Cars get dirty fast – it is a fact of life. It is all too easy to accidentally track sand into their floor carpets or accidentally spill an on-the-go lunch in the passenger’s seat. Auto detailing vacuum is somewhat of a holy grail for making even the dirtiest cars look, smell, and feel new again. The problem is, the market is heavily saturated with dupes and sub-par options. Finding the best car detailing vacuum can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Hopefully, these ten trustworthy options will help make your search a bit easier.
Product Name | Image | Overall Rating | Details |
---|---|---|---|
HOTOR Corded Wet/Dry Car Vacuum Cleaner |
10
|
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HOTOR High Power Corded Car Vacuum |
9.9
|
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ThisWorx Portable Corded Vacuum Cleaner |
9.5
|
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XDesign Car Vacuum Cleaner |
9.5
|
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Moico Car Vacuum |
9.3
|
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Hantun Car Vacuum |
8.9
|
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Reserwa 5th Generation Car Vacuum |
8.8
|
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Lozayi High Power Car Vacuum |
8.6
|
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Black+Decker Flex Car Vacuum |
8.5
|
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Jinpus High Power Car Vacuum |
8.5
|
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HOTOR Corded Wet/Dry Car Vacuum Cleaner | Best Overall Car Detailer Vacuum
Weighing less than 3 pounds is also very light. It is capable of sucking up pretty much anything small enough to fit up its tube, including wet substances. The cord that comes with this unit is nice and long. This feature eliminates some of the frustration that usually comes attached with cord cleaners. Cars on average are between 15 and 16 feet long. The lengthy cord of this unit is 16.4 feet long so that it can cover the entire length of the automobile while leaving some wiggle room. That way, users should not have to constantly move their car to clean the whole thing. They can just park it and go. Last but not least, the unit also comes with a full refund or replacement guarantee for unhappy customers. For those in search of a general powerful detail vacuum, this is likely a good place to start.
- Works with wet and dry messes
- 16.4-foot long cord
- Comes with extra pieces for suited for deep cleaning
- Buyers have 2 color options
- Upgraded 12-volt unit is quiet but strong
- Not as ideal for on-the-go use since it has a cord
Customers’ Reviews from Amazon:
HOTOR High Power Corded Car Vacuum | Washable Filter for Ultimate Convenience
Overall, this Hotor is fairly similar to the one listed above. Its aesthetics are nearly identical, although this one only comes in the black option with orange accents. It comes with three differently shaped cleaning heads to suck dirt and grim out of tight spaces, along with a nifty carrying bag to hold them. Like the other, this vacuum also features an LED light to help users see in dark crevices. Unfortunately, it should not be used to clean up wet messes.
One of the best features of this product is its washable filter. Instead of being made from paper, it is constructed from stainless steel. When it gets dirty, users simply have to remove it from their machine, wash it, and dry it to make it good as new. If anything ever happens to it, the manufacturer will provide its buyers with free replacements for life. For those who do not like to spend time and money constantly having to buy replacement filters, this could be a good option.
Car Vacuum, HOTOR Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner High Power for Quick Car...
- LED light for seeing into dark holes
- Comes with three unique nozzles
- Washable HEPA filter
- Dust-holder is easy to empty
- 16.4-foot cord
- Not suitable for wet messes
Customers’ Reviews from Amazon:
ThisWorx Portable Corded Vacuum Cleaner | Designed for a Speedy Clean
The ThisWorx portable vacuum is perfect for families, businesses, and individuals who are always on the go. Though its brand is perhaps less known than some others, it can be purchased at a great value and trusted to perform as promised. Though it is corded, it does not have to be plugged into a stationary wall to work. It can be plugged right into the 12-volt lighter port typically located in front of a car’s center console. Its cord is 16 feet so that it can reach anywhere inside an average-sized car. Inside the unit is a 110-watt motor. This is considered good for the industry and should not run down a car’s battery.
