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Best Wet Dry Vac For Car Detailing
Cleaning and detailing any car is no easy feat. It takes a lot of work to get that automobile looking like it did when you drove it out of the lot the first time. That being said, it is definitely possible to detail your car again and make it look like new. However, you do need the right tools for the job. You can’t use just any old vacuum to detail your car. That probably won’t end so well and you will spend a lot longer cleaning than you would if you had the right tools. That is why we are here today, to help you find the best wet dry vac for car detailing.
Comparison
| Model | Weight | Editor’s Rating | Available |
|---|---|---|---|
 Dewalt 18/20-Volt Max | 11.1 pounds | Check Price | |
 Bissell Garage Pro | 33.2 pounds | Check Price | |
 Armor All Utility | 7 pounds | Check Price | |
 Hikeren Car Vacuum | 2.3 pounds | Check Price |
The Best Wet Dry Vac for Car Detailing: The Reviews
Here we have reviews of the top 4 vacuums that should be used for car detailing. The fact that they are all wet and dry vacuums makes them an ideal choice for car detailing. There are also many other aspects of each of these vacuums which makes them all ideal choices for car detailing. Let’s not waste any more time and find out what is the best wet dry vac for car detailing.
DEWALT 18/20-Volt MAX Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum with Charger Kit and Bag
This particular wet dry vacuum from DEWALT is one of our personal favorites when it comes to vacuuming and detailing cars. As you can see, it is nothing overly fancy and it doesn’t come with many accessories. However, what this thing does come with is well worth the price no doubt. Let’s get the bad part about this vacuum out of the way first.
We don’t like how it does not actually come with any car detailing accessories. This is purely a wet dry vacuum that has the ability to suck up dry stuff and wet stuff alike. Many people like to have car detailing accessories, but to be fair, you can buy them separately. That being said, we think that this DEWALT Wet Dry Vacuum is probably the best in its class when it comes to everything but the lack of accessories.
Now, with the one bad point out of the way, there is simply no denying the fact that this particular vacuum has a whole lot of juice behind it. The motor and the suction is definitely very powerful. No matter whether it is wet or dry, pretty much anything that can fit in the hose is fair game for this DEWALT Wet Dry vac. It has nearly unrivalled suction power, something that helps us a lot no doubt. This thing can suck up whole puddles of water, the foam from cleaning your seats, and old cheeseburgers alike.
We do really like the fact that this thing comes with a HEPA filter that can take nearly 100% of dust, allergens, and other particles right out of the air. It helps keeps our lungs safe and it helps the car smell much better too. We also like how the filter can be reused simply by washing it. This helps us save money because we don’t have to buy new filters all of the time.
Yet another part about this particular wet dry vac that we really like is that it features a 5 inch diameter crush proof hose. In other words, you can suck up some pretty big items with this thing without fear of breaking or crushing the hose. It’s really versatile no doubt. Moreover, we also like how this vacuum can be used with a DEWALT rechargeable battery or it can be plugged in too. The battery can last for a couple of hours, which is always nice because it can take a while to really clean a car.
PROS
What we like:
- Crush proof hose – large diameter
- Lots of onboard storage
- Can be used with a battery or AC power outlet
- Long lasting battery
- Amazing suction power
- Comes with its own carrying case
- Sucks up wet and dry without issue
CONS
What we didn’t like:
- Does not come with any car detailing accessories
Check Price on Amazon.com
BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum
Now, this is also a nice wet dry vac to go with, one that is actually specially designed for detailing cars. Unlike the previous version we looked at, this one comes with all of the car detailing accessories that you could possibly need. It comes with 7 different car detailing attachments so you can clean floor mats, seats, and everything in between with ease. We have to say that we really like these accessories and have used all of them quite a bit.
We do also like how this thing is bag-free. It comes with an impressive 4 gallon tank. The tank is partially see-through, so you can see how full it is. The size of the tank means that it does not have to emptied often, and of course, it can handle wet and dry materials alike. Now, something that is really cool about the BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum is that it comes with a wall mounting kit and a 32 foot long hose. This means that we can easily mount this bad boy on the garage wall, use the long hose, and clean the whole car without ever having to move the vacuum.
