Being outdoors all the time means RVers are regularly dragging in dirt and leaves. Mix in the constant shedding of pet hair and food crumbs in the kitchen and the floor gets dirty ten times faster than a regular home.
Full-timers on iRV2 forums recently discussed the best portable vacuum cleaners for RVs, fifth wheels, and travel trailers. These five brands were among the top picks.
1. Bissell Cordless Stick Vacuum
Equipped with a 14.4V lithium-ion battery, Bissell’s cordless vacuum runs for about 25 minutes on a full charge. It’s easy to maneuver as a stick vacuum and includes a detachable hand vacuum to clean the hard-to-reach areas.
The vacuum also comes with tools, like a brush roll and nozzle, to clean off pet hair from carpeted areas and cushions. The cordless vacs are about $150 on Amazon.
2. Dyson V8 Absolute
Dyson’s V8 Absolute is one of the most powerful cordless vacuums. Lightweight and easily changeable between stick and handheld, the vacuum has a strong suction that deep cleans floors, carpeted areas, ceilings, and more.
It’s a bit pricier at $392 on Amazon, but the vacuum delivers in both how much it picks up and how long its lithium-ion battery lasts on a full charge. Compared to the 25 minutes that the Bissell vacuum offers, Dyson’s V8 Absolute nearly doubles that with 40 minutes of running time.
3. Shark IONFlex DuoClean
Though not as expensive as Dyson’s vacuum, Shark’s IONFlex cordless vacuum is also not the cheapest option. But you get what you pay for—it has features that other vacuums don’t offer. Most notably, the vacuum has a unique folding design that makes it easier to reach tight areas in the RV and makes for compact storage.
In addition, the vacuum’s brush is more powerful than others at sucking up dirt, hair, and allergens. Unlike many other vacs, the IONFlex also has a warning light that flashes when the battery is running low. The vacuums are about $284 on Amazon.
4. Hoover Cruise Cordless
Hoover’s Cruise vacuum has everything an RVer could want. An ultra-light design, a detachable hand vacuum, the ability to deep clean, and a lower price than other cordless vacuums.
On a full charge, the vacuums run for about 30 minutes. They’re currently about $120 on Amazon.
5. Deik Cordless Vacuum
Another quality cordless vac is Deik’s vacuum cleaner. They’re lightweight and easy to switch to handheld at the push of a button.
The vacuum cleans floors, carpets, and rugs for about 20 minutes on a full charge, and comes with an AC power adapter. You can find these cordless vacuums for about $125 on Amazon.
What type of vacuum do you use to clean your rig? Let us know in the comments below.
We installed a dirt devil in our Vista 35F under the sink, with the hose connection/on off switch under the drop down counter extender, next to the outside door. I hard wired it into the GFI outlet above the steps. We keep the 35 foot hose and attachments in the basement next to the door. We open the cabinet door for cooling when in operation. But it is very nice to just have a hose to deal with instead of a full vac when cleaning.