Handheld vacuums review and compare

01.Introduction

Test results for 10 handheld vacs, priced from $29 to $349

Handheld vacuum cleaners have come a long way since CHOICE last tested them in 2000. Generally, they run longer and are much better at picking up dirt and debris, including pet hair. However, they are also more expensive – in some cases, much more expensive. And they’re noisier than most standard vacuum cleaners; if you use one frequently, you should consider wearing hearing protection, though for only occasional use this isn’t necessary.

There are some tasks for which they’re ideal, such as cleaning the inside of a car or small household messes so you don’t have to drag out the large vacuum. Our test puts handheld vacs through all sorts of cleaning tasks you might commonly encounter around the house and car.

Our tester looked at how easy the handheld vacs were to use and clean, as well as how effective they were at cleaning up:

• Cornflakes and flour from hard floor
• Potting mix and sand from carpet
• Sand/gravel from a car floor.
• Pet hair from carpet.

For more information on Vacuum cleaners, see Laundry and cleaning.