The Best RV Vacuum Cleaners in 2023
Comparisons, Reviews, and Guide
Your RV is your home, whether you live there full-time or make it your home away from home when you take weekend trips. Like all homes, we track in dirt and debris. We spill things and make messes. And we need to clean them up. The standard upright vacuum cleaner is too large and requires too much power. This is why you want the best RV vacuum on the market for cleaning up your RV, whether you’re getting ready to put it into storage for the season or keeping your home on wheels clean.
Here are Top 13 Best RV Vacuum Full Reviews
01) Shark Brand Rocket Ultra-Light with TruePet Mini, Model HV292
Editor Rating: 4.7 Out of 5
Price: Check on Amazon
This handheld vacuum cleaner is unusual, because it offers a variety of accessories. It doesn’t just have a crevice tool for pulling up dirt from the gaps between your cushions. It has two vacuum heads that can be used to pull dirt out of carpets and pet hair off of upholstery.
The True Pet and True Pet Mini are made for pet owners. Their brushes successfully pull up pet hair without tangling on it. The hoses won’t clog on pet hair, either. The pet hair and all other debris go into the dust cup.
This vacuum has an unusually long vacuum hose plus a fifteen foot long power cord. It is like having an upright vacuum cleaner and handheld vacuum cleaner in one. This vacuum cleaner uses around 3.5 amps and 400 watts. It is made to use AC power, but it won’t use as much power as an upright vacuum.
Note that this means it can pull up pet hair, but you may need to make more than one pass. Performance is worse on long dog hair than short dog hair.
The handheld unit is relatively lightweight. It weighs around four pounds.
It offers a one year warranty
The vacuum cleaner has a one year warranty, but the attachments are not covered by that warranty. If the motorized brush head breaks, you have to buy a replacement on your own. If the brush roll stops, it has no suction. Replacement parts cost half as much as a new unit. At least the filters are washable.
The dust cup is easy to empty. However, you need to be careful when you empty it, because you don’t want to risk breaking the hinge. If that breaks, it won’t stay closed.
Pros
Cons
02) Dyson Model V7 Car and Boat Cord-Free Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Editor Rating: 4.6 Out of 5
Price: Check on Amazon
This is a powerful handheld vacuum cleaner. RV owners will appreciate the fact that it is cord free. This doesn’t just give you unlimited freedom, allowing you to clean storage areas as well as front seats.
You can charge the battery when you’re connected to shore power, and you can clean whenever you need to. The battery lasts around thirty minutes at low suction.
The downside is that you have to charge it for four hours to get it to work that long. Put the suction on max, such as when you’re pulling up heavy debris or pet hair, and it may only last ten minutes.
The manufacturer requires you to hold down the trigger to get full suction. This is painful if you need that level of suction for the full ten minutes.
On the other hand, suction for this model is incredibly high given that it is a handheld model.
This unit lets you dump the dirt into a trash bin without having to touch it. It has a variety of tools like a miniature motorized brush and extension hose. The hose allows you to clean under the seats and in deep crevices. Clean the filter regularly to maximize suction and battery life.
What are the downsides here?
The batteries are a common source of complaints about this handheld vacuum cleaner. They’re expensive to replace if it loses its charge. And the batteries need to be recharged regularly to avoid losing their charge. This is only a vacuum cleaner good choice if you are going to use it every few days and keep the battery fully charged. Even properly maintained, the battery may only last a year of heavy use.
It has an average capacity of 0.15 gallons. The dust cup is easy to empty. It rarely clogs.
Pros
Cons
03) BISSELL Brand Crosswave Pet Pro All in One Wet Dry Vacuum, Model 2306A
Editor Rating: 4.5 Out of 5
Price: Check on Amazon
One reason why this model made our list is because it is a wet-dry vacuum cleaner. This is one of the few options for cleaning up after the baby or the dog threw up.
However, it shouldn’t be treated like a powered mop. Whether you’re dealing with spilled water or other liquids, it will only pull part of it up, and the rest will flow back down onto the floor.
The scrubbing brush will hold quite a bit of water. You should move the vacuum outside as soon as possible to let the brush drip dry. In summary, this is the best vacuum for rv use when you need to be able to handle minor liquid spills but carry a mop.
