Top 8 Best Vacuums for Car Detailing in 2022

Updated July 29, 2022
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Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best

THISWORX

TWC-01 Car Detailing Vacuum

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Editor's Choice It's optimized function and design can pick up wet and dry messes without leaving you to worry about the machine clogging up.

Pros

pros
  • Plugs into the cigarette lighter port
  • Weighs in at 2.4-pounds
  • Ergonomic design

Cons

cons
  • Challenging to switch the filter out
Best Bang for the Buck

Armor All

AA255 , 2.5 Gallon 2 Peak HP Wet/Dry Utility

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Runner Up 2 peak horsepower can be switched btween a vacuum and a blower function for multi-use. The thin attachment and long cord adds even more versatility.

Pros

pros
  • Thinner attachment design
  • On-board accessory and cord storage
  • Has a blower function

Cons

cons
  • Cord can fray easily

Vapamore

MR-50 Steamer Vacuum Combo

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Runner Up The Vapamore MR-50 is the first and only portable wet/dry vacuum and steam cleaner hybrid of its kind on the market today.

Pros

pros
  • Steamer / Vacuum Combo
  • Weighs in at 6-pounds
  • Dust collection filter included

Cons

cons
  • Best in horizontal position

Metrovac

Vac N Blo VNB94BD

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Runner Up It comes with a six-foot flexible hose and two 20-inch extensions for ease of use. The air blast feature lets you use this as a blower or air pump, too.

Pros

pros
  • Dolly makes it easy to move
  • Several accessories include
  • Doubles as a blower tool

Cons

cons
  • A little pricey

Eureka

PowerSpeed Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

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Runner Up This large nozzled, upright vacuum comes with a powerful motor and brushroll for ultimate powerhouse vacuuming.

Pros

pros
  • Long crevice tool
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Larger dust cup and nozzle opening

Cons

cons
  • Can get very loud

How We Tested

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

Click here for testing insights >
11 Models
Considered
401 Consumers
Consulted
41 Hours
Researched
Buying guide for
Top 8 Best Vacuums for Car Detailing in 2022

Cleaning out a car is a hassle if you don’t have the best tools at your disposal. This is especially true for auto dealerships, where you have to take care of many vehicles.

Using a professional car vacuum for detailing can make a world of difference not just in terms of how clean the car will be but also in how much time and effort it takes to properly detail an entire car.

On this page, we have reviewed dozens of best-selling automotive vacuums and found the best vacuum for car detailing. Let’s check out some of the options and help you decide on which vacuum type and brand is best for you.

Best Vacuum for Car Detailing Buyer’s Guide

When you start shopping for vacuums specifically to use when you detail your car, there are many things that you want to look for to ensure you make a good choice. We’ve rounded up the biggest buying considerations below.

1. Cord Length

The cord length is very important because this will impact how much of your car you can detail without having to stop, unplug it, plug it into another outlet, and resume the process. The cord length can vary from a few feet up to 20 feet or more, so check and see how long you need. Also, take a look and see what it plugs into because some cords use a standard outlet while others use a cigarette lighter port.

2. Motor Strength

The motor strength will dictate what size debris your vacuum can pick up out of your car, and this is important because there are a lot of ground-in items that can be difficult to get out. It should pick up wet messes, dry messes, dirt, dust, pet hair, and anything else to get your seats and carpets looking like new each time you use it.

3. Portability

Your vacuum should be very portable to help you easily move around your vehicle, and this factor includes the vacuum’s weight, size, and shape. It should be compact and easy to carry, and it should have a solid build that won’t break in different environments. The handle should be very ergonomic and comfortable to help prevent user fatigue with extended detailing sessions. Some canister vacuums work very well for this.

4. HEPA Filter

You can take a look at the filtration system that your potential vacuum has, and you want to see one that has a HEPA filter. This type of filter is extremely dense, and this helps it trap and lock in pet dander, dust, and even mold spores that could be floating around your car. HEPA filters are more expensive, but they are well worth it if you have allergies or a respiratory condition.