It features an LED light and the ability to pick up both dry and wet substances. Plus, it comes with three nozzles and a carrying bag for added convenience. Lastly, its manufacturer will replace the unit if the customer experiences issues with theirs. For those who are looking for the perfect unit to take on a road trip or keep in their car for random accidents and spills, this might be a great product to start their search with.
ThisWorx for Car Vacuum Cleaner High Power - 110W 12v Corded auto...
- Powered by the car’s battery
- Has an LED light
- Comes with a filter brush, 3 nozzles, and a carrying bag
- Works with wet and dry substances
- Could cause an old car’s battery to go dead if run for too long
Customers’ Reviews from Amazon:
XDesign Car Vacuum Cleaner | Slender with Two Handy Attachments
This XDesign can be plugged into a car’s cigarette lighter so it can be used pretty much anywhere. It is transparent about its suction power of 4,500 Pa and its 98-watt motor. The unit has a standard LED light and can handle both dry and wet substances. It also comes with a stainless steel HEPA filter head that can be washed whenever it gets dirty. The product’s cord is 14.6 feet long which is a bit shorter than some of its alternatives. However, this is long enough to reach the entirety of most cars out on the road.
Though the product comes with the standard funnel-shaped head, it also has two extra attachments. One is a brush that is helpful for carpet cleaning and the other is a slender and lengthy tubular nozzle. All of these things fit into a nifty carrying case so they will never get lost. Lastly, this product is covered under a year-long warranty that protects buyers from damage and defects. This may be a good option for those who drive smaller cars and do not mind its shorter cord length.
XDesign Car Vacuum Cleaner with High Power Suction for Quick Car Cleaning...
- Powerful motor and suction
- Slender for ease of mobility
- Comes with two different attachments
- LED light
- Shorter cord length than some other options
- It cannot be used in the house
Moico Car Vacuum | Super Quiet with Strong Suction Power
The Moico has everything users loved about the old one with some added perks. It comes with three suction heads that are perfect for picking up a large variety of sediments including wet messes. Its brush can clean pet hair and other stubborn lint off of seats. Its thin nozzle is perfect for fitting into crevices or between seats. Lastly, its square nozzle is great at sucking debris from carpeting. Arguably the best thing about this product is that it utilizes 5,000 Pa to clean but only makes a maximum of 65 decibels of noise.
Like many others, it has an LED light, a 16.4-foot cord, and plugs into the vehicle’s cigarette lighters. As an added bonus though, this product typically comes for a better deal and is covered under a two-year warranty. They promise to allow free returns for their customers and reply to a customer communication within 12 hours. Consumers who get anxiety about making new purchases of machinery might find that this is a good fit for them since there is such a low risk associated with buying it.
Car Vacuum Cleaner, MOICO High Power Portable Vacuum Cleaner for Car Small...
- Two-year warranty and free returns
- Customer service within 12 hours
- Makes lower noise level than others
- Does not come with an extra paper filter
- Complaints that filter clogs quickly
Hantun Car Vacuum | Best Wet Dry Vac for Car Detailing
The Hantun Car Vacuum, like many others, has a 16.4-foot cord and gets plugged into a car cigarette lighter. This is one of the best wet/dry cleaners because it runs at an impressive power of 120 watts and suction level of 5,000 Pa. It will suck up stubborn dirt and messy liquids better than a lot of other options on the market. It also has a nifty washable HEPA filter and is designed so that its trash can be dumped easily without making another mess. The unit comes with three different accessories – a brush for seats, a crevice nozzle, and an extended tube that is most ideal for picking up liquid. The crevice nozzle should be used for people seeking the highest power. Included with a person’s purchase is an instruction manual to explain to buyers how to use the machine.
The purchase of this unit also comes with a warranty of two years along with a money-back guarantee that is good for 90 days to protect its buyers. Customer service also claims to respond to buyers in under 24 hours. Unfortunately, this product has no carrying case for keeping all of this unit’s pieces together. It is probably best suited for someone who is organized not to lose their interchangeable nozzles without an included case for them.
Hantun Car Vacuum, High Power DC 12V 5000PA Strong Suction Portable Handheld...