This vacuum picks up a fair amount of dirt. It isn’t as good at picking up fine debris as other vacuum cleaners. If you have somewhat wet floors or a wet brush on a dirty floor, the vacuum may leave streaks on the floors.
One downside of this vacuum cleaner is its size. The 12 inch cleaning path is big enough to minimize the number of passes you need to make, while it is small enough to get around most furniture.
However, this vacuum cleaner cannot get in the small, tight spaces. You’ll either want a separate hand-held vacuum cleaner or you’ll be relying on cleaning wipes to clean the crevices of a car seat and around the RV stairs.
This vacuum has some great features too
The dirt cup has a nearly 16 ounce capacity. This vacuum is unusual in that it can hold cleaning solutions in a special tank. That allows you to clean your carpets with pet cleaning solution if they peed on it or use floor cleaning solutions to scrub your dining area’s floor. The pet hair strainer ensures that it won’t clog on pet hair. The unit has a brush roll that won’t tangle on pet hair, either.
This is a corded vacuum cleaner. The cord is 25 feet long. We only recommend using this vacuum cleaner when connected to shore power or dedicating a large portion of your generator’s power to running it. It is somewhat large, so it does take up a lot of storage space.
Pros
Cons
04) VonHaus Brand 2 in 1 Stick & Handheld Vacuum Cleaner - 600W Corded Upright Vac with Accessories
Editor Rating: 4.4 Out of 5
Price: Check on Amazon
VonHaus isn’t a well-known vacuum cleaner brand, but they make good vacuum cleaners. One benefit of this model is the HEPA filtration. It won’t just clean your floors. It will clean the air as it runs.
The vacuum cleaner itself is only six pounds. It is roughly twelve inches by six inches by six inches, not including the power cord and handle. This makes it as compact and lightweight as an upright vacuum cleaner can get.
Furthermore, you get all the accessories you’ll need. It comes with a crevice tool for getting in nooks and crannies.
Because it is a two in one vacuum cleaner, you can separate the carpet vacuum head and connect the other accessories to it.
Now you have the equivalent of a hand held vacuum with the power of a full vacuum. Add the extension tube to clean out storage areas or minimize how far you need to reach to clean under tables and seats.
What are the Downsides in Vonhaus?
RV owners will appreciate the fact that it is bagless. You do need to buy new HEPA filters once in a while. The filters can be rinsed once or twice before you replace them.
The dust tank can hold 1.3 liters of debris. That’s more than enough for most RVs.
This is a corded vacuum cleaner. The cord will automatically extend as you move around with the vacuum cleaner. Furthermore, it uses 600 watts of power. It is only practical for when you’re regularly plugged into shore power.
This vacuum cleaner does not handle pet hair well. The hair may tangle around the vacuum head or clog in the hoses. Don’t use the vacuum cleaner too long or the motor will overheat.
Pros
Cons
05) BLACK+DECKER Model BDH2000PL 20 Volt Max Handheld Vacuum, Cordless
Editor Rating: 4.4 Out of 5
Price: Check on Amazon
The pivoting head allows you to reach awkward spaces and angles without discomfort. A side benefit of the pivoting head is that it folds up against the body, making it easier to store.
That’s a plus when you live in an RV with limited storage space. You can put it in the charging port while folded up, too. The handheld vacuum is relatively lightweight. It only weighs three pounds.
The mouth of the handheld vacuum and the crevice tool are surprisingly wide. This limits its reach.
For example, it will pick up debris around your table and stairs, but it can’t get in between the seat cushions.
It has excellent suction overall, but it can’t get debris it can’t reach.
This unit has an unusually large dust cup. It can hold up to 15 ounces of debris. Emptying the dust cup is not as clean a process as the Bissell Crosswave. The dirt cup holds debris inside via a flap that should keep it sealed.
Sometimes this spits up the debris, making a bigger mess. The solution is to empty the dust cup before it is entirely full.
What are the Downsides in BLACK+DECKER?
One downside of the design is how quickly the filter clogs. You’ll need to clean it after every one to three uses, depending on how much fine debris you’re picking up. The unit clogs on pet hair fairly quickly. You can wash both the filter and the dust cup with running water.
This Black and Decker handheld vacuum relies on a lithium ion battery. One downside of the design is that the battery can only be safely charged between 50 and 100 degrees F. Your lead acid batteries may charge at a lower temperature than this handheld vacuum cleaner.
