6 Best Vacuums for Car Detailing in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks
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Shea Cummings
- Last updated:
Whether starting a car detailing side hustle or simply wanting the cleanest car possible, one of the most important tools for the job is the vacuum. But where to begin when you have several options to choose from?
In this article, we’ve gathered and written reviews on six of the best vacuums for car detailing available this year. Each review includes a short overview of the product and its pros and cons.
After the reviews, we’ve also compiled a short buying guide to help you make an informed purchase decision.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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Vacmaster VBVB611PF Wet/Dry Vacuum |
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CHECK PRICE |
Best Value
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Armor All AA255 Utility Shop Vac |
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CHECK PRICE |
Premium Choice
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VacuMaid GV50WPRO Wall Mounted Vacuum |
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CHECK PRICE |
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DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Vacuum Kit |
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CHECK PRICE | |
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THISWORX Car Portable Vacuum Cleaner |
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CHECK PRICE |
The 6 Best Vacuums for Car Detailing
1. Vacmaster VBVB611PF Wet/Dry Vacuum – Best Overall
| Brand: | Vacmaster |
| Power Source: | Corded |
| Feature: | Onboard kit storage |
This Vacmaster VBVB611PF Wet/Dry Vacuum gets the best overall vacuum for car detailing for several reasons. The first is that it includes a decent-sized kit of attachments for all vehicle detailing tasks. Another primary reason is that it’s also suitable for many other jobs, especially with the detachable blower feature.
The only significant downside to this vacuum is that it is corded instead of battery-powered. Regarding vehicle detailing, cordless tools are worth their weight in gold. However, for a reasonable price, this vacuum still comes out on top.
- Large attachment kit
- Detachable blower
- Reasonable price
- All-purpose—including wet & dry messes
- Corded
2. Armor All AA255 Utility Shop Vac – Best Value
| Brand: | Armor All |
| Power Source: | Corded |
| Feature: | Built-in air and noise diffuser |
This Armor All AA255 Utility Shop Vac is a great option if you’re looking for the best car detailing vacuum for the money. It’s not the biggest vacuum at 2.5-gallons, but that is not always a bad thing, especially if you’re doing mobile car detailing.
Another big positive to this vacuum is the built-in air and noise diffuser, which gives it a quieter operation than similar units. However, the hose is only an inch and a quarter in diameter, making it less capable of the bigger debris that might be hiding between the seats. Overall, this is a great choice if you’re on a budget.
- Great price
- Good selection of attachments
- All-purpose—including wet & dry messes
- Quiet operation
- Corded
- Small hose
3. VacuMaid GV50WPRO Professional Wall Mounted Vacuum – Premium Choice
| Brand: | VacuMaid |
| Power Source: | Corded |
| Feature: | Removable and sealed bags |
Suppose you don’t need mobile car detailing tools and have a bigger budget. In that case, this VacuMaid GV50WPRO Professional Wall Mounted is a superb option. The kit includes common attachments that make cleaning your vehicle’s interior a breeze. And if you’re worried about having to park close, you don’t have much to worry about with a 50-foot hose.
One of the obvious downsides to this vacuum is that it’s not mobile at all, and the price is another big factor. However, many people would not consider these deal breakers when looking at the quality and what the vacuum offers. Plus, the sealed HEPA-style bag makes clean up easy when the vacuum is full.
- Sealed HEPA-style bag
- 50-foot hose
- Professional grade
- Easy to mount
- No mobility
- Expensive
4. DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Vacuum Kit
| Brand: | DeWalt |
| Power Source: | Battery-powered |
| Feature: | HEPA filter, wet/dry capability |
DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Vacuum Kit is one of the leading brands when it comes to high-quality battery-powered tools, and their cordless vacuum kit is no slouch in this category. This is an especially good option if you already use other 20V MAX DeWalt tools because the batteries (and chargers) are interchangeable.
