Keeping your car in pristine condition can be a tricky task in itself, then add some messy little ones to the mix, and it can feel like the cleaning never ends.
Fromcookie crumbs to messy play in the car, all the little things we do to entertain our tots on long car rides can start to take a toll on your car. Given how much time you spend in your car, from the school runs to the weekly shop, you want to keep it as clean and tidy as possible, so investing in a good car vacuum cleaner is the best first step.
Of course, your household vacuum cleaner could do the job, but do you really want to lug it outside and deal with extension cords and all sorts? Upright vacuum cleaners are designed for household carpets, rugs and stairways, not for squeezing through a car door.
That’s where a cordless and compact vacuum cleaner comes in. Either cordless or car-specific these vacuum cleaners are built to get into all the small nooks and crannies in your car, especially between car seats! Some are even charged via a USB-C port so you really can clean up on the go – perfect for road trips and long car journeys.
Pro tip: If you go for a lightweight and cordless car vacuum cleaner, suitable for little hands, you can get the kids involved in the car clean!
To help you we’ve found the best car vacuum cleaners available to buy right now, so you can get vacuuming from as soon as tomorrow, thanks to next day delivery.
Best car vacuum for all-round ability
A handheld, bagless whirlwind that will make quick work of loose muck in your car. It's a mere 1.5kg but the trade-off is that you get about twenty minutes runtime. It's a race against time somewhat but that adds excitement to an arguably mundane task.
The attachments included are exactly what you need, as standard, you get a rectangular power brush that is superb at removing hair and dirt from the carpet, a dusting brush on an extended pole, and a narrow crevice tool for removing grit from beside the seats, which is simultaneously very small but catches 98 per cent of lost car debris – perfect for removing little crumbs!
Specifications:
- Run-time - 20 minutes
- Capacity - 0.4 litres
- Weight - 1.5 kg
- Attachments - Power brush, dusting brush, crevice brush
Best value for money
Great spec for great money, this offering from Proscenic gives you 30 minutes of run time and strong suction, plus the ability to charge from a USB-C socket – ideal for cleaning up on-the-go for longer road trips with the kids.
Specifications:
- Run-time - 30 minutes
- Capacity - 0.12 litres
- Weight - 0.63 kg
- Attachments - Dusting brush, crevice brush
www.halfords.com
Best corded vacuum for cars
We know what we said about cordless but this Karcher WD 3 is an exception to the rule. Because it's specifically for cars, the design addresses the problems normally associated with corded vacuum cleaners. It's cheaper than many quality cordless options and it is much more powerful with 200 air watts of suction power.
Oh yes, and it's a wet and dry vacuum that comes with a wet and dry floor tool you can use in your garage.
Specifications:
- Run-time - Unlimited (using mains power)
- Capacity - 17 litres
- Weight - 5.8 kg
- Attachments - Dusting brush, crevice brush
www.currys.co.uk
Best vacuum cleaner and air purifier
With a 13-minute run time and 0.09-litre dust bin, this compact and budget-friendly handheld vacuum is perfect for cleaning up small bits of dust and crumbs in your car. It comes with a delicate head attachment and an extension nozzle for efficient cleaning on-the-go.
What makes this vacuum so exceptional is that it also works as an air purifier. The Ozone air purifier can be left in your car (with the doors closed) and it'll freshen everything up. The EUFY can work for 15 minutes as an air purifier before needing charging via a USB port.
Specifications:
- Run-time - 13 minutes
- Capacity - 0.09 litres
- Weight - 0.6 kg
- Attachments - Dusting brush, crevice brush
Best budget-friendly car vacuum
Great value for money, this cordless handheld vacuum gives you power and flexibility to clean your car with little hassle. Featuring a nozzle that pivots up to 200 degrees that will easily access awkward spaces from any angle, makes it perfect for catching crumbs under and between car seats.
Specifications:
- Run-time - 10 minutes
- Capacity - 0.44 litres
- Weight - 1.38 kg
- Attachments - None (head is adjustable)
Best for multi-use in your car and home
If you want a vacuum for use in the house and car, this is your best bet. You can detach the floor tool and pole and simply use the standard short nozzle, the crevice tool, or dusting attachment supplied. Hoover’s H-Free 500 comes with two 22V batteries, each giving you at least 20 minutes of runtime and at 1.7kg excluding the floor tool, it's light to use.
Specifications:
- Run-time - 80 minutes
- Capacity - 0.45 litres
- Weight - 2.2 kg
- Attachments - Crevice Tool, upholstery tool