Another issue is battery life. The vacuum cleaner will only run about fifteen minutes with a fully charged battery. This is the best vacuum cleaner for rv use if you're constantly doing short little cleanups inside your living area.
Pros
Cons
06) HP Products 9880 Dirt Devil Central Vacuum System
Editor Rating: 4.5 Out of 5
Price: Check on Amazon
This is the first central vacuum cleaning system on our list. It is designed for use in RVs and small apartments. For example, you get an expandable hose that can stretch from 7 to 35 feet. It comes with a ten inch rug tool, allowing you to vacuum floors, beds and chairs. There’s an upholstery tool for cleaning your seats.
A crevice tool lets you get in the gaps between cushions and car seats. It comes with a mesh bag to hold all of these accessories. The vacuum cleaner reservoir can hold a full gallon of debris.
The entire system weighs around twenty pounds, but you only have to find a place to store the accessories when not in use.
Installation isn’t hard, but it isn’t as simple as using a standard upright or handheld vacuum cleaner. You need to assemble it and then plug it into an electrical outlet.
Sometimes it ships without all the accessories, and there is no customer service for this product.
Its system relies on HEPA bags
The system relies on HEPA bags to hold the debris. This is a consumable product you’ll need to keep in stock. On the other hand, this filters the air as you vacuum. And you won’t have to worry about spilling debris when you empty it into the trash can.
Simply remove the HEPA bag, close, and dispose of it. The all metal components are durable.
This HP vacuum has some easy features
The 120 volt AC system draws 12 amps. It will drain your RV batteries if you aren’t waiting until you’re connected to shore power to use it, and it will consume a large share of the power from your generator. The motor has overload and over-heating protection. It will automatically reset if it shuts down for safety reasons. Yet the motor itself isn’t louder than those found in other designs.
This unit offers decent suction. It will pick up fine dust and pet dander equally well. And it is powerful enough to pull pet hair out of RV carpet.
Pros
Cons
07) Dyson Model214730-01 V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Editor Rating: 4.6 Out of 5
Price: Check on Amazon
This stick vacuum cleaner allows you to use it like a traditional upright vacuum cleaner or duster. And you can use it as a handheld vacuum cleaner, too. The cord free design makes it ideal for RV use.
The unit can run for up to forty minutes if you’re not using the motorized tool. Realistically, it is 20 to 30 minutes.
The motorized brushes draw a lot of power from the batteries. You have to hold down the trigger to activate them. If you held down the trigger and kept it in “max” mode continuously, the battery will last eight minutes at most.
The battery needs to be charged for three to four hours to be ready for use. One downside of this model is the battery’s operational life. It will eventually stop holding its charge. And that could happen within a year, if you’re using it regularly.
At least the trigger on this vacuum cleaner is not hard to hold in place. Other vacuums will give you carpal tunnel syndrome if you try to vacuum while holding down the trigger for several minutes.
What is the Favor point in it?
This cordless Dyson vacuum cleaner provides HEPA filtration. One point in its favor is that you will probably never need to replace the washable filter. One strike against this unit is the small dirt canister. It doesn’t hold much debris. Emptying it isn’t easy, either.
The standard level of suction on this model is OK at best. It will pick up dirt, but you need to put it in power-consuming max mode to pick up pet hair or heavier debris. It can’t pick up twigs or rocks.
How easy to install?
Expect to install the charging station and vacuum cleaner in a permanent location so it can charge. It doesn’t fold up as neatly as the Black and Decker model we just reviewed. You will want a separate basket or bag for the accessories; it doesn’t come with a storage bag for them.
Pros
Cons
08) SwiftJet Brand Car Vacuum Cleaner, 2020 Model, 12V DC 120 Watt
Editor Rating: 4.2 Out of 5
Price: Check on Amazon
This is a small, lightweight, handheld vacuum cleaner. It can reach every nook and cranny of your vehicle. And it comes with a crevice tool, brush tool and extension tool that allows you to reach into the deep gaps between the seats.
One point in favor of this vacuum cleaner is that it is already designed for 12 volt power, thanks to the cigarette lighter / accessory power port in your dashboard.
You don’t have to run a generator or rely on shore power to clean your RV. Nor does it rely on a short-lived battery. It connects to the vehicle’s 12 volt power source, and it continues to draw power from a 14.5 foot power cord.
