We Tested 7 Handheld Vacuums for Cars and Picked Our Favorites

While most of us think of “vacuums” as big and heavy machines, it turns out that small, handheld versions can still pack a punch when it comes to suction and cleaning. Portable and compact, a top-quality handheld vacuum suctions up small messes and typically has a dust bin that’s easy to empty into your trash can. Pet messes can quickly take over your home if you don’t stay on top of them, which is why so many pet parents turn to products like the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Vacuum to help keep their homes clean.

Multiple tools and attachments are stored on the cordless handheld vacuum, ready for use right when you need it. The high-powered motorised brush roll means cleaning pet hair or deep down dirt from carpet and upholstery is easy. Removable dirt bin offers flexibility in how you clean and where you empty. The removable battery allows you to charge your battery while storing your vacuum where ever you want. What the Ryobi 18V One+ Performance Hand Vacuum Kit lacks in appearance it makes up for in suction power, bin size, and versatility. In suction and airflow, this model is on a par with or better than its most powerful competitors.

Its 4-foot hose made it easy to reach into tight spaces, especially in the car, and it ran for 23 minutes at standard power on one charge. Our tester called this hand vac “very comfortable to use,” giving it perfect scores in six of the seven ease-of-use evaluations, including for handle comfort and for the thoroughness of the owner’s manual. At just 1.4 pounds, this Shark vacuum is one of the lightest cordless handheld models money can buy, and it looks pretty distinctive, bissell cordless vacuum as well. Despite its narrow silhouette, it does a surprisingly good job cleaning difficult debris like pet hair and is easy to empty with the press of a button. Plus, it won’t pose an eyesore if you’re limited on space and have to store it on your counter; the base holds the Wandvac’s accessories, as well. Despite the low price, this model brings a lot to the table, including a pull out crevice tool and flip-up brush for all-purpose dusting and upholstery cleaning.

It has a runtime of up to 20 minutes on eco mode and has a replaceable filter that can be washed between cleanings. In Lab tests, we found this model easy to use and especially liked that the charging dock has space to hold the attachments (though not the wands). Handheld vacuums are a great option if you’re looking to clean small spills around the home. They’re lightweight and portable, and due to their small size, they’re handy when tackling more difficult or uneven terrain, like inside your car or on your stairs.

From the deep-down microscopic source of your family’s wheezing and sniffling to the stains, dirt and animal dander that wreak havoc on your home life. After using the vacuum for about two months, it made a bad sound while I was emptying it and simply stopped working. They sent me a replacement for free and a return label bissell vacuum cleaner to send back the dud. Most of the clean-up work around my house is carried out by robot vacuums. The Max comes with a charging stand that you can set on a counter top or mount on a wall and charges in under four hours. The large 15-ounce bowl empties easily and both the bowl and filter can be washed in the sink.

When she’s not managing testing data, you’ll find Lynn photographing jazz musicians, dancing and traveling to experience new cultures and food. Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care and Cleaning Lab. She holds a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York. I also have not felt the need to clean or replace the filter, and aside from the very first time, the Pet Hair Eraser has never died on me—likely because I use it for short bursts. Anything that requires more than 20 minutes of continuous cleaning I save for my upright vacuum.

Now, it is noisy, as you might expect a super-powerful vacuum to be, so we don’t recommend cleaning while trying to have a conversation. However, if you’re looking for a versatile vacuum to spot clean around your home, your car, and your garage, it’s a great pick. The flexible, 4-foot hose also allows you to vacuum upholstery, stairs, and vehicle floor mats with ease. The hose wraps around the motor when not in use, which we described as a “little hug,” making this pick easy to store and space-saving.

bissell handheld vacuum

In addition to standard included attachments like a crevice tool, this vacuum comes with a pet hair tool that was we found to be amazingly effective at sucking up hair during our tests. When it’s not in use, the whole vacuum can be placed on its included charging base, which has spots to hold the nifty attachments. This vacuum is bagless, so all the dirt and hair gets sucked into the main compartment, which is see-through so you can tell when it needs to be emptied. There’s a filter inside, and clumps of hair tend to get wrapped around it—fairly common with handheld vacuums and even standard vacuums. The power button is on the main handle, making it easy to push during use, and the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser has a fairly large opening, making it easy to suck up all sorts of debris. When the dust bin is full, you simply press the release button and dump it out.

Overall, the Bissell Cordless Hand Vacuum is an excellent cleaning tool to have at your disposal, especially if you have pets and accident-prone kids. When we brought in the Christmas tree this season, we scattered quite a few pine needles all over. Unfortunately, the needles quickly clogged the tube, and the suction disappeared.

Its crevice and brush tools store right on board and Quiet Mark gave it a top score of 3 stars, meaning it’s one of the quietest vacuums you can buy. We give the Shark UltraCyclone a silver medal because of its strong motorized brush attachment, which makes it easy to pick up pet hair and suck up dirt, but it isn’t as versatile as the Bissell Multi Auto. The included scrubbing brush makes more of a mess with snacks, and the crevice tool is a bit narrow, though bissell handheld vacuum it did an adequate job sucking up snacks and dirt. The casing, made from thick plastic, withstood at least two (accidental) drops on cement floors during our tests. Its dust-bin opening mechanism is straightforward—some other vacuums we tested required us to perform complicated manipulations to open the bin—and its filter is washable. With a three-year warranty from Ryobi, this model is covered for a longer stretch than most other handheld vacuums.