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The Secrets Behind The Best Handheld Vacuum Cleaners

Handheld vacuums have exploded in popularity recently, as more Australians are finding them versatile and powerful cleaners.

Handheld vacuums can make the insides of cars easy to clean as well as above-floor cleaning.

For people with small living quarters, a handheld device is especially useful when it comes to easy storage.

Regular Australian households will find cleaning a lot easier when they don’t have to carry out the large upright vacuum or cylinder vacuum for every minor clean-up.

Vacuumit discusses the best handheld vacuum cleaner reviews in Australia.

We share some critical factors to consider before making a purchase and answer some common questions.

Best Handheld Vacuum Cleaners Australia

Australians that we’ve spoken with claim how much easier their life has been made by handheld vacuums not allowing those small messes to pile up.

A good hand vac will not be a hindrance to use with its typically cordless and lightweight design.

We’ve divided the best hand vacuum reviews based on the best offering for pet owners, the best cheap offering and the best wet and dry handheld vacuum.

Black+Decker Lithium-ion dustbuster Pivot

Best Cheap Handheld Vacuum


Black+Decker PV1820L Lithium-ion dustbuster Pivot

Black+Decker PV1820L Lithium-ion dustbuster Pivot


For a highly cost-effective price, the PV1820L has a useful pivot design, ten minutes of battery running time and an extendable crevice tool to add some versatility.

If ever you needed proof that good things come in small packages, the PV1820L Lithium-ion dustbuster Pivot from U.S.-based Black+Decker is the perfect testament!

The nozzle on this handheld vacuum cleaner pivots 200 degrees, giving you the much-needed flexibility to reach even the tightest spots at home.

The crevice tool, which can be extended, will help dig deep into places where most handheld vacuums cannot go!

The presence of a soft brush will prevent any damage to your upholstery, curtains, car seats or hard floors.

Lithium-ion batteries that you will find in this vacuum will not fade even when the battery is running out.

Although the 10 minutes of battery running time may not seem like enough, the powerful suction on this device cuts down on cleaning time massively!

A downside to the battery, however, is that it takes close to four hours to recharge once drained!

We liked how there is an indicator light which starts blinking just before the battery becomes empty.

We also loved how simple the bin emptying system is, as it only involves opening a side door and dumping debris into the bin at home.

With a dust canister capacity of 0.44 litres, it should be large enough to get the job done.

Easy storage is another major selling point, as this vacuum can fold in half!

If you thought that you would have to shell out the big bucks to get a powerful handheld vacuum, the PV1820L will prove you wrong in a good way!

  • Excellent suction
  • Budget price
  • Pivot design is helpful in cleaning
  • Soft brushroll will protect upholstery or even car seats
  • The bin emptying system is easy to operate
  • Lightweight stature
  • The crevice tool is more versatile because it can be extended
  • Dust canister capacity is limited at just 0.44 litres
  • Ten minutes of battery life can be a frustration
  • The battery will take up to four hours to recharge completely

Dyson V7 Trigger

Best Handheld Vacuum For Pets


Dyson V7 Trigger

Dyson V7 Trigger


Like all Dyson vacuums, the hefty price tag is a bit of a drawback, but the cleaning performance of this handheld makes it worth every penny.

British-based Dyson is constantly at the cutting-edge of vacuum technology.

When it comes to handheld offerings too, they refuse to be left behind with this Dyson handheld vacuum.

After making a name for itself with some of the best cordless vacuum cleaners around, the V7 Trigger is Dyson’s attempt to capture the handheld vacuum market.

The V7 Trigger displays potent suction, runs for 30 minutes on lower power modes, has a top-quality motorised tool and is easy to empty.

Multiple cyclones inside the vacuum will keep airflow strong while also separating fine dust from the air to keep your handheld unclogged.

The 30 minutes of battery life is one of the best we have ever seen in a handheld vacuum.

On the maximum power mode, which you may rarely have to use, the battery life will drop to a meagre six minutes!

The “Point and Shoot” bin emptying system which Dyson has perfected on their cordless vacuums makes a reappearance on the V7 Trigger.

If you’ve used it before, you will know just how simple it is to operate!

A dust canister of 0.54 litres, will allow you to get a few sessions of quick spot cleaning done.

The presence of a mini-motorised tool, which gets power directly from the motor to the tool, will suck up even the most stubbornly lodged dust particles.

The pet hair turbo tool is what makes this Dyson handheld vacuum such a great choice to remove pet hair.

Despite the expensive price tag, the Dyson V7 Trigger had our team of testers reeling in amazement at the power and convenience on show.

  • Excellent battery running time of 30 minutes on the low power mode
  • Strong suction
  • Dyson’s “Point and Shoot” bin emptying system is a big plus
  • Cyclonic technology will separate minute allergens 
  • Pet turbo tool will pick up pet hair easily
  • The mini-motorised tool concentrates power effectively
  • Hefty price tag
  • Battery life will drop to six minutes on the maximum power mode
  • The limited capacity of the dust canister is a bit troubling

Black+Decker Wet and Dry Lithium-ion dustbuster

Best Wet and Dry Handheld Vacuum


Black+Decker Wet and Dry Lithium-ion dustbuster

Black+Decker Wet and Dry Lithium-ion dustbuster


Coming at a highly affordable price, this wet and dry handheld vacuum is exactly what you need for quickly handling wet spills at home.

