Month: October 2022
Best car vacuum 2023: tried and tested by us
Keep your car looking showroom fresh with the best car vacuums from the likes of Dyson, Shark and Eufy.
You need one of the best car vacuums by your side if you want to keep your car’s interior relatively clean. Debris, fallen snacks, day-to-day dust, not to mention muddy pawprints, are just some of what most people have to deal with on a regular basis and having something to clean up those messes is critical.
While car vacuums have not always been seen as all that powerful, that’s changing a little now that portable handheld vacuums are becoming more popular. Of course, it helps that the companies making some of the best vacuum cleaners out there have some models on offer.
These smaller, more compact vacuums for cars may not have quite the suction of the best upright vacuums, which do an excellent job of keeping your home spotless, but they’re more than enough for their intended purpose. Plus, they’re much easier to use on a car as they’re smaller and easier to use, not to mention you won’t need an extension cord.
Of course, if you prefer to only have one device, the best cordless vacuums can easily transform into one to use in your car, though they are a bit bigger. If you’re ok with that extra heft, getting one of these might be a good way to save some money. And, we’ve kept that in mind while using our expertise to collect what we think to be the best car vacuums on the market. You’ll see dedicated models here as well as ones meant for the household that can be easily used in the car, all of which have been tested and reviewed so we know that they can get the job done. Read on to see our top picks to help you keep your car in pristine condition.
The best car vacuums: in order
(Image credit: Dyson)
Many will recognise the Dyson V8 as a household vacuum, but its form factor and included tools make it easy to turn into a car vacuum too. We’ve included it because it’s one of the lower-priced models in Dyson’s range ($449/£249/AU$499), should someone be buying more primarily as a car vacuum, though of course pretty much any of Dyson’s V-series vacuum cleaners would do the job here.
As a car vacuum, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the V8 outperforms most of its competition. The power and suction here are pretty much unrivaled when compared with smaller, more portable handheld vacs, but then you’d hope so when you consider the difference in price.
Battery life is good on standard suction mode, although the seven minutes in Max mode is a touch short. Thankfully we found it could pick up most debris on the lower setting with an occasional blast on the higher setting doing a good job of collecting anything left over.
The size of the handheld unit can be a bit of a downfall when trying to get in more awkward spots, even when using the crevice tool, and the added weight means it can get a bit tiring to hold too. But if you need the power and performance, you won’t find much better than this.
Read more: Dyson V8 review
(Image credit: Black and Decker)
The Black and Decker 12V Auto Flexi Vacuum is the only car vacuum in our list that runs via a 12V corded connection. It uses your car’s accessory power outlet, or the old “cigarette lighter” socket, for power.
It has a far more traditional vacuum style than most other car vacuums in our list, in that it has a larger main body for collecting debris, and a 1.5m-long hose for moving around. This is convenient for those who may find the weight of an all-in-one or stick vacuum a struggle, as the hose is very lightweight in use.
There’s a single level of suction and a large 19 fl oz/560ml dust canister. Despite feeling relatively soft on suction, it can provide an acceptable clean of both large and small debris, with perseverance. It will require several pass overs to get a good finish though and take longer than using something more powerful. It can’t tackle ground-in dirt and pet hair either, it simply doesn’t have the power to handle it.
Design could be better in some places. For example, the door for emptying the bin sits on the side of the vacuum’s main body so isn’t the easiest for ditching the dirt cleanly.
Overall, this is a handy car vac for those who need something that’s both budget and lightweight to use and who clean little and often. If you need something more heavy duty you should look elsewhere.
Read more: Black and Decker Dustbuster Flexi Auto review
(Image credit: Eufy)
The HomeVac H30 Venture is the entry-level model of Eufy’s H30 three-strong lineup and comes with a 2-in-1 crevice tool and the multi-surface tool for collecting pet hair. There’s a nice touch of a charging station in the box too, for storing it all neatly when not in use.
With a slim and lightweight design, the H30 is a great choice for a car vacuum. Both included attachments are useful, although we found ourselves using the 2-in-1 crevice tool most often, but the multi-use tool does a pretty good job with pet hair.
It offers two levels of suction – Eco and Max – with the former giving you up to 20 minutes of vacuuming. We found we regularly had to nudge it up to Max for the best results though, and even then, it didn’t quite manage the same cleaning performance as the very best.
With a fairly small 8.5 fl oz/250ml dust canister, the messiest cars may need the bin emptying once during a clean. But, for little-and-often cleans, the H30 Venture is a superb car cleaning companion.
Read more: Eufy H30 Venture review
(Image credit: Shark)
The Shark CH950UKT / Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is one of the better handheld vacuums we’ve tested, so it’s easy to understand why it’s a bestseller. Its size, shape and weight make it perfect for cleaning your car, with its range of useful tools also helping to ensure it’s always best suited for the task at hand.
