Easier Chores with 5 Best Vacuum Cleaners for Car Detailing

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best vacuum for car detailing guide

No doubt, the purchase of a car is a happy occasion. But after a while, a lucky owner faces some routine tasks concerning its maintenance. Even though some people still clean it up with only good old rugs and brushes, we offer a better solution that can make the daily chores way less time-consuming — the best vacuum for car detailing.

Why can’t I tidy up a car with my regular home appliance?” — You may ask. Frankly, almost all devices with a removable handheld vacuum may be used for vehicle cleaning. Still, they lack a multitude of features that we love in those designed in order to maintain a car. Each model from our review comes with specific vacuum attachments for car detailing of any complexity. That’s why even an average car cleaner beats your regular home appliance in this case.

So, see a cool selection of proven products.

See our selection of the best product!

Top Vacuum For Car Detailing in 2024

The selection of vacuum cleaners for car washes is so wide that you probably feel like a kid in a candy store. To nullify your misgivings, we are going to introduce top-notch appliances and define 2 top detailing vacuums out of 5 decent “candidates”.

ProductDimensionsWeightCapacityLength of a Cord
Carrand 94005AS AutoSpa Bagless Auto-Vac15.1 x 10.4 x 8.1 inches8ounces550 watts12 feet Check Price
Car Vacuum Cleaner by ThisWorx14.6 x 5.2 x 4.9 inches2.4pounds106 watts16 feet Check Price
Armor All Utility Wet/Dry Vacuum, AA255(Editor’s Choice)10.6 x 14.2 x 14.4 inches7pounds~1491 watts (2 horsepower)10 feet Check Price
Shop-Vac 5986000 Stainless Steel Wet Dry Vacuum14 x 14 x 21 inches14.65pounds2941 watts (4.5 horsepower)6 feet Check Price
Shop-Vac 2036000 Wet Dry Vacuum12 x 11 x 12.5 inches
8pounds

1471 watts (2.5 horsepower)6 feet Check Price

1. Armor All Utility AA255 — A Middle-Class Vacuum with Auto-Shop off Function

wet dry vacuum car review

Armor All Utility Cleaner is suitable for any kind of dirt, debris and liquids. This device is a bit heavier than the previous models: a greater power has resulted in the weight increase.

However, it is held in high regard among the vacuum cleaners for car detailing and is not as heavy as you have just imagined. It is still relatively lightweight in comparison with some other appliances on the list and may be easily transported due to its on-board organization.

Learn Core Functions of Armor All Utility

Auto shut-off option works almost the same as a protective lid in vacuum cleaner from ThisWorx. It prevents outflow and detects when a storage tank is full. By the way, the trash container is made from polypropylene and is large enough for the tasks of medium difficulty level. You won’t have to empty the basket every time you finished your detailing.

The unique feature of this vac is its blower function. It means that it can not only gather debris inside but also blow them off from narrow cracks and crevices.

On-board organization wins one more point. It enhances the portability of the device and also leaves more free space you can use otherwise than for placing all the tools (blower, deluxe car and 2-in-1 utility nozzle, crevice tool, and detail brush). All of them can be stored around the body of the appliance.

The downsides of the vacuum are its inability to plug into the car outlet and relatively short cord. If you have a large car, it may be an issue.

Special Features

  1. auto shut-off
  2. blower function
  3. on-board tool storage
  4. air and noise diffuser

To solve it, buy a power adapter. Let’s talk about benefits and shortcomings of the cleaner in detail.

Pros
  • No assembly is required.
  • Cleaner removes both wet & dry debris and dirt.
  • On-board organization.
  • Powerful suction & blower function.
  • 5 additional tools help to remove even more debris.
  • Auto shut-off option prevents outflow.
  • Big storage tank withstands several cleaning sessions.
  • Air and noise diffuser makes the device less noisy during detailing.

Cons
  • Relatively short cord.
  • Needs a power converter to plug into the car.

Final Impression

Armor All Utility is a fine choice if you need a great vac for the detailing of average complexity. It copes with 99% tasks in a vehicle or household, but still has minor downsides concerning its construction which make cleaning not as convenient as it could be.