If you’ve always wished for a quicker way to suck up spills at home, then a wet and dry handheld vacuum is what you need.

Our top recommendation is once again an offering from U.S.-based Black+Decker, the Wet and Dry Lithium-ion dustbuster.

There are a few reasons why this vacuum made it to the top of our list of wet and dry handheld vacuums, but the most relevant factor is the low price.

While the capacity of 0.37 litres is not much, this wet and dry vac will get the job done fast.

The dust canister is easily removable, making dumping easy.

The sponge filter inside needs to be cleaned regularly in order to keep the suction powerful.

The low price does have its drawbacks though, as the suction power showcased by this vacuum is a bit lower than some of the more premium vacuums we have tested.

In our tests, the vacuum struggled to pick up pet hair, which was a bit disappointing.

We were, however, pleased to find that the performance in picking up wet spills was exemplary and comparable to much more expensive wet and dry handheld cleaners.

The presence of a squeegee tool is what makes this excellent performance possible.

The battery life is also a bit of a letdown, with the vacuum lasting only for about 8 minutes.

Another drawback is that the battery takes about 10 hours to recharge once completely drained!

Weighing in at well under a kilogram, this vacuum is a treat to use because of its ultra-lightweight.

We also appreciated the aesthetically pleasing charging station which can be mounted on your wall.

This is also one of the more quieter handheld vacuums we have tested, with a decibel rating of 65.

Considering the dirt-cheap price and the capability of this vacuum in dealing with wet and dry debris, we believe this vacuum provides excellent value for money.

  • Low price
  • Excellent performance in picking up wet spills
  • Super lightweight
  • Bin emptying system is easy with a quick release switch
  • Wall-mounted charging station
  • Quiet performance
  • The battery only lasts for about 8 minutes
  • Recharging time is about 10 hours
  • Struggles to pick up pet hair because of comparatively low suction power


What Are The Key Considerations Before Buying A Handheld Vacuum?

As a market space that has really found its legs over the past decade, a number of vacuum manufacturers have put in significant research to develop better handheld devices.

Because of the vast array of options, it can be quite confusing to figure out what you need to really look out for!

Vacuumit discusses some of the key considerations to keep in mind when making a purchase!

Unique Needs

Do you have pets at home? Perhaps you are on a budget? Maybe you have hard floors more than carpets? Or perhaps you want a car cleaner?

Depending on your special needs, there are handheld vacuums that are tailored for practically every need.

Pet owners need to look out for a handheld device that has a pet turbo tool attachment for digging out delicate pet hair from carpet fibres.

A cordless handheld vacuum cleaner is especially useful when it comes to car cleaning.

Handheld steam cleaners are a good option for cleaning stains on sealed hard floors.

Wet and dry handheld vacuums are awesome in cleaning up small spills at home.

Battery Life

Most handheld vacuums will be cordless. This means you have to keep an eye on battery life.

Handheld vacuums typically do not have battery lives that extend much beyond 30 minutes.

For quick spot cleaning, however, that is more than sufficient.

The low battery life is one of the reasons why handheld vacuums cannot compete with large vacuums.

Also, remember to keep an eye on how long the handheld vacuum cleaner you plan to buy will take to recharge.

Budget

Depending on the technology showcased, the price of a handheld vacuum cleaner can vary wildly.

Although price is never a strong indicator of quality, it is an important factor to consider.

Vacuumit recommends going for a more expensive model.

The reason we make such a recommendation is simple.

More often than not, we see that cheaper handheld vacuums can have lower suction power.

You can also find a lot more accessories in more expensive handheld vacuum cleaners.

Dust Capacity

The limited size of the dust canister is a common theme across handheld vacuums.

A larger dust canister essentially means that you can vacuum for longer before emptying.

The lighter a vacuum is we find that the dust canister capacity falls as well!

Suction Power

The holy grail for all vacuums, not just handheld ones, is the suction power.

The lightweight design of handheld vacuums means lighter motors and by extension lower suction power.

That may not always be the case, as most of the vacuums that have made it to our list of the best handheld vacuum cleaner reviews are top-notch performers.

Accessories

We’ve found that the more premium handheld vacuums have a lot more tools included than lower-priced models.

A crevice tool, extension hose or a pet hair attachment can make handheld cleaning versatile.

Weight

The lightweight nature is what has made handheld vacuums so popular.

Remember to keep this critical factor in mind when choosing a handheld vacuum.

Vacuumit recommends staying away from handheld vacuums that weigh over 3.5 kilos.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can My Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Replace My Main Vacuum?

How Are Handheld Vacuums Different From Cordless Stick Vacuums?

Final Verdict

The main thing to keep in mind when dealing with handheld vacuums is that they are designed to be convenient.

Handheld vacuums are a great device for those quick emergency clean-ups when a guest is showing up with very little notice.

The portable and lightweight design means that you can use them to clean the inside of your car as well as the corners of your staircases.

If you have pets at home, the Dyson V7 Trigger is our number one performer with the pet turbo tool and 30 minutes of battery life making us overlook the high price.

Two offerings from Black+Decker make our list too, with the PV1820L one of the most enterprising handheld vacuum cleaner designs we have seen with the pivoting head.

The WDB215WA is another super-cheap offering from Black+Decker which is an excellent handheld for sucking up wet spills.

Ultimately, remember to scale down your expectations when it comes to the extreme suction power you may be used to with your larger vacuums at home!

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