This thing does not have any batteries, but plugging it in is easy enough, so that is not a big problem. This thing is definitely quite versatile, especially considering that it can also be used as a blower. In other words, the BISSELL Garage Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum has the power to clean, detail, and dry our car all in one go. The suction power might not rival that of the DEWALT above, but it has some really neat features none the less.
PROS
What we like:
- Wall mounting system
- Extra-long hose
- Can suck and blow
- Comes with 7 detailing accessories
- Fairly decent suction power
- Extra large see-through dirt canister
- Can be used for a lot more than your car
CONS
What we didn’t like:
- Not as powerful as some other wet/dry vacs
- Cannot handle larger objects
- Does not come with an option for battery power
Check Price on Amazon.com
Armor All Wet Dry Vacuum
Yet another good option to go with, the Armor All Wet Dry Vacuum comes with a 2.5 gallon dirt tank. Unlike the other model we just looked at, it is not see-through and it is a little smaller. However, 2.5 gallons of room is way more than we need for a simple single car cleaning job.
The 2 HP motor which this vacuum features is more than powerful enough to handle virtually any debris in our car, whether wet or dry. We do like the fact that this thing comes with an automatic shut-off feature. This helps to prevent the dirt canister from overflowing if it is full, but like we said, 2.5 gallons is a whole lot of room to work with.
We do also like how the Armor All Wet Dry Vacuum is quite portable. No, it cannot be mounted on a wall, but it is lightweight and easy to pick up. It comes with a 6 foot long hose and a 10 foot power cord, so we can reach all places in our cars with ease. We do also like how this thing comes with a reusable filter, because nobody wants to breathe in dust and allergens.
Moreover, the Armor All Wet Dry Vacuum comes with various car detailing tools, more than we need to get a car looking brand new. All in all, this is a powerful, versatile, and fairly cost effective option to go with. It has a powerful motor that can suck up most things, which is what we are really going for here. On a side note, this vacuum also has a blower function which can be used for multiple purposes.
PROS
What we like:
- Large dirt canister
- Lightweight and portable
- Fairly long hose
- Long power cord
- Comes with various car detailing accessories
- Powerful motor
- Has a filter
- Has a blower function
CONS
What we didn’t like:
- Tends to overheat with prolonged use
- Tends to clog easily with large debris
- Extremely loud
Check Price on Amazon.com
Hikeren Car Vacuum Cleaner
This final option on our list is actually quite a unique one which we do really like. The Hikeren Car Vacuum Cleaner is actually a portable handheld vacuum cleaner. We automatically like it because it is not big and bulky. It can be easily picked up and maneuvered with one hand, which is pretty cool. Getting into small cracks and crevices inside of a vehicle is made easy thanks to its compact size.
We do also like how this thing comes with an awesome HEPA filter to help increase the air quality in our car. The Hikeren Car Vacuum Cleaner even comes with 3 separate car detailing accessories, which is about all we really need. The fact that this is a handheld wet dry vac really impresses us. What is also cool is that the power supply comes right from your car.
Now, it does have some drawbacks due to its small size, mainly that it can’t hold too much debris and the suction power is less than ideal. Well, the suction is good enough for simple car detailing, but don’t expect to pick up anything large with the Hikeren Car Vacuum Cleaner.
PROS
What we like:
- Plugs into your car
- Really versatile and maneuverable
- Lightweight and easy to pickup
- Decent suction for simple detailing
- Has a HEPA filter – reusable
- Comes with 3 detailing tools
- Very easy to use
CONS
What we didn’t like:
- Suction is not good enough for big jobs
- Small dirt canister
Check Price on Amazon.com
Conclusion
In terms of the best wet dry vac for car detailing, all of the above options are good choices to go with. Each of them has its own features, accessories, and benefits which can help make your life a lot easier. Now that we have told you what each of these vacuums is all about, it is up to you to decide which one will work the best for your car and your own personal needs.