- Great warranty protection and service
- 120 watts of power
- No carrying bag
- No LED light
Reserwa 5th Generation Car Vacuum | Ideal for Short Cleaning Stints
Reserwa 5th Generation has many of the popular features that consumers love. Its cord is 16.4 feet long and it can clean up both wet and dry substances in a vehicle’s interior. It comes with a few different nozzle heads – a brush, a soft tube, and a tubular extension. It operates at a power of 106 watts and suction up to 4500 Pa, which is not the best on the market but is still pretty good. Plus, with only 75 decibels of noise, it will not give its user a headache during cleaning. It comes with a carrying bag which is nice. However, this product must be cleaned between each use and can only be used in sessions lasting shorter than 15 minutes. This is likely not a good option for people who prefer to clean their cars infrequently in long sessions. However, it may be a good choice for those who regularly clean and never spend longer than 15 minutes vacuuming anyways.
Reserwa [5th Gen] Car Vacuum 12V 106W Car Vacuum Cleaner 4500PA Much...
- Decent power and suction
- Comes with carrying case
- Nozzle options suitable for wet/dry usage
- Clean filter between each use
- Can only be used in sessions under 15 minutes
Lozayi High Power Car Vacuum | Complete with 360-Degree Cyclone Technology
High Powered Lozayi is regarded as one of the best car detailing options because of its advanced cyclone technology. It works to separate inhaled air from debris to avoid clogging its filter or creating dust clouds inside a person’s car. Buyers can trust this to clean dirt or liquid out of even the smallest of crevices. It comes with three different cleaning heads – an interior brush for detailing, an extension tube, and a flat nozzle for tight spaces. Its motor operates at 100 watts producing 5,000 Pa worth of suction. It can do this at under 75 decibels of sound so as to not disturb a sleeping baby or give its user a headache.
The unit also comes with an improved HEPA filter, as well as a 16.4-long cord for reaching anywhere inside a vehicle’s interior. Users should beware of its controversial warranty though. While the manufacturers claim to provide full refunds and replacements, some previous buyers have claimed that they have had trouble redeeming this offer after using their products.
Car Vacuum,LOZAYI High Power DC 12V 5000PA Stronger Suction Car Vacuum Cleaner...
- Comes with three nozzle heads
- 360 cleaning technology
- Potential trouble redeeming warranty
- Cannot be plugged in regular electric sockets
Black/Decker Flex Car Vacuum | Heavy-Duty with Extendible 4-Foot Nozzle
Black+Decker Flex at first glance appears to be a professional car vacuum. Though it is larger than many others on the market, it is for good reason. Its dust bowl holds up to 19 ounces and the flexible hose. The car vacuum is delivered with an extension of up to four feet long. Despite its size though, it is still pretty light, weighing just over three pounds. The product comes with a 2-in-one brush/wide nozzle cleaning head as well as a lengthy flat crevice tool for reaching into seat cracks and other difficult places. To a certain extent, it resembles some of the best shop vacs for car detailing. Unfortunately, it has no carrying case. However, it can be plugged into the cigarette lighter of a car and its cord is 16 feet long. It is an ideal option for those seeking a heavy-duty unit that can reach as far as they could possibly need.
BLACK+DECKER Flex Car Vacuum, 12V Corded (BDH1200FVAV), Iron/Red
- With the extendible arm, reaches up to 20 feet
- No carrying case
- Not ideal for cleaning wet substances
- No blower feature
Jinpus High Power Car Vacuum | Upgraded Version with Enlarged Filter
The Jinpus upgraded product has a 120-watt motor and sucks up debris with a force of 5,000 Pa. It comes with a bunch of accessories such as a filter-cleaning brush, a flat crevice head, and a brush. Its interior HEPA filter is enlarged so it does not require cleaning as frequently. It also comes with a carrying case to hold all of these extras together. When compared to the best cordless vacuums for car detailing, its power is for the most part unmatchable. Plus, it never has to be charged or anything – just plugged into a car’s cigarette lighter. Replacement filters for the unit can be purchased and the manufacturers do provide a 100% money-back guarantee. Users should just note that sometimes it is difficult to switch out the attachments. It is more ideal for users with upper body strength to pull of nozzles in use.
