Best Car Vacuums

Many of us in the Car Talk Community like to take very good care of our vehicles. One critical tool in doing so is a portable compact car vacuum. These now come in many varieties. Here’s Car Talk’s expert take on the best portable vacuums one can own today.

Car Talk's Key Takeaway

• Our expert mechanics say that car vacuum technology has recently improved.
• What we once considered shop vacs are now available in cordless versions.
• Some portable car vacuums are now available with both wet and dry capability.

Car Talk's Top Recommendations

The following are recommendations based on interviews with ASE-certified mechanics and detailing experts.

• Best Wet / Dry Cordless Vacuum: WORX Nitro WX031L 20V 2.1 Gal Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum >>
• Best Vacuum With Accessories: DEWALT 20V Vacuum, Cordless Handheld Vacuum, HEPA >>
• Best Vacuum for Milwaukee Tool Fans: Milwaukee 0882-20 Filter M18 18V Cordless Lithium-ion Compact Vacuum, Hand Held 40 CFM (Complete Set), with Bonus Premium Microfiber Cleaner Bundle >>
• Best Low-Cost / High-Value Portable Vacuum: BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum, Cordless, AdvancedClean+, White (HHVK320J10) >>

Car Talk's Top Picks

#1 WORX Nitro WX031L: Best for wet and dry use

About WORX Nitro

The WORX Nitro is a good all-around choice, but caught our attention for a few specific reasons. First, it can be used as a wet vac if need be. Handy for those who have kids eating in the back seat. It also has a very long hose length of over six feet. Like most of the vacs on our list, it uses a battery that is common to other WORX tools. Finally, it can also be a blower, handy in spring and fall when you need to clean your windshield.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 16kPa suction
• 20V, 40 Ah battery included
• 2.1-gallon capacity
• 6.5-foot hose
• Price range: $169-$200

#2 DEWALT 20V Best vacuum with accessories

About Dewalt 20V

Dewalt is a trusted name in DIY tools and our expert mechanic’s choice. We like this particular Dewalt vacuum for its crevice tools and two brush accessories. This hand-portable vacuum has all the attachments you will need to clean your crossover or truck.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 20V, 5Ah battery (not included)
• 46 CFM
• Price range: $119-$179

#3 Milwaukee 0882-20: Best for those with other Milwaukee tools

About Milwaukee 0882-20

If you already own other Milwaukee tools and have a bevy of those red batteries, this is your vacuum. It will use those same batteries, keeping your set uniform and easy to manage. Plusses include a hold-on switch.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 18V
• 40 CFM
• Price range: $155-$165

#4 BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster: Best budget vac (low-cost and high-value)

About BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster

If you have a budget under $75 and want a simple-to-own-and-operate car vacuum, it’s hard to beat the modern BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster. This vac has an internal battery and can clean two cars before it runs low. Filter cleanouts are simple, and replacements are low-cost. This is the easiest-to-own car vacuum there is, but lacks some features. With a weight of only two pounds, it is also the lightest in our review summary.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 12V
• 2 Pounds
• 2 Speeds
• Price range: $45-$69

What is a car vacuum and what does it do?

There is no need to overcomplicate this. Car vacuums are small vacuums that lend themselves to the unique job of vacuuming car seats, floors, and cargo areas. It’s also very helpful to have a brush that allows for cleaning the many seams and gaps inside your interior. Most important of all is a crevice tool.

Any big and bulky vacuum will be a hassle to use, so you won’t. Instead you will shake out a mat, wipe a few surfaces, and skip the vacuuming. That’s why we like our car vacuums to be very simple to use, nimble enough that we can grab them quickly and move them around from area to area as we clean. Another plus is a long-lasting, easy to clean filter.

What to consider when buying a car vac

Unless you are moonlighting as a detailer, keep your car vac system simple and compact. You will want to store it out of the way and not sacrifice a lot of garage space. We also like the idea of a brand name. A name that we trust to make durable and high-value tools that last a long time and provide the same good result on their last day that they do when brand new.

What costs are associated with car vacs

Car vacuums can range in price from a low of about $60, like the Black+Decker unit on our list, to many hundreds of dollars. One thing to be very careful of when shopping is that many vacuums use standard batteries built for use in many different tools, such as leaf blowers. Make certain you know if a battery is included. Batteries are not cheap. A typical two-pack with a charger can cost $75 or more.

One thing we strongly recommend is that when shopping, take note of the filter element that is inside the vacuum. Your online retailer will likely suggest it as an added purchase. Do buy extra. It will pay off in the long run if the model is discontinued or the design changes. A pack of extra filters (two to six) can cost from about $10 to about $50.

Car Talk experts weigh in on car vacuums

Summary of what we learned from talking to expert mechanics.

Straight from our ASE-certified mechanics:

Junior Damato, Junior’s Automotive Sales and Service, Middleboro, Mass.

• “I’ve always been a fan of both Dewalt and Milwaukee. The battery technology and suction seem to have gotten a lot better in recent years.”

John Paul, AAA’s Car Doctor

• “My favorite vacuum is the WORX Nitro 20-volt power share wet dry vacuum. It has good power, and being a wet vac makes it more versatile. A neighbor added coolant to their window washer; the wet vac feature nicely sucked it all out.”
• “It’s great that the unit uses a common battery with my other tools. I also have a WORX weed eater and leaf blower, and the chance of having a fully charged battery is pretty good.”
• “I like the attachments of the WORX vacuum.”

John Goreham, Car Talk Staff Writer

• “I’m crazy brand-loyal, and Black+Decker Dustbusters have been in my family for many generations.”
  • “I own two Dustbusters, and I keep them handy for spot cleaning and cleaning my cars.”
• “One thing I like is simplicity, and the Dustbuster is basically a crevice tool with a handle.”
• Every year or two, I buy new filters for my Dustbusters, and they only cost me about three bucks each.”

Tips for the best results when vacuuming your car

Vacuuming a car is an easy thing to do. We’d say anyone can do it, but your author has tweaked his back a half-dozen times, bending and twisting to clean cars, so be smart. Here are a few suggestions to ensure a good result:

• Remove your floor mats and bang them on a tree you don’t like. It saves time, and you can then vacuum under them.
• Be very careful around any gloss black trim. That stuff scratches super easy.
• Don’t put the vacuum over your controls like the volume knob. Modern vacs are strong and can break them off and suck them in. (Ask us how we know!)
• Take breaks. Don’t do all your cars in one shot.
• If you empty your vacuum after each use, you won’t end up with old sticky M&Ms gunking up your tool, and mice will be less likely to take up residence. They love to shred filter elements for bedding.

Conclusion

A quality car vac is a very satisfying tool to use. Modern car vacuums are powerful, long lasting, and most use a battery common to that brand’s other tools. Be sure you know if the battery is included or not and buy one if needed. We always suggest adding a few extra filters to your order.