2. ThisWorx for TWC-01 (106W motor) — Excellent Vacuum for Car Detailing with the Longest Cord

best vacuum cleaner for car interior

This vacuum cleaner for car interior claims to be a professional cleaning device. It means that you don’t need to seek help in third-party services to detail your vehicle — with vehicle vacuum by ThisWorx you’re fully able to do it on your own.

It is another portable solution for anyone who drives a lot: from a keen traveler to a taxi driver. It’s only a bit heavier than a previous model and has a longer cord. Also, it’s possible to plug it into the vehicle inbuilt outlet without an adapter, so you may remove debris from the inside of your car even in the middle of nowhere.

Some Cool Features You May Like

It’s not as powerful as the first contender for the handheld car vacuum cleaner but still offers enough suction power for dealing with the most vehicle care chores. Even though it works great during the routine tasks, ThisWorx is not intended for hardcore vacuuming — for this, it is better to buy a stronger device.

Reach everywhere with 16-feet cord, elastic hose and a set of nozzles for all purposes. The cord is so long, that you can clean a van or minibus.

Another detail you will probably enjoy is reusable trash container. This releases you from the constant purchase of new bags and their change. Moreover, the basket is transparent, so you can see whether it needs to be emptied.

Annoyed by debris falling out? ThisWorx added a protective lid to the hose, which keeps all the garbage inside the cleaner. A new kit also includes:

  • metal turbine ensures more power;
  • 3 nozzles which are able to remove dirt, water, pet hair, bread crumbs, etc. from any surface of car interior;
  • spare HEPA filter — replace the old one with this one;
  • special brush helps with filter cleaning;
  • carry bag that makes a storage and transportation of a device much easier.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) is a filtration system of a new generation which doesn’t allow even the smallest debris to sneak. That’s why the majority of bacteria, germs, and other pathogens will be successfully eliminated from your vehicle.

Special Features

  1. bagless
  2. additional HEPA filter
  3. carry bag
  4. special brush for filter cleaning

And now, let’s define the up- and downsides of the ThisWorx device.

Pros
  • The longest cord in our review: reach even the back seats of a minivan with it.
  • HEPA filtration system removes the smallest debris.
  • Elastic hose compatible with other nozzles besides those we have in the kit.
  • Carry bag for easy storage and transportation.
  • Garbage doesn’t fall out of the appliance due to a protective lid on the top of the hose.
  • + 1 more HEPA filter for the replacement.
  • Support of car power outlet.

Cons
  • 3 nozzles seem to be OK, but other manufacturers usually offer more additional tools.
  • Some would be annoyed by a loud whistling noise.

General Impression

Even though the suction of this vacuum is far from impressive, we may call it the better appliance for the majority of the car owners. Why? A long cord is a really important factor for those who have a large vehicle: it’s quite convenient just to plug in a device and reach all the areas you need. Carry bag, ergonomic design and car outlet support make it perfect for on-the-go cleaning.

3. Carrand 94005AS Auto-Vac — Extra Lightweight Portable Automobile Vacuum Cleaner

lightweight portable automobile vacuum cleaner

This model from Carrand is the most powerful portable car vacuum on our list. Despite being very lightweight, it’s capable of a lot of things to do during detailing: remove debris from seats, carpets, seams, crevices and almost all hard-to-reach areas inside a vehicle. Such a great suction makes the cleaning process quick and effortless.

Carrand AutoSpa Cleaner can be easily operated by hand because of its compact design. It comes with four additional tools. Each of them intended for the particular surface. The device is ready-to-use out of the box – you need only attach the hose and choose the proper tool.

What Makes it Different from Others?

Unlike other cleaners in our review, this one gives you the greatest opportunities for carrying. Low weight, handy construction, and the second longest cord — all those characteristics turn it to the portable device which you can bring to anywhere you’re driving by car.

There is no need to buy replacement bags for this appliance. Simply empty the collection basket and you can use it again and again.

The construction of the cleaner involves a unique technology which provides freer air flow. Due to this feature, you get 44% more cleaning power than other competitive handheld vacuums.