We found the motorized pet hair tool and the crevice tool the most useful for car cleaning. The crevice tool was particularly helpful, as even though the CH950UKT is relatively compact, its all-in-one design still means getting into the harder-to-reach areas behind foot pedals or inside door bins would be tricky without it.
However, the motorized tool is a great size for more widespread clear-ups on carpets and upholstery. It also makes quick work of both smaller and larger debris in our standard tests.
Its one power setting means one pass may not be enough for really set-in dirt – and it can struggle with the most stubborn of pet hair too – but overall the single power setting copes well with most tasks. We found you’ll get around 15 minutes of battery life, 50% more than its quoted 10 minutes and more than enough to do a good clean of your whole car.
Considering its low price, this Shark handheld offers tremendous value and is perfect for busy families. That’s not to mention a great option if you’re dealing with pet hair on a daily basis.
Read more: Shark Ultracyclone Pet Plus Pro review
(Image credit: Eufy)
If you’re looking for something small and simple, this could be the car vac for you. The eufy Clean HomeVac H20 is a cordless, handheld vacuum cleaner that comes with a selection of specialist attachments that make it most suited for use in the car. Each component feels sturdy, and when switching between the attachments, a satisfying “click” delivers reassurance that all is in place and secure.
The HomeVac H20 offers two suction modes – Eco and Max – that you select by pushing a button on the main unit, beneath the power button. Between the two buttons sits a battery indicator light, which is useful for offering guidance on the level of power remaining. We were grateful that the HomeVac H20 could be charged from inside the car using the in-car charger; on a few occasions, we had to resort to using it to gather enough juice to finish the job.
The attachments and in-car charger make the eufy Clean HomeVac H20 a good option to have in the car at all times. It’s not as powerful as some rivals but it’s handy to have for quick cleanups.
Read more: Eufy Clean HomeVac H20 review
How we test car vacuums
To find the best car vacuum you can buy, we test how well each model can clean up a range of dirt and debris from different areas of a car, using crushed digestive biscuits for our finer dirt test, and oats for the larger one.
We then section off a testing area of 20cm x 20cm in the boot, to test carpet pick up, and on the driver’s seat for the upholstery test. This allows us to assess the performance of each in a controlled environment, while also carrying out “real-world” testing over a period of time too. This includes general car clean-ups, observing the handling of pet hair and how well they can get into tight spaces, like door bins.
As well as evaluating its cleaning performance, we also consider the other things that would be important when making a buying decision, including how long the battery lasts compared to the manufacturer’s claims (or how long the wire is for corded vacs), how loud it is in use and the usefulness of any included tools for different jobs.
We also consider the weight and ergonomics, to understand if people are going to be able to use it comfortably to clean the whole car and if the bin capacity it has will make that possible.
Lastly, we rate based on how easy it is to empty the vacuum cleanly, and how easy it is to keep clean, as well as general feedback on ease of use.
What to consider when choosing a car vacuum
If you’re in the market for a car vacuum, there are a few things you should think about. One of the first questions could be — do you actually need one? If you own something like the Dyson V8, it can shapeshift into a form factor that can work very well to clean cars with and comes with all the power, bin size and additional tools of a fully-fledged vacuum cleaner for great performance. Of course, this comes at a considerably higher cost than a dedicated car vacuum and can be heavier too.
If you decide you do need something more dedicated, there are several things to bear in mind. One of the first is whether you want corded or cordless. Most car vacs these days do run on a rechargeable battery, so do consider the battery life in these situations. Be sure to check whether it has more than one suction level to understand what the battery life figure refers to.
If you are going for corded, make sure the cord is long enough to allow you to do the full car.
Next up, think about form factor, including weight and how comfortable it looks to hold. Can you imagine cleaning a whole car with it, and does it come with the necessary tools for your situation? Crevice tools are particularly useful for cleaning cars, but pet owners will want to look out for specific tools to tackle pet hair if possible.
You might also want to consider the bin size, to be sure it has a decent capacity for a full car clean — if the bin is too small you might have to stop to empty it halfway through. Speaking of which, consider how the bin opens on the car vac and if it looks like it can be emptied cleanly. There’s nothing worse than losing half of your bin’s contents onto the floor — or worse, on you — as you try to transfer to the bin.
You’ve reached the end of the page. Jump back up to the top ^
Managed vs unmanaged hosting
Comparing managed and unmanaged hosting to determine which hosting package is better for your business.
When moving or creating a business online, you must get a proper, functioning website hosted on a great server for the best performance and solid foundation.
kTo find a great server to host your site, you have to consider various factors like price, security, CPU, storage, RAM, and, most importantly, managed vs. unmanaged hosting.
Some servers offer managed hosting, which takes a huge burden off the user’s shoulders and handles the complex technical parts of website hosting. Other servers offer unmanaged hosting where you have to handle many more technical aspects from the control panel.
This article will discuss the differences between managed and unmanaged hosting, the benefits of each, and help you to choose the right one for your business.
What is managed hosting?
