Once a month, and after every road trip, I use a portable car vacuum to clean my van. My minivan is currently cleaner than my husband’s truck!
With the impending due date of my third child, I purchased a minivan. I had vowed to never own a minivan. Friends and family were shocked. I blame the pregnancy hormones.
The minivan has been amazing. The sliding door is ideal for moving an infant carrier or strapping a squirmy toddler into a carseat. My family has plenty of space during road trips. The extra seats make me the best carpool mom. I have completely accepted my lot in life.
Although I am a proud minivan mom, I absolutely refuse to drive a pigsty vehicle. Snow and salt, smashed Cheez-its, and day-old McDonald’s French fries have no business residing in my van. Once a month, and after every road trip, I use a portable car vacuum to clean my van. My minivan is currently cleaner than my husband’s truck!
Here are the best selection of portable car vacuum cleaners from Amazon.com
Car Vacuuming Options of the Past
Garage Vacuums
I have childhood memories, not entirely “fond”, of helping my dad wash the family sedan. We would get out sponges and scrub away the dirt. I perfected my “wax on, wax off” technique. After the exterior was dry and shiny, my dad shifted us kids to interior cleaning.
Using my dad’s garage Shop-Vac to vacuum the interior of the vehicle was a disaster. The cord was never long enough and finding an extension cord was a challenge in and of itself. Every single time I opened a door, I would inevitably catch the vacuum with the car door, and it would fall over and become unplugged. I spent more time re-plugging in the Shop-Vac and maneuvering around car doors than I actually spent vacuuming the car.
Traditional Upright Vacuum
Worse than using a garage vacuum to clean a car is trying to use an upright vacuum. As expected, the power cord is never long enough nor is the hose. I’m laughing as I write this picturing myself in the third row of the minivan with the upright vacuum knocked over and the power cord half pulled out the wall. For some many safety reasons, I don’t recommend this.
Gas Station Vacuums
Immediately exiting the carwash, my neighborhood gas station has a car vacuum station. The gas station vacuum stall has never appealed to me. The kids are normally with me when I fill up with gas which means I am unable to properly clean in and under their carseats. The gas station lacks crevice tools to reach that French fry that I dropped between my seat and center console. Moreover, I never have enough quarters to operate the machine.
Portable Car Vacuums of Today
Vacuum manufacturers have listened to consumers and learned how we want clean our vehicles. We want speed, efficiency, and convenience.
As a mom, a portable car vacuum must be easy and quick to operate. I personally love the compact size of today’s car vacuums. I can quickly run into the garage during naptime and erase the fact that we ate lunch in the minivan on the way home from preschool.
Don’t be deterred by a portable car vacuum described as “corded”. Unlike a traditional corded vacuum that plugs into a wall, corded car vacuums source power from the 12V outlet (the cigarette lighter) in your car. This handy feature allows you to vacuum in the driveway, outside your apartment, or in the parking lot at work during your lunch break.
Similar to your favorite handheld vacuum cleaner, portable car vacuums include multiple attachments and reusable filters.
Portable Car Vacuums for All
Portable car vacuums are not just for moms and minivans. Anyone who takes pride in the exterior condition of their vehicle would appreciate a portable car vacuum to care for their interior as well. In addition to a roadside assistance kit, gift a portable car vacuums to new drivers.
Portable Car Vacuum Buying Guide
Amazon’s Choice: BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum
The Dustbuster CHV1410L is recommended for standard household use and ranks in this list for use in the car. The long nozzle with extendable crevice tool makes it an ideal option for vacuuming nooks and crannies and around the seats. Weighing just over 2lbs, the lightweight design means you won’t tire of holding it before your cleaning job is completed.
Included is a charging base that provides a complete charge in only four hours. The ion battery will not lose power when stored on the charging base.
The washable dirt bowl holds over 20 ounces of the dirtiest messes from your vehicle.
Best Seller: ThisWorx for TWC-01 Car Vacuum
A corded car vacuum that is long enough! The ThisWorx TWC-01 includes a 16-ft cord that connects to the 12V outlet in your vehicle. For frame of reference, this cord is the same length as my minivan from bumper to bumper.
Attachments and the vacuum are stored in the included carrying case. This feature alone makes it a top choice for a portable car vacuum. It is truly is portable! Store it in the truck to clean up sand from the beach or as a gentle reminder for your young adult to clean their vehicle at college.
Speaking of attachments, the TWC-01 includes a crevice tool, brush tool, and long flexible hose for reaching under seats.
Top Pick: Holife Handheld Vacuum Cordless Hand Vacuum Cleaner
Is a vacuum without strong suction even worth owning? The Holife handheld vacuum proudly claims to have 6KPA suction, which is strong enough to pick up a soccer ball or coins. The combination of suction and large mouth design are guaranteed to pick-up any kid crumbs in your car.
Summertime cup sweat can create a pool of mess. The rubber attachment can pick up 100mL (just under ½ cup) of liquid. Other attachments include the indispensable crevice tool and brush for loosening dirt and food from upholstery. Brush tools can also be used to remove pet hair.
Clean your Car
Spring cleaning conjures images of scrubbing baseboards and blinds and lots of vacuuming. Deep cleanings are not exclusive to spring, nor are they limited to your home. Use a portable car vacuum to spend 5 minutes a week cleaning your car. Your car will look nice longer and smell better too.
Helpful tip: throw away trash every time you fill up with gas.
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