5. Corded or Cordless

Some detailing vacuums run on traditional cords that plug into your outlets or cigarette ports, but other vacuums run on battery packs. Corded models will run much longer than cordless ones, but the cord can hinder your movement and maneuverability. If you have a smaller car, a cordless design may be easier to handle because you won’t have to worry about it running for hours at a time.

6. Warranty

The warranty on your vacuum is important for protecting you against defects or damage, and the warranty period can range from a few months to a few years. Look for a long warranty, and you want a full warranty over a limited warranty. A full one will cover you from more issues than part failure, and they’re usually less strict than limited ones.

7. Capacity

You’ll have to have a place to store your dust and debris as you collect them, and the dust bin should have a larger capacity. If it doesn’t, you could find yourself stopping several times during the detailing process to empty it before starting cleaning again. However, a bigger dust collection bin will also make the vacuum larger, so you have to decide which is more important to you. Do you want a more compact vacuum, or do you want to go longer between emptying it?

8. Wet & Dry Versatility

Make sure to note whether or not the vacuum you are considering is a strictly dry vacuum that utilizes agitation and suction only or if it is a wet vacuum that uses water or cleaner solutions in combination with agitation and suction to more thoroughly clean particularly messy vehicles.

Many professional car detailers will have multiple vacuums for various levels of detailing. Wet-dry vacuums for example make cleaning cloth upholstery, floor mats and carpet surfaces much easier than just dry-vacuums alone, which are better for sucking up loose debris, dust and dirt particles.

9. Brand

You should choose a brand that is very well-known because they usually put more time and effort into their vacuums, and these brands also use higher-quality materials that won’t fail or break down as quickly. Also, it’s usually easier to get in touch with their customer support if something happens, and they typically offer more comprehensive warranties.

Bottom Line

THISWORX TWC-01 Car Vacuum

9.7

Ease of use

10.0/10

Instructions

9.5/10

Performance

9.8/10

Design

9.7/10

Quality

9.6/10

Pros

  • Has a cord but also runs on batteries
  • HEPA filter is washable and reusable
  • Cleans wet & dry dirt and pet hair
  • Lightweight and good design
  • 16 feet cord length

Cons

  • Switching the filter is a bit challenging
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Our pick for the best vacuum for car cleaning and auto detailing is the Vapamore MR-50 vacuum because this is a portable device that is perfect for everyone except professional dealerships. This handy vacuum easily cleans wet and dry dirt and pet hairs. You can use it cordless or corded depending on your preferences. The Vapamore MR-50 is the first and only portable wet / dry vacuum and steam cleaner hybrid of its kind on the market today.

We like that it comes with a transparent design, so you can see how full the debris container is. The compact size makes it easy to store in your car between uses, so it’s always on-hand when you need it.

FAQ

Q. Can you vacuum your car with a regular vacuum? A. You can use a regular vacuum to clean out your car, but it won’t give you as deep of a clean as you’d get with a detailing-specific vacuum. Detailing vacuums are also less likely to clog with the debris in your car, and many of these vacuums come with car-specific attachments, like longer crevice tools.
Q. How do you vacuum a car carpet? A. To properly vacuum your car, start by going through and removing any large garbage pieces of debris, remove the floor mats, and use compressed air to blow out the seat tracks and in the seams to loosen the debris. Sand down any burrs on the attachment mouth to prevent it from snagging the carpet, push the seat back, lay the seat back, and start vacuuming in a counterclockwise direction. Brush the carpet fibers to loosen the dirt before vacuuming it, and vacuum the floor mats before you return them to the car.
Q. How often should you vacuum a car? A. For the best results, you want to vacuum your car at least once a month. The process shouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes, especially when you get the hang of it. You could vacuum more often if you have kids that drop a lot of snacks or if you’re active and leave a lot of dirt in your car from your adventures.

Other Products We Considered

The Steam Cleaner Master editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks. These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5.

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About the Author Angela

Angela is the founder of Steam Cleaner Master. With two kids at home, she knows it's a struggle to keep things clean — which is why she is here to share her tips and tricks with you.

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