Car Vacuum, JINPUS High Power DC 12V 5000PA Stronger Suction Car Vacuum...
- Lightweight
- Powerful motor
- Complaints have been made about the product’s suction power
- Plastic parts could have been better
- Nozzles are hard to be attached to the hose
Buyer’s Guide
When on the market for the best car detailing vacuum, it is important to first consider your individual needs. There are a lot of different options out there, from corded stick vacuums and ones with motorized brushes to those that come with Rupes accessory pads. If you do not need these fancy extras though, it would be cheapest to go with a simple handheld car vacuum like any of the ten options above. When choosing one though, one must first learn what a few different terms mean.
The first one that commonly appears is the unit of suction measurement Pa, which means Pascal. The higher the Pa number, the better a product will likely be. Another one is wattage, which is a measure of electricity. Generally speaking, the higher the wattage of the motor, the more powerful the product is. However, higher wattages may utilize more of the car’s battery. Customers just have to bear this in mind when they are using their vacuum while the car is not on.
Another important thing to consider when purchasing one of these products is how heavy it is. Since they are all handheld and users frequently use them while being bent over, they can potentially harm a person’s back. To avoid potential injury, it is best to seek out a lightweight vacuum and minimize the length of your usage sessions. Holding one of these for a few hours, even if it weighs less than three pounds, might leave you waking up in the morning feeling achy. Two other major factors to consider are whether they commonly spill liquids and whether or not they want a vacuum with a cord. With these things in mind, a person can begin narrowing down the many products currently out for sale. Reading reviews such as this one are also helpful when attempting to decide on the best option.
Product Name | Image | Overall Rating | Details |
---|---|---|---|
HOTOR Corded Wet/Dry Car Vacuum Cleaner |
10
|
Check price | |
HOTOR High Power Corded Car Vacuum |
9.9
|
Check price | |
ThisWorx Portable Corded Vacuum Cleaner |
9.5
|
Check price | |
XDesign Car Vacuum Cleaner |
9.5
|
Check price | |
Moico Car Vacuum |
9.3
|
Check price | |
Hantun Car Vacuum |
8.9
|
Check price | |
Reserwa 5th Generation Car Vacuum |
8.8
|
Check price | |
Lozayi High Power Car Vacuum |
8.6
|
Check price | |
Black+Decker Flex Car Vacuum |
8.5
|
Check price | |
Jinpus High Power Car Vacuum |
8.5
|
Check price |
How We Tested
To test these ten vacuum cleaners for their car interior cleaning abilities, we focused on their power and versatility. Upon their arrival at our office, we first evaluated them for any manufacturing defects or damage from shipping. Luckily, all of the auto detailing vacuums arrived in pristine condition. After that, we moved on to the actual product testing part. For this, we gathered three different cars filled with different types of interior materials such as leather, plastic, and polyester upholstery. We wanted to make sure we had a wide range so that we could test the overall performance of the machines on any type of car. Then came the fun part – getting them really dirty. We crushed up snacks like pretzels and spread them around the car’s interior, muddied the floors, spilled glitter and coffee, and more. Then, we tested each auto detail vacuum on the different messes and surfaces.
Once we finished cleaning with a machine, we scored its abilities and moved on to the next product on the list. In between each unit, we made sure to make the same level of mess in the cars each time to ensure that the competition was even. When we were finished, we primarily used the cleaning abilities of the units to rank them on the above list. Some other factors we considered though were the unit’s ease of use, tube options, and whether or not they could handle wet and dry substances as opposed to just try.
Conclusion
Choosing the best detailing vacuum for the car does not have to be a stressful experience. Any of the ten units above might be a good choice for a user with a dirty car. They just have to evaluate the primary reasons they need a vacuum and find one that meets their requirements. After buying one, they will be well on their way to a car that looks and smells as good as the day they bought it.