Car interiors need some TLC every so often, which is why having a small hand-held vacuum for simple cleaning duties might be a good idea. The question is which one is the best option for the job? This unique trio may not have much in common outside of sucking up dust and crumbs, but that's probably all they really need to do anyway.
Armor All AA12V1 Car Vacuum
- $29.99
- Available at: Canadian Tire, Best Buy, FutureShop.ca, TheSource.ca
One thing Armor All wants to make clear with this unit is that it can handle a mess, regardless of whether it's wet or dry. Naturally, the form factor here openly resembles a retro DustBuster, albeit with a 15-foot cord that plugs in directly to your car's 12-volt socket.
The good news is that this is more advanced than a typical DustBuster. They're not meant to be used all the time, but the included brush and squeegee can both prove valuable for dealing with bigger problem areas. The built-in crevice tool handles the nooks and crannies that are annoyingly tough to get to, with an assist from an attached LED light.
Performance, however, is a mixed bag. Suction is surprisingly strong, but it sputters a bit once it starts taking in tougher debris, meaning that you will need to clean out the container and filter often. Still, for the price, you get a pretty good vacuum.
Metro Vac N' Go Handheld Vacuum (VM4B500)
- $81.99
- Available at: BestBuy.ca
Made in America, almost in the same vein as a muscle car, this packs 500 watts of power and is supposedly able to produce 60-inches of water lift. All that, and it weighs just 2.7 pounds. Not bad for what is dubbed "the most powerful hand vacuum on the planet".
Whether it is or not is debatable, but what is clear is that it can make a difference in a car's interior, wet or dry. The tools that come with it work well enough to handle some pretty tough dirt, though they do come off as a bit flimsy. The power inside the unit does the heavy lifting, so at least you won't be straining yourself.
Unfortunately, the Metro Vac N' Go uses paper bags, so there is a residual cost to consider for replacing them, even though the two that come with it are pretty durable. Plus, if you're using this away from an outlet, you'll need a power inverter, since there's no 12-volt adapter.
Dyson Digital Slim (DC45)
- $349.99
- Available at: FutureShop.ca, BestBuy.ca, Canadian Tire, Costco, Amazon.ca, Home Depot
Dyson never really intended for this to be used in vehicles, but the fact it's cordless and has better battery life than previous models makes it appealing, even more so since it can be used just as efficiently in a home, too.
The price is obviously way above the others here, so you should be using this in the home to begin with. Hence, why it comes with a long tube. In the car, however, the long tube is useless, which is where the other attachments come into play. The brush and crevice tools are made better by the fact the suction is concentrated into a smaller space. You will be surprised at what this thing picks up from your vehicle.
That said, the Dyson wasn't really designed to handle spillage or wet surfaces. The battery life is better, but not fantastic, so expect six minutes on Max and about 12-14 minutes on normal per charge.
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