A good handheld vacuum can cope with a small mess in a car. Also, it gives quick cleaning without the necessity of heavy lifting and occupying precious storage space. These mini vacs won’t replace a full-size vacuum canister when it comes to deep cleaning. But these devices are also handy to instantly tackle dry spills, dirt tracking, and pet hair stuck to just about anything.
Thanks to top-notch handheld vacuums, you will be able to forget about dirty stains inside your car. Also these devices are not just dealing with messes inside your car or home. You may stash a car vacuum cleaner in a garage to keep your workshop, garden bench and other places clean..
Nowadays, the newest devices are equipped with powerful batteries to collect more debris and work longer than any previous vacs.
Other benefits of handheld vacuums for car:
- comfortable handle;
- easier emptying of dust cups;
- washable filters;
- multiple speed controls;
Some models even scoop up wet messes and remove stains, and whether they’re corded or cordless. The handheld vacuums with brushes and other fittings make it simpler to cope with debris, dust and dirt from draperies, windowsills, mattresses, door frames, and other hard-to-reach places.
The comparison table and buying guide can become handy for people who’ve never bought/used such devices. Check the specifications and individual reviews before buying.
Homasy Cordless Handheld Vacuum– the best for running time!

The rubber jar attachment is ideal for cleaning up to 100 ml of liquids for each use, such as spilled milk, coffee stains and so on.
Pros
- Quiet work;
- Can clean pet hair, dust and gravel;
- 3 different attachments for various tasks;
- 3-year warranty;
- The extended run time among cordless handheld vacuums;
Cons
- Takes about 5 hours for a fully charged battery;
- Hard to clean from small debris;
This Homasy cordless vacuum cleaner limits the noise to 78 dB during service. The attachments are super quick to bring on and off. You can wash any aspect of it and bring it back together in a snap.
Bissell Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum– the best for cleaning pet hair!

Pros
- Quiet work;
- Pet hair, wet spills and dry stains can be cleaned;
- Good for carpets, hard floors and upholstery;
- Triple filtration;
- Large capacity of a dirt bin;
- Comes with crevice, motorized brush and upholstery tools;
- Has LED lights;
Cons
- The removable filters are pricey;
- Takes 8 hours for a full charge;
- Won’t clean dry spills and old dirt;
- Requires 4 Lithium-ion batteries;
- A bit bulky;
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 2390 is the most appropriate model for healthy and fast cleaning of pet hair. The 14.4V Li-ion battery of this portable vacuum gives you an operating period of 15 to 20 minutes on each charge.
Shark WV201 WANDVAC Handheld Vacuum– the best for portability!

Portability is where the vacuum shines. With only 1.4 pounds, you won’t have any problems using it in various areas of your house. It’s extremely light when you realize the amount of suction it can create. It is especially useful for cleaning below furniture and other close spots.
Pros
- Ultra lightweight;
- Portable;
- Easy to store and transport;
- Comes with a charging dock;
- Tapered nozzle;
- Wide cleaning path – 3.6 inches;
- Quick charging;
Cons
- Pricey;
- Small dirt bin;
- The runtime is short;
- Average filtration;
Many cordless handheld vacuums can require around 4 hours until they are completely powered. This one would go from a completely drained battery all the way to a fully powered battery in only 2.5 hours. The filter machine is washable, meaning you don’t have to think about the high repair costs that come with changing the filter any time it gets dirty.
HoLife Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner– the best for the filter!

This device works from a Li-ion battery that gives you about 25 minutes of continuous service, sufficiently to cope with most areas of your home.
This portable cleaner is equipped with 2 more nozzles to guarantee effective cleaning in the narrowest regions. There’s even a little brush on the top of the nozzle. This compact cordless handheld vacuum cleaner guarantees effective cleaning of stairs, doors, carpets, shelves and so on.
Pros
- Washable filter made of stainless steel;
- Quiet work;
- Powerful suction for 1 Li-ion battery;
- Good for cleaning carpets, upholstery and corners;
- Many attachments;
- A wall-mount charger for convenient use;
Cons
- Small dirt bin;
- Long charge;
The first time you turn the cleaner on, you can automatically note how strong despite its compact size. The effective 90W motor & dual-action filtration tech offer 6000 Pa heavy suction. One of the main points of sale to me is that you will disinfect all soil and liquids.
Dyson V7 Car+Boat Vacuum Cleaner– the best for suction power!

