# Outdoor vacuum cleaner? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 7, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166 "2023-06-07T22:12:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/1 "2023-06-07T22:12:59Z")
Is there such a thing as an outdoor vacuum cleaner that one can rent? We recently had our house painted and the yard is full of scraped-off pieces of paint. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/2 "2023-06-07T22:17:14Z")
Yard vacuum cleaners are a thing, and outdoor equipment rental places often rent them out. FWIW, they seem to be mostly intended for vacuuming up leaves, so I don’t know how effective they would be for smaller denser particles like paint scrapings. You’ll want to look up for yourself what’s available in your vicinity and how much it costs. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/3 "2023-06-08T02:12:56Z")
My brother lives in west Texas and has artificial grass, he vacuums it to remove whatever debris it catches. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/4 "2023-06-08T03:56:14Z")
Some leaf blowers have attachments so they can be leaf vacuums, like this one: > **[Amazon.com: BLACK+DECKER Leaf Blower & Leaf Vacuum, 3-in-1, 12-Amp, 250-MPH,...](https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-BV6000-Performance-Mulcher/dp/B00FREQC10)** > > Amazon.com: BLACK+DECKER Leaf Blower & Leaf Vacuum, 3-in-1, 12-Amp, 250-MPH, 400-CFM (BV6000) : Patio, Lawn & Garden It seems like it would also work for paint chips. A shop vac would also work, but I think it might pick up more of the dirt and mulch than the leaf blower. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/5 "2023-06-08T11:03:52Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > A shop vac would also work Yes, a shop vac, also known as a wet / dry vac, is probably just the ticket for what you need. It’s a good thing just to have, and they’re not that expensive. [This one is $80](https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-12-Gallon-5-0-Peak-HP-NXT-Wet-Dry-Shop-Vacuum-with-Filter-Locking-Hose-and-Accessories-HD1200/304006023?ITC=AUC-206390-23-12070) (not an endorsement, I just picked an inexpensive model after a quick googling that looked sufficient for the OP’s needs). I can’t imagine you’d spend much less renting one. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/6 "2023-06-08T11:25:10Z")
We had a big leaf blower that converted to a vacuum with a big bag. It was heavy, cumbersome, and hot. The gasoline engine sat against the users side. I used it twice. I was happy when mice in the shed chewed up the bag. We donated it to a charity for a yard sale. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/7 "2023-06-08T12:33:36Z")
We had a leaf blower with attachments so it could be a vacuum. Seemed like it would work for great for paint chips. Had, because it sucked up a nail which destroyed the impeller. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/8 "2023-06-08T12:40:25Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Is there such a thing as an outdoor vacuum cleaner that one can rent? We recently had our house painted and the yard is full of scraped-off pieces of paint. I have a mulching mower that sucks the grass you cut into a bag. I use it in the fall to “vacuum” up the leaves that flood the front and back of my house. It might do the same for the pieces of paint you need to clean up. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/9 "2023-06-08T12:42:05Z")
Just an aside: I think I’d be having a conversation with that contractor. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/10 "2023-06-08T15:07:58Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > I have a mulching mower that sucks the grass you cut into a bag. I use it in the fall to “vacuum” up the leaves that flood the front and back of my house. It might do the same for the pieces of paint you need to clean up. That’s what I would do. If it’s just paint chips the mower will just suck them right up and bag them. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/11 "2023-06-08T15:21:45Z")
Thanks for all the good thoughts, which prompted me to remember we have a Shop Vac over at the kids’ house, which I will give a try. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Just an aside: I think I’d be having a conversation with that contractor. Looking back at my OP, I exaggerated the scope of the problem. There are some chips here and there; the yard isn’t “full of them.” ---
**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:** [June 8, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-vacuum-cleaner/985166/12 "2023-06-08T15:22:30Z")
This is how wars start.