# Cordless hand-held vacuum recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 18, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297 "2016-09-18T19:41:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/1 "2016-09-18T19:41:37Z")
Any recommendations for a solid hand-held cordless vac to clean the car and have enough power and battery life to do a thorough job? The latest one (DustBuster) crapped out after a few uses. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/2 "2016-09-18T20:31:24Z")
If you expect to use a hand-held cordless vac as the sole vac for an entire car, then yeah, I suspect you WILL be disappointed. I have never heard of a commercial-grade “Dust Buster” or “Dirt Devil” - look at the names of these things - they are not called “Detail Wizard”. Get a plug-in with lots of attachments and park it in the garage. If the kid spills peanuts in the foot well, use the cordless. Otherwise, remove carpets/mats, clean them, sweep the area around and under, then re-install carpets/mats. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/3 "2016-09-18T21:18:46Z")
🙂 I’m just talking vacuuming the carpets and seats. It takes less than two rounds of the five-minute industrial machines at the car wash so I am thinking the Dyson 15-minute-charge one would be enough. But I was hoping for similar results from something less than $200! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/4 "2016-09-18T21:32:29Z")
I’ve been very happy with the Dyson. I think we got it at CostCo for less than $200. Other cordless, not so much… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/5 "2016-09-18T21:34:47Z")
The industrial machines at the car wash are, basically, AC powered shop vacs. I doubt a battery-powered vacuum is going be as good. But look at [this Dewalt vacuum](http://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/dust-management/dust-extractors-and-vacs/1820v-max-cordlesscorded-wetdry-vacuum/dcv581h). It’s about $115 at Home Depot. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/6 "2016-09-18T21:34:56Z")
Ryobi cordless vacs get good reviews. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/7 "2016-09-18T21:38:07Z")
I have a slightly older version of [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Cordless-Pivoting-PHV1810/dp/B00KASULYW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1474234562&sr=8-6&keywords=black+and+decker+cordless+vac) and it’s done everything I could ask of a handheld. Still going strong after about five years although it doesn’t hold a charge quite as well. There’s also a [more powerful version](https://www.amazon.com/Decker-BDH2000PL-Lithium-Vacuum-20-volt/dp/B00IOEFBKS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474234562&sr=8-2&keywords=black+and+decker+cordless+vac) for a little more. Dyson products are among the poorest consumer values in the marketplace. IMVHO&E. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/8 "2016-09-18T22:38:15Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I have a slightly older version of [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Cordless-Pivoting-PHV1810/dp/B00KASULYW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1474234562&sr=8-6&keywords=black+and+decker+cordless+vac) and it’s done everything I could ask of a handheld. Still going strong after about five years although it doesn’t hold a charge quite as well. > > There’s also a [more powerful version](https://www.amazon.com/Decker-BDH2000PL-Lithium-Vacuum-20-volt/dp/B00IOEFBKS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474234562&sr=8-2&keywords=black+and+decker+cordless+vac) for a little more. > > Dyson products are among the poorest consumer values in the marketplace. IMVHO&E. We have [this](https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Decker-FHV1200W-Cordless-Canister/dp/B002FQJW4W/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1474238270&sr=8-5&keywords=black+and+decker+cordless+vac) one. It works very well, but has a fairly small waste container. It’s also loud, but I guess that’s what you get with such a powerful device. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/9 "2016-09-19T03:49:07Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The industrial machines at the car wash are, basically, AC powered shop vacs. I doubt a battery-powered vacuum is going be as good. But look at [this Dewalt vacuum](http://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/dust-management/dust-extractors-and-vacs/1820v-max-cordlesscorded-wetdry-vacuum/dcv581h). It’s about $115 at Home Depot. Hmm…having dropped a gallon of milk in the garage that time, I can see the appeal of this one! Thanks everyone for the info. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/10 "2016-09-19T04:48:11Z")
I bought the Makita cordless vacuum for small clean ups at work because I already have a bunch of Makita tools and batteries. It is a great little unit and surprisingly powerful. I bought it at a tool store and they told me they are having trouble keeping them stocked. Don’t know if it is even available at big box stores. Mine came tool only. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cordless-hand-held-vacuum-recommendations/766297/11 "2016-12-18T20:32:52Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The industrial machines at the car wash are, basically, AC powered shop vacs. I doubt a battery-powered vacuum is going be as good. But look at [this Dewalt vacuum](http://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/dust-management/dust-extractors-and-vacs/1820v-max-cordlesscorded-wetdry-vacuum/dcv581h). It’s about $115 at Home Depot. This is the one I ended up going for, for my father for Christmas. Luckily I noticed where it said “Tool only” so now I have the 20V charger and 20V Lithium Ion battery in case I branch out into other DeWalt cordless. I had had the 18V kind in the past.