The battery life of 30 minutes is adequate for you to scrub the interior of a large vehicle thoroughly.
If you clean the inside of a big car, such as a 15-seater truck, your extra time will come in handy. It’s a couple of minutes shorter if you’re using a motorized brush tool that pulls more strength from the pack. The vacuum would work on Max’s power setting for less than 10 minutes.
Pros
- Large dirt bin;
- Many tools included;
- A car charger comes along;
- Two modes of suction;
- Easy cleaning;
- Good for removing pet hair and old dirt;
- Has an extension hose;
- The battery is included;
- Easy to clean;
Cons
- Expensive;
- Loud;
- Heavy;
The mini-brush roll was particularly useful because it helped the V7 Car+Boat to collect the kind of pushy debris that any other handheld we checked left behind.
The Buyer’s Guide
Types of handheld vacuums for car:
Corded devices provide control cables that can be attached to either a DC or an AC power source. Some versions allow the power source to be interchangeable if the required AC-DC adapter-converter is accessible. One of the most important perks of corded vacuum cleaners is their strength, which results in enhanced cleaning performance.
As the unit is plugged directly into the electrical socket or even into the 12-volt battery system of your vehicle, you can pull however much power into the machine to ensure better vacuum efficiency. This tends to reduce time in the cleaning process and ensures deeper, more rigorous cleaning.
However strong, corded devices can be, they may have to compromise convenience as you will be restricted to the accessibility of a source of power. That’s where 12-volt cabled systems have the benefit over their AC equivalents as you can conveniently connect those systems into your car’s cigarette lighter adapter. But this would still pull fuel from the vehicle’s tank. On the other side, the AC-only corded vacuum cleaner will also be used easily whether you have an electric extension cord or if you prefer a device with an incredibly long power cord.
Cordless devices. For anyone who doesn’t like being involved in cables or cables, or who really don’t want to use their car’s battery or home’s energy to pump up their cleaning machines, cordless vacuums are a must-have. These devices have better visibility, reliability, and durability when you are not practically constrained by power cords.
All handheld vacuums for a car in this list are cordless. Why should you pick cordless handheld vacuum cleaners instead of corded devices:
- Portability and maneuverability to any places where you can reach;
- Lightweight and good for reduced hand fatigue;
- Good filtration systems for a cleaner environment;
- More affordable than corded devices;
- Not just for cars – take along to clean a hotel room, your garage, etc.;
Suction power
How much suction capacity a cordless vacuum has can depend on the frequency of the engine and the battery. The best handheld vacuum usage does not actually be the most efficient on the market, but rather one that combines suction capacity with battery life. What you’re going to get is a vacuum that gets the job done and doesn’t need to be recharged halfway through.
Power rating is an indicator of how efficient the engine is. When deciding on the right portable car vacuum for your particular scenario, bear in mind that the lower the voltage level (e.g. 12 volts vs. 18 volts), the less suction it would provide.
Tank capacity
Many portable vacuums have a limited capacity in the reservoir, and with good cause. Trying to shift a big tank around to wash the crevices below your car seat is clearly unsustainable. The truth be told, you’re going to want to be sure that the vacuum machine has ample space to accommodate at least all the debris that would be accumulated in a single cleaning process. Where this may be a problem is for those who want to go off-road, camp or take part in other recreational events that make the interior of the vehicle a mess.
Vehicle size
The size of your vehicle will eventually decide the scale of the vacuum cleaning device you use to scrub. If you have a big van that likes to get dirty from a serious job or extracurricular events, a more efficient car vacuum would be required. A smaller car that’s trying to switch across the city would require something less efficient.
Accessories
It’s crucial to have the proper instrument for the job. If the vacuum cleaner does not have the correct fittings to get under the seats, to the crevices, or to disinfect the upholstery, so the car cleaning job can be completed just partly.
Video Tutorial: HoLife Handheld Vacuum Cordless Cleaner Review by Slick
Final thoughts
Cleaning the interior of your car doesn’t even have to be a task. As long as the picked handheld vacuum cleans dirt and other undesirable contaminants from any possible surface within your vehicle, you can do just fine.