Special Features

  • reusable collection basket
  • on-board tool storage
  • 360-degree swivel elbow

The vac has a flexible hose and 4 additional tools:

  1. Dash Brush. Use it to sweep dust from electronic panels of your vehicle and ventilation inlets.
  2. This is indispensable in the detailing of seat pockets, belts and cup holders.
  3. Carpet and Upholstery. Remove debris from any fabric surfaces including carpets, seats and floor mats.
  4. Blower Grip Handle. Works awesome for the cleaning of seams and crevices. Can eliminate not only dirt but also water.

All those tools may be stored on-board: you can place them around the base of the cleaner.

The last feature that deserves our attention is 360-degree swivel elbow. Now it is not necessary to move the entire vacuum to turn around. The swivel elbow allows relocating the cord in all directions without touching the device.

To summarize these points, let’s allocate several pros and cons of Carrand AutoSpa Cleaner:

Pros
  • Incredible power/weight ratio.
  • No assembly is needed.
  • Four tools for more efficient detailing in hard-to-reach areas.
  • Compact dimensions + an opportunity to store tools on board.
  • Flexible hose and swivel elbow.
  • The vacuum supports a standard 120V household outlet.
  • Easy to maintain.
  • No additional expenses needed to buy replacement bags.

Cons
  • The collection basket is small and should be often emptied, otherwise the vac loses suction.
  • Don’t work with vehicle power outlet, so a power converter is required for that.

Overall Impression

Carrand AutoSpa is a great car appliance with high portability. It is recommended to those who prefer lightweight and compact cleaners over very powerful, but heavy. This vacuum shows great performance for the majority of tasks associated with car care and is quite easy to use, what makes it the auto detailing vacuum inside its weight class.

4. Shop-Vac 5986000 — Most Powerful Wet and Dry Car Vacuum

powerful wet and dry car vacuum review

What is the most powerful shop vacuum cleaner? Probably, this model is one of them. Shop-Vac Stainless Steel is our heavy weaponry offered to those who need an exceptional suction for car detailing. Its suction is impressive as well as a variety of additional tools inside a package. Such a combination is a guarantee of quality vehicle care.

This vacuum is made of the extra durable stainless steel designed in white, black and red colors. You can remove wet and dry debris from any surfaces, including narrow and hard-to-reach areas. In fact, it is widely used not only for car detailing, but also some “hardcore” cleaning in workshops, garages, attics, and other tipped-over rooms.

Key Functions & Attachments of Shop-Vac Stainless Steel

The first thing you could notice is a voluminous stainless steel storage tank. It seems to be so large that it is able to fit in almost all dirt in this world. Besides its great strength characteristics, it is easy to clean and empty.

Just imagine: this appliance is equipped with 7 additional attachments! Let’s consider them in more detail:

  1. Three extension wands which provide more ease of use.
  2. Crevice tool works for the cleaning of seat pockets, belts, and cup holders.
  3. Gulper nozzle — a fast pick tool indispensable in car detailing.
  4. Floor nozzle — this one is usually used during floor cleaning sessions inside a house or other placements.
  5. Cartridge filter — a multipurpose filter that comes with Shop-Vac devices. It removes small dry debris.
  6. Foam sleeve is responsible for wet cleaning.
  7. Filter bag keeps your tank clean. However, it is not reusable, so you will have to replace it after a while.

Shop-Vac Stainless Steel has a secure latch system. It means that lid and tank taken together prevent debris from falling out during detailing. The body of an appliance is also equipped with carrying handles on the upper, right and left sides for more convenient transportation. On top of the vac, you can see a little button. Push it to turn the device on. Push again, and it will shut down.

Just like Armor All Utility, this vacuum also has a blower option. The only difference: here it is much more powerful and might help you with a greater mess.

Special Features

  1. blower function
  2. on-board tool storage
  3. secure latch system
  4. three carry handles

And the better part? Of course, it is our table with pros and cons of each detailing device. Enjoy:

Pros
  • A variety of attachments help to remove wet and dry debris of any size.
  • A device has the most powerful suction among those we review.
  • Secure latch system keeps debris inside.
  • Voluminous tank & free filter bag.
  • Blower option.
  • 3 carry handles and on/off button simplify the use.
  • Floors and other surfaces also may be cleaned using this.
  • On-board organization.

