The Best Handheld Vacuum

If you’re tired of running to the car wash every time you need the inside of your vehicle cleaned out, a handheld vacuum can be a handy tool to have around. However, it can also help you clean up those occasional household messes. Instead of pulling out the vacuum cleaner or grabbing a broom and dustpan, you could use a handheld vacuum to quickly clean up that pool of food under your baby’s high chair or suck up some spilled pet food from the floor.

Handheld vacuums have come a long way in recent years. At one time, you’d get started only to find your battery died in a matter of minutes. The only other option was a corded handheld vacuum cleaner, which limited your reach. Today’s handheld vacuums can last up to 30 minutes without the gradual decline in use seen with previous models. Just keep it on the charging base until you need it, and you’ll be all set.

One thing to consider with any handheld you choose is that they each have a filter. Occasionally, you’ll need to clean this filter, and some handhelds don’t come with alerts to let you know when it’s time. This means you may find that you lose power gradually as the filter becomes dirty, and you may not immediately notice that loss of suction.

Weight is also an important factor when you’re choosing a handheld. You’ll often find that you need to operate it with only one hand, particularly if you’re getting into tight crevices or cleaning your car. Check the weight of any handheld you choose. Also, make sure the handle is designed in a way that will make it easy to hold with only one hand.

Finally, you’ll need to consider the price factor. You’ll likely easily find a handheld vacuum for less than $200, but some are much less expensive than others. Decide if the more expensive handheld has enough features to make it worth the higher price before committing.

• Before you start shopping for a handheld vacuum, make a list of all of the things you’ll encounter on a weekly basis. If you have pets, you’ll likely occasionally want to grab your handheld to clean up hair on surfaces like your sofa. If you plan to regularly use it on your car’s interior, you may find it important that your handheld be able to easily grab debris, such as pebbles and leaves.
• Strong suction is necessary if you deal with fine particles, like pet hair and crumbs. The Dyson V7 Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner has the highest suction at 100 air watts, followed by the BLACK+DECKER Flex Vac Pet Hair Cordless Vacuum and BLACK+DECKER Flex With Stick Vacuum, with 24 AW.
• One thing that might help your handheld along when it comes to picking up fine debris is a motorized brush. The BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum and BLACK+DECKER Flex With Stick Vacuum both come with a brush, and the Flex’s is specifically designed to pick up pet hair.
• As with any device powered by a battery, run time is a concern. The Dyson V7 Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner runs for up to 30 minutes on a full charge when used in standard mode. However, if you’re picking up larger debris, you’ll need turbo mode, which can only run for 10 minutes before going back on the charging dock. BLACK+DECKER Flex With Stick Vacuum can run for a full 20 minutes without losing power. The BLACK+DECKER Flex Vac Pet Hair Cordless Vacuum can run for 16 minutes, but the good news is that you won’t see power fade during that time, so you’ll get a full 16 minutes of suction. With the BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum, you’ll only get nine minutes of use from three hours of charging.
• Size and weight are both important with handheld vacuums, which need to be able to get into the deepest crevices. The BLACK+DECKER Flex Vac Pet Hair Cordless Vacuum includes a crevice tool to help with that. The BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum is only four pounds and has a curved handle that makes it easy to get into those tight places without needing a separate accessory.
• In some cases, the attachments and accessories are the biggest draws. The Dyson V7 Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner has a mini-motorized tool that can tackle even tough stains.
• Before you make a purchase, consider where you’ll set the charging stand. When not in use, you’ll need to be able to store your handheld in a place that’s out of the way yet still close to an A/C adapter. The BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum has a charging stand that can’t be mounted on the wall, for instance, so you’ll need to come up with a shelf or rack for resting it.
• Any vacuum has a filter to catch all of those dirt particles. The BLACK+DECKER Flex Vac Pet Hair Cordless Vacuum’s filter gets filthy rather quickly, so you’ll need to always be on alert. You’ll notice a dramatic drop-off in suction as the filter begins to clog. The BLACK+DECKER Flex With Stick Vacuum also has no filter sensor, which means you’ll have to monitor when things slow down. You may find that you have to clean the filter after every two or three uses.
• Whether you’re cleaning the interior of your car or getting into those tight places, one-handed operation is a valuable asset in a handheld. The BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum is so lightweight, one-handed operation is a piece of cake. The BLACK+DECKER Flex With Stick Vacuum has a wraparound flexible hose to help with one-handed use.
• Whether you’re operating your handheld inside or in your driveway, noise can be an important factor. Both the BLACK+DECKER Flex Vac Pet Hair Cordless Vacuum and BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum are notably noisy, so you may want to plan your vacuuming around times when others will be sleeping.
• Overall, handheld vacuums are relatively inexpensive, but you’ll top the $100 mark with the BLACK+DECKER Flex Vac Pet Hair Cordless Vacuum and the BLACK+DECKER Flex With Stick Vacuum. The Dyson V7 Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is the priciest of all. If you’re looking for a budget model, go for the BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum, which retails for well below $100.