleaner is 0.1 liters.
The Valberg Cyclonic-H2 vacuum cleaner includes a charging base and its HEPA filter can be easily washed. In addition, it weighs less than a kilo, making it a very light and manageable car vacuum cleaner.
Karcher CVH2
Karcher CVH2
Also from Electro Depot is the Karcher CVH2 car vacuum, a handheld vacuum with a more discreet 7.2V power, but equally remarkable for cleaning the interior of your vehicle.
Its tank capacity is a little larger than that of the previous vacuum cleaner, since it is 0.15 liters. It does not include a charging base and has a HEPA filter. It weighs approximately one kilo.
Cecotec Conga Immortal ExtremeSuction
Cecotec Conga Immortal ExtremeSuction
The Cecotec Conga Immortal ExtremeSuction handheld vacuum cleaner is capable of vacuuming both solids and liquids thanks to its Wet&Dry function. It is designed with ExtremePower technology to become the perfect vacuum cleaner to remove any dirt with maximum suction power thanks to its 22.2 V battery.
Thanks to the AnimalCare accessory you can clean all animal hair. It is very effective, simple to use and easy to clean after each use. Includes two interchangeable accessories for corners and furniture and a 0.5 liter tank.
Cecotec Conga Rockstar Micro 12000
Cecotec Conga Rockstar Micro 12000
The Cecotec Conga Rockstar Micro 12000 vacuum cleaner is a handheld vacuum cleaner with a Digital Brushless motor and great suction power. Includes car charger and charging base with accessories for furniture and corners and upholstery. It has two modes of operation: Eco and Turbo. Eco mode extends the battery to the maximum and Turbo mode kills the most difficult dirt.
It guarantees maximum efficiency with the Multiphasic System and includes ForceSonic technology with a maximum power of 200 W, and maximizes suction power of 17 kPa to finish off the most difficult dirt. Its battery provides an autonomy of 30 minutes.
Xiaomi Mi Vacuum Cleaner Mini
Xiaomi Mi Vacuum Cleaner Mini
The Xiaomi Mi Vacuum Cleaner Mini is a wireless handheld vacuum cleaner with small dimensions. Thanks to its comfortable grip, this new model is ideal for keeping the interior of your car cleaner and also for sofas, tables and other types of furniture with narrow spaces where dust usually accumulates.
It incorporates multi-stage cyclonic technology, with the highest suction power you will find and with a rotation speed of 88,000 rpm. All this in its 100 ml tank. It has an autonomy of about 30 minutes at a standard operating capacity. If you use it at maximum power, it will reach up to 9 minutes.