Cons
  • Needs a power converter to plug into the vehicle.
  • The appliance is a bit heavy.

Overall Verdict

Shop-Vac Stainless Steel is a top-notch heavy duty car vacuum cleaner. It is recommended for people who need to do a lot of household work including car detailing. Nevertheless, it is not a perfect choice for those who travel a lot and prefer on-the-go cleaning. Try another option, if you belong to this category of people.

5. Shop-Vac 2036000 Wet Dry  — Good Wall Mounted Car Vacuum Cleaner

best wall mounted car vacuum cleaner review

This is the more lightweight solution from Shop-Vac than Stainless Steel Vac. Shop-Vac is a wet & dry vacuum device which has multiple functions. Like another product from this brand, it is also used in both vehicles and flats (or houses). We can call it the vacuum cleaner for home and car because it is quite portable to use it on-the-go and powerful enough to cope with complicated household tasks at the same time.

The appliance doesn’t require an assembly and comes in black and red color combination. The body of a device made of plastic.

Cleaning Opportunities of Shop-Vac Wet Dry Vacuum

A rear blower port allows you blowing instead of vacuuming. It works when you have a narrow or hard-to-reach surface with a lot of debris on it. Rather than gathering debris directly from the surface, you can blow them down and remove from the floor using a regular nozzle.

The coolest thing about Shop-Vac Wet Dry Vacuum is its ability to be mounted to the wall. We like it because such a position of an appliance during the cleaning session frees up floor space. You don’t need to move the device to reach the area under there. Moreover, the kit includes a bracket for storage. Yes, you can store it also on the wall.

The device equipped with all necessary accessories for detailing such as crevice tool, gulper nozzle, reusable disc filter and foam sleeve. You can read a more detailed description of them in a review of Shop-Vac Stainless Steel Vacuum.

Although the appliance is intended for both car and house vacuuming, you can easily carry it anywhere you want due to its compact dimensions and low weight. A top carry handle simplifies transportation even more.

Special Features

  1. wall mountable
  2. rear blower port
  3. collapsible top carry handle
  4. wall bracket for storage
Pros
  • It is wall mountable.
  • You can blow debris off instead of vacuuming using a rear blower port.
  • A good mix of relatively low weight and large capacity.
  • Wall bracket for convenient storage.
  • Ergonomic design + top carry handle for more convenient transportation.
  • Strong suction.
  • Works great for elimination of local dirt such as spots on the carpet.

Cons
  • Needs a power converter to plug into the vehicle.
  • Sometimes dust can blow out from the other side.

General Verdict

Shop-Vac Wet Dry Vacuum may serve as your regular house appliance. You can use it as a cleaner for multi-purpose cleaning, including car detailing. Nonetheless, we’d recommend choosing another device intended precisely for your vehicle and leave this one at home.

Buyer’s Guide: What is the Top Shop Vac for Cars? Our Choice

best car vacuum for auto detailing review

So, what product from our list deserves to be the best vacuum cleaner for car detailing according to editor’s opinion? We chose two of them: Car Vacuum by ThisWorx and Armor All Utility Wet/Dry Vacuum. Both are great but we can’t pick up only one because they are in totally different weight class.

ThisWorx is the option if you are looking for a highly portable device which can be carried around. It has a long cord and can be plugged into the car outlet, so it deals greatly with on-the-go cleaning. Armor All Vacuum belongs to the home multi-purpose vacuum devices for car detailing. It provides you with more versatile functionality and stronger suction. This suits people who prefer detailing their car in their private garage or near the house.

Further Reading

3 thoughts on “Easier Chores with 5 Best Vacuum Cleaners for Car Detailing”

  1. There are many options in the market place to choose from, such as, walk behind canister vacuums, uprights, canister, upright, and other kinds of vacuum cleaners. Consumer Reports suggest several different models to consider when looking for a vacuum cleaner.

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