The tool itself isn’t cheap, though. And if you aren’t already using the DeWalt batteries, you’re in for an additional added expense. The primary consideration to weigh is how much the price versus usability matters to you. If you don’t mind the higher price, you won’t find much lighter or more portable vacuums on the market.
- Interchangeable batteries with other DeWalt tools
- Wet/dry HEPA filter
- Washable filter
- Portable and lightweight
- Expensive
- Limited time on batteries
- Lacks attachment options
5. THISWORX Car Portable Vacuum Cleaner
| Brand: | ThisWorx |
| Power Source: | Rechargeable battery |
| Feature: | Works on carpet |
If you’re looking for something that is ultra-portable and does a decent job, THISWORX Car Portable Vacuum Cleaner makes a decent option. This isn’t a vacuum that will give you that professional-quality deep clean. But if you’re looking for a decent unit for routine cleaning, you’ll likely find some positives in this vacuum.
The kit includes some great brushes and attachments geared towards car detailing, which is a huge plus. And the price is attractive. If you’re detailing as a side hustle or full-time job, this won’t be the tool for you. However, it’s a good choice for a weekend clean of the family ride.
- Inexpensive
- Multiple attachments
- Works well on carpet
- Minor quality complaints
- Limited battery life
- Not ideal for deep cleaning
6. Feizppao Handheld Car Vacuum Cleaner
| Brand: | Feizppao |
| Power Source: | Rechargeable battery |
| Feature: | Portable, quiet |
Another ultra-portable option on this list is this Feizppao Handheld Car Vacuum Cleaner. If you’re on a strict budget, this may be the best option as long as you don’t need something super powerful.
One cool thing about this unit is that it includes multiple charging options, including a standard 120-volt outlet, vehicle USB ports, or cell phone cords. However, don’t get this vacuum expecting the most powerful or highest-quality product. That being said, if it’s all the budget allows, it will still be good for light-duty vehicle cleaning.
- Portable design
- Quiet
- Includes detailing attachments
- Limited battery life
- Quality complaints
- Suction isn’t powerful
- Won’t deep clean carpets
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Vacuum for Car Detailing
Buying a new vacuum for car detailing isn’t a complicated purchase. However, there are a few things that you’ll want to consider when deciding on the one to buy.
Vacuum Attachments
There are many different attachment options available specifically for car detailing. Still, the average person won’t need or use all of them. So, before purchasing a vacuum (and other cleaning tools) it’s important to figure out what you need.
- Are you doing this professionally—even as a side gig?
- What types of vehicles will you be doing?
- What type of cleaning?
Asking yourself these questions will give you an idea of what types of attachments you need. For example, if you’re doing this professionally, you’ll want to buy higher-quality tools because they will get more use.
Corded vs. Battery-Powered
Convenience and portability are two major factors when it comes to car detailing. So, considering what your needs are in this aspect is important. Is all the cleaning you do going to be in your driveway? In that case, a solid, wall-mounted unit is probably a good route to go. Otherwise, a battery-operated vacuum may be the better option.
Wet/Dry or Dry
This is another consideration related to figuring out what type of cleaning you plan on doing. Because a dry vacuum is only able to clean up dry messes. Whereas a wet/dry unit is designed to suck up liquid in addition to everything dry.
A wet/dry vac is the best route for car detailing in most cases because it will make washing and shampooing upholstery easier. These are often a little more pricey, so you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons.
Conclusion
The Vacmaster VBVB611PF Wet/Dry Vacuum gives you nearly everything you’ll need in a good car detailing vacuum, except for being cordless. And likewise, the Armor All AA255 Utility Shop Vac gives you the best bang for your buck.
Our second pick offers most things the Vacmaster unit does, with the exception of being significantly smaller. However, you’ll save a few bucks if you don’t need a big vacuum.
We hope that these reviews and the buying guide have given you all the tools you need to make an informed decision.
Featured Image Credit: Khunkorn Laowisit, Pexels
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