The internet can be a maze of questionable advice, especially when you’re on the hunt for the “best” vacuum cleaner for your car. I feel your frustration!
Let’s set the record straight: those cheap 12-volt vacuum cleaners you often stumble upon won’t cut it. They struggle with crumbs, let alone pet hair. The real car-cleaning MVP is a Shop Vacuum. It’s a game-changer.
And here’s a secret tip you won’t find just anywhere: grab a rubber brush to dive into those tricky nooks and crannies most vacuums miss. Trust me; it’s a game-changer for carpet cleaning in your car. Stick around, and I’ll spill the beans on why it’s so crucial!
My Top 3 Picks
- Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP (Amazon Link Ad)
- Vacmaster VBV1210, 12 Gallon 5 Peak HP (Amazon Link Ad)
- RIDGID Wet Dry Vacuums VAC1200 Heavy Duty Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner and Blower Vac (Amazon Link Ad)
Why A Shop Vacuum?
Have you ever seen the inside of a messy vehicle? You’ve got leaves, crumbs, coins, and who knows what else buried in the carpet and wedged between the seats. Would a dinky little 12-volt vacuum cleaner or even a tiny battery-powered vacuum be able to handle all of that?
Nope. You need a shop vacuum.
A shop vacuum can handle just about anything you throw at it. You’ll probably end up sucking up a penny or two, and those weak 12-volt models won’t stand a chance.
Plus, a shop vacuum works on liquids too. Spill coffee or milk? You can suck it straight out of the fabric. I like to use a carpet cleaner to treat the stain first and then use the shop vacuum to pull out the cleaner.
What if you’re not near a power outlet? – A shop vacuum needs to be plugged in, that’s just the reality if you want something strong enough to pull debris out of carpets and upholstery. Battery-powered or 12-volt vacuums might seem like a convenient choice for your vehicle, but they just don’t have the suction. They should be your absolute last option. If a small portable vacuum is all you’ve got, check out my little trick below.
My Cool Little Trick/Tip
Above all else, you should be using a shop vacuum to clean your vehicle, but that’s not always possible for everyone. Maybe you live in an apartment with no power outlet, or the shop vacuum is just too bulky to haul around.
To solve that issue, you’ll want to grab a rubber brush. A rubber brush helps lift out hair, dust, and even crumbs from the carpet and upholstery. Think of it like combing the fabric the same way you’d comb your hair. Once the debris is loosened, you can use any vacuum cleaner to suck it up—or even scoop it up by hand.
Pro tip: when using the rubber brush to remove pet hair from upholstery or carpet, fill a spray bottle with half fabric softener and half water and mist the area first. This makes pulling the hair out much easier. If you don’t have fabric softener, plain water works too.
The rubber brush method is so effective that I even use it along with my shop vacuum when detailing. It’s the only way I’ve found to get things cleaned to my standard—and I’m pretty picky about that.
The rubber brush is also great for tight corners and small spaces. It’s gentle enough for areas where you don’t want scratches or scuffs. If you don’t have a rubber brush, a toothbrush can work in a pinch—just be careful, since it can leave marks on delicate surfaces.
Here is a good video about using brushes and vacuums to get the dirt out of your car…
What To Buy
The great thing about most Shop Vacuums is that nearly all of them are good and can take the abuse quite well. But there is one that I’m a big fan of and that is the Shop-Vac 5-Gallon model.
If you’re just cleaning a car every so often then a 5-gallon shop vacuum is all you need. If you want more power, then you need the bigger models. Beyond 5-gallons is pointless if you ask me when you combine the rubber brush with it.
One good reason why I always go with the Shop-Vac 5-Gallon above is that I know it can handle dog hair which I find plenty of in the back of my car. Sometimes I don’t need to use the rubber brush because of the power of this thing.
Cleaning Tips
-If you’re vacuuming your car, you can use the shop vacuum to clean up just about any spots you want. Feel free to hit the vents and areas where dust gets trapped.
-You may notice that a shop vacuum or any vacuum cleaner may be too big for some areas. For the small areas grab a makeup brush, new paintbrush, or even a soft bristle toothbrush and brush all those areas. For even harder-to-reach areas you can use an Air Duster like this one here (Amazon Link Ad) to blow out the dust.
-When cleaning touch screens never use any chemicals on them. Things like glass cleaners can damage some touch screens. The best thing to use is a damp rag.
-If you have cupholders that are filthy, then using a Steam Cleaner will be the best option. The steam will heat up the gunk, and wiping it down will remove it. Make sure to avoid using the steam cleaner near electronics. Besides a shop vacuum, a steam cleaner is great for cleaning a dirty car, even the stains on the carpet. If you want to learn more about steam cleaning a car, I have a great post on it here.
-Avoid using baking soda to clean the carpets of your car. I go into more detail about that here, but to sum it up it can destroy vacuum cleaners.