These are the 5 best handheld vacuums you can buy
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Whether the small space you're looking to clean is your dorm room floor or the backseat of your car, handheld vacuums can't be beat for convenience.
These pint-sized appliances boast slim profiles that can fit into tight spaces, and are light and easy to store. While they won't cut it for deep cleaning, according to Consumer Reports, handvacs are great for picking up smaller messes that might not be worth breaking out a full-sized vacuum for.
If you're looking to invest in a handheld vacuum, there are a few things you'll want to consider before you buy: First, you'll need to choose whether you want a cordless or plug-in model. Cordless handvacs win when it comes to ease of use, but the battery will likely run out of juice in a matter of minutes, according to Consumer Search. Corded units are limited to where their cords can reach, but can keep going for the time it takes to, say, vacuum out your car.
You can also get more bang for your buck with a model that comes with versatile attachments. Good Housekeeping recommends looking out for accessories like dusting brushes, crevice tools, and rotating brushes for cleaning carpets and picking up pet hair. And, another handy tip from GH: Be sure to check out the switches before you buy. Some units make you hold down the button as you work, a real pain for vacuuming for more than, say, 30 seconds. Even better, find a model that boasts multiple speeds for different jobs.
From versatile vacs to powerful suckers, check out our top picks for handheld vacuums:
Best for your budget
AmazonWith its long, skinny head and comfortable handle, the Black & Decker Dustbuster CHV1410 makes cleaning up a little bit less of a chore. The nozzle fits into tight spaces and the unit itself is plenty easy to maneuver, according to Good Housekeeping. Though its battery is smaller than other models, this inexpensive handvac boasted plenty of power in tests by The SweetHome. The crevice tool slides out and a combo brush swings out, meaning even more versatility at your fingertips.
Pros: Easy to maneuver, easy to empty, comes with handy accessories
Cons: Noisy
Black & Decker Dustbuster CHV1410, $39.88, available at Amazon.
Best battery life
AmazonWhether you're looking to clean up messes on carpet, freshen up upholstery, or tidy up in tight corners, the Dirt Devil Gator BD10165 offers an attachment for you. With handy accessories, like a power brush roll attachment and a clever telescoping crevice tool, you'll be ready to tackle most messes. This model lasted plenty long in Good Housekeeping tests, too — an impressive 25 minutes between charges, to be exact.
Pros: Long battery life, easy to empty, comes with handy attachments
Cons: Not great for pet hair
Dirt Devil Gator BD10165, $37.01, available at Amazon.
Best for pets
AmazonIf you want a power performer, the Shark Pet Perfect II SV780 aced Consumer Reports' tests. It did a great job picking up messes on carpets and bare floors, and did best overall in their testing. TopTenReviews also lauds its unique charging stand, which has dedicated slots for all the handy tools and attachments this model comes with. And, true to its name, the Pet Perfect II excelled at sucking up pet hair from carpeting in TopTenReviews testing.
Pros: Convenient charging stand, helpful accessories
Cons: Run time reviews were mixed
Shark Pet Perfect II SV780, $42.65, available at Amazon.
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