The downside is that you may need to have the RV engine running to power this, if you don’t want to draw down the house batteries. For some, not having to deal with another set of rechargeable batteries to be able to clean the vehicle is reason enough to get this unit.
This may be the best small vacuum for RV owners who rely entirely on stored battery power.
It has some good features
This handheld vacuum cleaner comes with reusable HEPA filters. You can wash them after each use. And you can buy replacement filters online. Do not store the vacuum with wet filters unless you want it to grow mold. This unit is relatively easy to pack up and store, because it comes with a storage bag.
One issue is suction.
The 2020 edition of the SwiftJet has better suction than its predecessors. However, that still leaves it with only moderately strong suction. The attachments are not tight fitting, and that can cause dust to come out through the gaps. That results in a vacuum cleaner best used for picking up dust and crumbs, not heavy debris like leaves and gravel.
This means you can clean some of the debris out of the floor mats and seats, but you may need to shake out or sweep up grass. This vacuum cannot handle pet hair at all.
Pros
Cons
09) Dyson Model V7 Car+Boat Cord-Free Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Editor Rating: 4.3 Out of 5
Price: Check on Amazon
Dyson vacuums of all sizes are known for their powerful suction and bagless design. The V7 shares these same design attributes. And it does so despite being a handheld cordless vacuum cleaner.
This handheld Dyson vacuum cleaner relies on a lithium-ion battery. In theory, it can run for up to thirty minutes. Expect it to run for up to 20 minutes on low power. On maximum power, it may or may not last 10 minutes.
Furthermore, it needs to be charged for several hours to last that long. And the motor may overheat after 5-10 minutes at maximum power, causing it to shut down until it cools off.
This unit is best used for spot cleaning, not vacuuming the entire RV.
If you use the battery every day, the V7 will last six to eight months. Dyson does sell replacement batteries separately. However, they cost so much you’d almost be better off buying a new vacuum cleaner if the battery goes bad.
Unlike Black and Decker tools, you can’t easily swap out batteries between Dyson products. Be careful where you buy this vacuum cleaner, because Dyson may not give you warranty service if you buy through third parties.
This Dyson Model has some good features
The unit has a 0.15 gallon capacity dust cup. It lets you empty it with the touch of a button. You won’t have to touch the debris. The dust cup itself rarely needs to be cleaned.
The V7 comes with a variety of accessories. The cleaning accessories work very well. They snap in and stay in, and there are no gaps. This maximizes suction and prevents debris from leaking out.
The level of suction in this handheld V7 vacuum cleaner is much lower than what you’d see in an upright Dyson vacuum cleaner. This unit is fine for cleaning up dirt and crumbs, but it may not handle heavier debris unless you set it to maximum suction.
Pros
Cons
10) Oreck XL Pro 5 Commercial Canister Vacuum, Model BB900DGR
Editor Rating: 4.2 Out of 5
Price: Check on Amazon
This is a commercial grade portable vacuum cleaner. It is compact and lightweight. It is made for professional cleaning crews. That’s why it comes with an incredible array of accessories.
That also explains why it has a whopping one quart capacity. You can use this portable vacuum cleaner on carpets, drapes, mats and seat cushions.
One issue with this unit is the middling quality of the accessories. They may bend or break on impact. You can find replacement attachments, but this is necessary because you won’t get much warranty support out of the manufacturer.
It has a thirty foot power cord. If it has the power, it could clean your entire RV and detail your car or truck. Just know that it requires a lot of power, so it is best used when you’re connected to shore power.
You can carry it like a handheld vacuum cleaner, or you can sling it over your shoulder. That makes it easier to use than the average handheld vacuum cleaner. Note that you have to carry it, because there are no wheels on it.
How is this vacuum cleaner?
This is a bagged vacuum cleaner. You get a free bag with the vacuum cleaner, and it is easy to find additional Oreck bags. It relies on disposable filters, as well. The Oreck bags and filters are not HEPA grade.
Thought this Oreck vacuum cleaner does not rely on a battery, it has weak to moderate suction, especially compared to other Oreck vacuum cleaners. Expect to make several passes to get dirty areas clean unless it is truly a light sprinkling of dust.
The unit is noisier than average, but it also has better suction than several RV vacuums on our list. It is not a good choice for pet owners, because it may clog on pet hair.