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Our favorite tiny vacuums for tackling big messes.
Photo:Real Simple
Luckily, not every mess warrants a heavy-duty cleaning session, and handheld vacuums make quick touchups easy.
Our favorites were less than 5 pounds (no sore arms!)
and had a battery life between 10 and 30 minutesenough for an uninterrupted cleaning session.
PHOTO: Amazon
It takes six hours to fully charge.
Given its reputation in the cleaning world, its no surprise thatShark makes an outstanding handheld vacuum.
That model earned perfect scores for its effectiveness, maneuverability, and value.
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Two months in and we still have no complaintsthe vacuum is our go-to for quick cleans.
Some debris did get stuck, but we removed it easily by hand.
With an 18-minute runtime, this vacuum was able toclean an entire carin one shot.
PHOTO: Amazon
We also really liked its quiet operation, which made it easy to have a conversation while cleaning.
Weight: 3 lbs.
|Capacity: 0.43 L |Runtime: 18 mins.
Its small size was perfect for getting into nooks and crannies, where small debris was hiding.PHOTO: Real Simple
The suction isnt very powerful.
Dont let its reasonable price fool youthe Bissell AeroSlim is a real powerhouse.
During testing, we found that this vacuum workedbest in the car.
Thanks to its small size, this machine excelled at getting into all the nooks and crannies.
After six months of use, the rig has maintained its impressive battery life.
Its lightweight and compact with a two-in-one brush and crevice tool.
The design is easily portable and maneuverable, making it ideal for quick, on-the-go tasks.
The trade-off of this convenient design is the frequent need for emptying.
We wouldnt recommend it for deep cleanings, but for routine touchups, its a great choice.
Weight: 2 lbs.
|Capacity: 0.1 L |Runtime: 30 mins.
The emptying process isnt very intuitive.
Small debris can get trapped in carpet fibers, making it difficult to achieve a thorough cleaning.
The Black+Decker Dustbuster Pivot Vac, however, cleared Cheerios from high-pile carpet immediately.
It picked up all sorts of debris with easesmall debris, large debris, hair, and even flour.
Its on the louder side, but given its strong suction, we werent surprised.
With built-in brush and crevice tool attachments, all the essentials are right at your fingertips.
We especially loved the upright charger, which has a space-saving fold-up design.
Weve been using it for six months, and its still in tip-top shape.
Still, we think its sheer power more than makes up for the potential mess.
Weight: 4 lbs.
|Capacity: 0.44 L |Runtime: 10 mins.
Its not as effective on carpet.
We were amazed by how well the Hoover ONEPWR Vacuumworked on hard floors.
It removed all of the debris quickly, even after cleaning four different surfaces.
Weight: 3 lbs.
|Capacity: 0.4 L |Runtime: 15 mins.
You might have to stick your hand in the bin to remove fur.
True to its name, the Black+Decker Furbuster excelled atpicking up hair and furon every surface.
Six months later, this vacuum is still a staple in our cleaning routine.
PHOTO: Amazon
However, it did take a few passes to get all the kibble out of the carpet.
The setup was quick, toowe just snapped two pieces together and were ready to clean.
And, since the crevice tool attaches directly to the vacuum, its easy to move and store.
It picked up debris of all sizes and instantly sucked up Cheerios and popcorn on our highest-pile carpet.PHOTO: Real Simple
Weight: 4 lbs.
|Capacity: 0.68 L |Runtime: 20 mins.
We also love its scrubbing brush and crevice tool, which help remove dust and reach tighter spaces.
For those looking for a more budget-friendly model, theBissell AeroSlimperforms well for a fraction of the price.
Our Testing Process
To find the best handheld vacuums, we tested 53 models over six months.
To start, we measured the noise output on the highest setting.
We also noted how often we had to empty each dustbin and how easy or difficult the process was.
Was the battery holding as long of a charge as it used to?
Was the suction still strong?
Was it too heavy to hold during long cleaning sessions?
Was it difficult to store?
With these questions in mind, we solidified our list of the best handheld vacuums.
Questions You Might Ask
Are attachments necessary for a handheld vacuum?
Some vacuums come with accessories, likefilters or attachmentsthat help with certain cleaning tasks.
Scrubbing brushes are similarly useful, as they dislodge tiny particles like dust and pet hair from flatter surfaces.
All of the vacuums on our list have a brush and crevice tool.
What size handheld vacuum should I get?
The size and weight of a vacuum affect its maneuverability, portability, and ease of storage.
PHOTO: Amazon
While handheld models are much smaller than their upright counterparts, their dimensions still vary.
A vacuum thats too heavy may be uncomfortable to hold, especially during longer cleaning sessions.
Plus, if its too large, it may struggle to reach the nooks and crannies.
PHOTO: Amazon
If you want to clean tighter spaces, a small and lightweight option is ideal.
All of the vacuums on our list are between 1 and 4 pounds.
Youll also want to consider dustbin capacity.
Hair does occasionally get stuck to the inner components, but it’s easy to pull out by hand.PHOTO: Real Simple
Vacuums with a larger tank require less frequent emptying, making them better suited for long, uninterrupted cleans.
For example, theBissell AeroSlimis the lightest on our list, but its tank is also the smallest.
What is the ideal runtime for a handheld vacuum?
The ideal runtime depends on the size of your cleaning area and the task at hand.
Are you tackling a heavy-duty job or a quick touchup?
On the other hand, for quicker tasks or smaller spaces, a shorter runtime will suffice.
Generally, the best handheld vacuums can run for 10 to 20 minutes on a single charge.
Shes tested multiple vacuums, includingupright,cordless, androbot models, and cordless models are her go-to.
Handheld vacuums designed for pet owners were tested on their ability to pick up fur and kibble from different surfaces.Real Simple
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We found that a crevice tool attachment was crucial for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.Real Simple
