Cozy home - How to choose a powerful wireless car vacuum cleaner

A car vacuum cleaner will help you quickly clean your car mats and seats. This compact device can make your life much easier. How to choose the right model and not go wrong? The answer is in our guide.

It is more pleasant to get into a clean car interior. But keeping it clean is not so easy. It is good if you have your own garage with electricity — then you can use a household vacuum cleaner to clean the interior. But what if not?

Vacuuming at a car wash will seriously increase the time and cost of the service. And you won’t go there every time you spill crumbs on the seat. In general, there are often simply no alternatives to a car vacuum cleaner. Fortunately, they are inexpensive and sold everywhere.

However, you should not thoughtlessly buy the first model you come across. In order for the purchase to be truly useful, it is worth understanding the features and characteristics of vacuum cleaners.

Characteristics of car vacuum cleaners

Suction power

This is the main parameter that determines the performance of the vacuum cleaner. It determines whether the device can handle certain types of debris. The higher this parameter, the better.

Models with a suction power of less than 50 W will only handle fine dust. To clean lint and bread crumbs, you will need 50-100 W. If you need to clean spilled water or sand from rugs, you need a suction power of 100 W.

Power consumption

Manufacturers often overstate the suction power of car vacuum cleaners. You can check it by the power consumption. As a rule, it is two to three times higher than the suction power. If both parameters are comparable in value and differ by a few percent, then the manufacturer is being cunning.

Power consumption allows you to roughly estimate the capabilities of the vacuum cleaner if the suction power is not specified.

Models with a power consumption of up to 100 W will only handle fine dust.
At 100-150 W, the vacuum cleaner will cope with small, light debris.
To clean the entire interior (including mats and the trunk), you need a model with a motor power of 150 W.

Low-power models are cheaper. But here, saving money can turn into disappointment in the purchase. It is better to take a more expensive model, but with a power reserve — it is unlikely to be too much. If you need a car vacuum cleaner not only for cleaning the interior, but also for more delicate work, take models with a power regulator.

Type of cleaning and liquid collection

Some car vacuum cleaners allow wet cleaning. At least, according to the manufacturers. However, this is often nothing more than a marketing ploy. How not to miscalculate here? Pay attention to the liquid collection function. With this option, the vacuum cleaner will not fail if water gets inside. In addition, liquid collection will come in handy in muddy conditions: it will save you from dirty puddles under your feet. The main thing is that there is enough power.

Fine filter (HEPA)

The fine filter traps fine dust, preventing it from returning to the interior during cleaning. On the one hand, this is a useful option. Car vacuum cleaners with only a coarse filter can cause complaints due to the quality of cleaning.

On the other hand, the fine filter reduces the suction power. The fact is that it creates strong resistance to the air flow. In addition, the filter quickly becomes clogged. Then the performance of the vacuum cleaner drops to almost zero. The fine filter needs to be cleaned and washed periodically. And the power reserve with such a filter should be larger.

Turbo brush and other attachments included

The standard attachment of a car vacuum cleaner is a smooth plastic nozzle. It will cope with dust and debris. But the attachment will not cope with threads, hair and wool tangled in the upholstery of the seats. If you carry pets in the cabin, an additional brush attachment will come in handy.

The best effect is provided by a turbo brush — a nozzle with a rotating round brush. It easily removes lint and hair from fabric surfaces. Such a nozzle is rarely included with a car vacuum cleaner: most likely, you will have to buy it separately.

Dust collector capacity

Varies from 0.2 l to 2 l. The larger the dust collector, the longer it takes to fill. On the other hand, a large dust collector will increase the dimensions of the model. Cleaning in narrow spaces will become inconvenient. So it is better not to chase large volumes. In the end, shaking out debris from the dust collector of a car vacuum cleaner is a matter of a couple of seconds. The optimal dust collector capacity is from half a liter to a liter.

Power supply

By type of power supply, car vacuum cleaners are divided into two types: cordless and powered by the cigarette lighter. Each option has its pros and cons. Cordless models are more convenient and mobile. The power cord does not get tangled during cleaning, the vacuum cleaner is not “tied” to the car — you can take it anywhere.

But they also have significant disadvantages:

The power of battery-powered models is often low.
The suction power may decrease as the battery discharges.
Limited battery life. A thorough cleaning of the interior may take 40-60 minutes. And most battery-powered models work for 20-30 minutes on one charge.

Models powered by the cigarette lighter can work as long as you like. They are usually more powerful than battery-powered ones. But when choosing, pay attention to the length of the power cord. A short cord will not allow you to reach places far from the cigarette lighter. This can be critical when cleaning the trunk. If there is no convenient cigarette lighter there, the vacuum cleaner cord should be at least four meters long.

Keep in mind that a vacuum cleaner powered by the cigarette lighter uses up the on-board battery. Its capacity is enough for several hours of operation even for the most powerful model. But it is still better to clean with the engine running. Firstly, this will save battery power. Secondly, when the engine is running, the voltage in the on-board network increases. As a result, the power of the vacuum cleaner will increase significantly.

Not all models allow operation at increased voltage. Before cleaning, check the instructions.

Additional functions and features

Car vacuum cleaners are often equipped with additional functions that may be useful.

A model with a backlight or built-in flashlight will make cleaning easier in poor lighting. It will also help find a small object that has rolled under the seat.
The presence of a pressure gauge will allow you to check the tire pressure at any time.
There are models not only with a pressure gauge, but also with a built-in tire compressor. If the pressure is low, you can immediately pump up the wheel. Convenient, and it saves space in the trunk.
A model with a charger and starting device will help start the engine in winter frosts.