17 Best Hand Vacuums of May 2021

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A Great Vacuum for Small Tasks

Anyone with a handheld vacuum knows it doesn’t replace a bigger one but what a great addition it is to have! No longer will you need to drag a canister vacuum outside to clean your car, but simply use your handheld vacuum to get all the crumbs and dirt out of the tight corners and crevices of your car. It also makes a great tool to clean out your kitchen pantry and cabinets. The small size makes it lightweight and easy to keep out of sight.

Things to Consider Before Choosing

• Dust bin capacity – Because of the size, the handheld vacuum has limited capacity. Make sure to empty it after each use. Not only will it make room for the next time you clean, but it also allows the filters to last longer.
• Attachments – Most handheld vacuums will come with basic but useful tools such as the crevice tool and the upholstery brush to clean furniture, car seats and other fabrics. Some of the newer handheld vacuums will even come with a liquid nozzle to clean unexpected spills.
• Charging station – Look for one that is small and lets you hang your vacuum from it, making it a great tool for storing inside a cabinet or closet somewhere. You’ll need an electrical outlet nearby though, so keep that in mind. A tabletop charging station might work out as well, depending on how much space you have available and where you want to place it.
• Run time – Because it isn’t meant to replace your normal vacuum, the run time might not be too important to you. Most handhelds have an average run time of 15-40 minutes before having to return to the charging station. Most are made with Lithium-ion batteries, meaning charging it before it’s all the way low, won’t hurt the battery. Keep in mind the time it takes to charge fully is often around 6-8 hours. So make sure to make it a habit to return it to its charger base after each use.
• Weight and dimensions – A major advantage of a handheld vacuum is how lightweight it is. On average they weigh around 3 lbs. making it much lighter than any other kind of vacuum.
• Price range – You can get a decent vacuum for around $30-$150 depending on your budget. If you choose one of the cheaper ones, just keep in mind they might not come with any attachments.

Pros and Cons of Handheld Vacuums

Pros

• Lightweight and easy to handle
• Great for quick pickups and spills
• Most are cordless
• Easy to store
• Great for out of reach places
• Affordable

Cons

• Less power than regular vacuums
• Less capacity
• Corded handheld vacuums have limited reach
• Cordless vacuums have limited runtime

How to Use the Hand Vacuum

Using a hand vacuum is both practical and easy. It is highly versatile due to its compact design, and it is able to reach those places your regular vacuum cleaner isn’t. In this quick guide we’ll give you an overview of how to use your hand vacuum for different tasks around the house.

Using the Hand Vacuum in Your Car

Cars are usually dirty and full of dust, caused by the usage in all types of weather. Using a hand vacuum you’ll be able to keep your car clean with just a few minutes of work, when following these instructions:

• Always start from the top, and work your way down. Vacuum the dashboard with the brush attachment, and attach a crevice tool for the cupholders and other hard-to-reach places.
• Vacuum all seats and use the crevice tool once again, to make sure you get into all places. Especially the space between the seat and the back picks up a lot of dirt and dust, so get the crevice tool all the way in there.
• Take out all mats and clean them outside your car. This makes you able to reach the area around all mats and underneath them, where lots of dust and dirt has a tendency to build up.
• Afterwards, you’ll go to the trunk and clean it as well. You can use a wider tool for this, or you can simply use the crevice tool if you just want to pick up dirt and dust around the corners or edges.

Using the Hand Vacuum for Windows and Curtains

According to many reviews, the hand vacuum is highly useful for windows and curtains. Dust has a tendency to build up on the frames around your windows, so you want to keep this area clean as well. Most types of curtains pick up a lot of dust as well, and it is recommended to clean them from time to time. Here’s what you should do:

• Use the brush attachment for your curtains, and start out by putting the hand vacuum in its lowest setting. Carefully trail the attachment along the curtain in a vertical or horizontal pattern, depending on the type of curtain. If it’s a regular curtain you should just run the hand vacuum in a vertical pattern starting from the top and moving towards the bottom, but if it’s blinds, you should move the brush attachment carefully from one side towards the other side.
• When the curtains themselves are clean, you’d want to check the curtain mounts and fittings as well. Attach the crevice tool, and use it along the mounts and/or fittings.
• After your curtains are cleaned, you can proceed to the window frames. Attach a brush tool for this task, as you don’t want any plastic attachments scratching the paint of the wood- or metal frames. Run the brush attachment carefully from one side to another, until the entire frame has been vacuumed.

Using the Hand Vacuum for Spot Cleaning

The hand vacuum works great for spot cleaning. If you drop a bag of cereals on the floor or just want to clean up the mess from your children around the dining table, you could bring out the hand vacuum and have the job done in just a few seconds. For most types of spot cleaning, here’s what you could do:

• If the surface is fragile, e.g. a painted surface, consider using the brush attachment, to avoid scratches.
• Put your hand vacuum on its highest setting, and move it towards the things you want to pick up. Make sure you move it slowly enough to pick up everything, otherwise it might fling it to all sides instead.
• Some hand vacuums are equipped with small wheels underneath. You can use them to steer the vacuum easily, while vacuuming hard surfaces.

What to Expect of a Hand Vacuum

Hand vacuums are best for small tasks, but the range of models is large, with great differences between every one of them. While most hand vacuums are quite versatile, you shouldn’t set your expectations too high. This is a small vacuum after all, and the power of the motor is limited due to its compact size. Fortunately, its size is actually one of its most beneficial factors, and the sole reason why so many people like their hand vacuum and prefer using it for smaller tasks, instead of dragging out the large vacuum cleaner, and plugging it in just to remove a bit of dust from a curtain, a few crumbs in the kitchen, or similar. You should expect to get a handy little helper for small tasks, which is great around a large home, especially if you have kids or pets. Accidents happen, and it is much easier to bring out the hand vacuum than the regular bulky vacuum.