Managed web hosting is a type of hosting service where the hosting provider assumes responsibility for the day-to-day management and maintenance of the server or infrastructure on behalf of the user. In this arrangement, the hosting provider handles tasks such as server setup, configuration, monitoring, security, backups, software updates, and technical support.
With managed hosting, you can focus on your core business activities while leaving the technical aspects of server management to the hosting provider. This type of hosting is particularly beneficial for individuals or businesses that lack the expertise, time, or resources to handle server administration.
Managed hosting services typically offer high support and assistance, ensuring that the server or infrastructure remains secure, optimized, and available to you. The hosting provider may also offer additional services like load balancing, scalability, database management, and performance optimization to ensure the optimal functioning of the hosted applications or websites.
What is unmanaged hosting?
In unmanaged hosting, you are solely responsible for managing and maintaining the server or infrastructure. However, unmanaged hosting only provides the physical server or virtual machine and the necessary network connectivity.
With unmanaged hosting, you have full control over the server, including installing and configuring the operating system, setting up security measures, managing software updates, and troubleshooting any technical issues that may arise. You are responsible for all aspects of server management, including system administration, software installations, security patches, backups, and performance optimization.
Unmanaged hosting is typically chosen by individuals or businesses with a high level of technical expertise and the resources to handle server administration tasks. It offers more flexibility and customization options, as you have full control over your server environment. However, it also requires a greater level of technical knowledge and time commitment to ensure proper server management and maintenance.
Features of managed and unmanaged hosting
Managed hosting is a hosting service whereby the hosting provider constantly monitors all the technical aspects of keeping the servers running and functioning properly. The hosting provider provides security patches to help you identify any vulnerabilities on the website and fix problematic issues before cybercriminals gain access to your server or network. Also, the hosting provider will install the latest software updates, e.g., Virus Scanner, Firewall Configuration, DDOS Detection, Spam Filtering, etc.
Backups are automated on managed hosting providers. Some servers can store backup data on the same or different servers as your site and include databases. It is important to confirm this from your provider to ensure that data is not stored on the same server as your website to avoid data loss in cases of hardware malfunction.
Servers providing managed hosting have different storage terms, which can lead to complications. Check what your chosen plan includes and compare hosts to pick the best one. Unlike managed hosting, where all the technical aspects of the server are taken care of by your hosting provider, unmanaged hosting gives you full access and control over your server. This enables you to customize anything on your server or website to your taste.
You will be given a full-featured hosting control panel like cPanel to make it easy to customize and manage your website. Also, unmanaged hosting is less expensive. Unmanaged hosting allows you full root control over security, backups, optimization, and maintenance, using them how you want. However, 24/7 Customer Support Services is available for technical glitches on your server.
Managed hosting allows greater flexibility and customization. If you have technical expertise, managed hosting is a good option.
Managed vs unmanaged hosting: The differences
Managed hosting involves a hosting provider handling the technical aspects of server management, updates, and security, while unmanaged hosting requires you to take care of these tasks yourself.
With managed hosting, the provider takes care of server monitoring, backups, and troubleshooting, while with unmanaged hosting, you are responsible for these tasks. Managed hosting offers a higher level of support, including 24/7 technical assistance and expertise, whereas unmanaged hosting generally provides limited or no support.
In managed hosting, the provider ensures the server is optimized for performance and scalability, whereas in unmanaged hosting, you must configure and optimize the server themselves.
Managed hosting often includes additional services such as automatic software updates, malware scanning, and firewall configuration, which are not typically provided with unmanaged hosting. Managed hosting is typically more expensive than unmanaged hosting due to the additional services and support provided by the hosting provider.
With managed hosting, you can focus more on your core business activities as technical tasks are handled by the provider, while unmanaged hosting requires you to have technical expertise and spend time managing the server. Managed hosting offers a higher level of security, as the hosting provider takes care of security patches, updates, and monitoring, whereas in unmanaged hosting, you must ensure the server’s security yourself.
Types of managed hosting
Managed shared hosting
Shared hosting is a low-cost service provided by servers. In managed shared hosting, multiple websites are hosted on the same server owned and managed by the provider. These sites share the service resources, including memory, CPU, bandwidth, and storage.
Despite one user sharing a single server with other users, they can set up multiple websites on an account as long as their allotted resources are not exceeded. The hosting provider installs necessary software updates, including WordPress, takes care of security and automatic data backup, and helps maintain your control panel.
The hosting provider does not do everything for you; you still have to set up your own site and run it. Because shared hosting involves resources being managed among multiple users, providers can offer this kind of service at extremely low costs.
Managed VPS hosting
Moving your website to a virtual private server means your business has grown and needs more computing resources, stability, and control to perform optimally. It is ideal for beginners without technical expertise. With managed VPS hosting, the provider sets up your control panel and handles the technical aspects. Instead of installing updates, operating system software, and secure data, you can focus on managing your growing website. There are lots of servers that provide managed VPS hosting without reducing online performance. Some include Kamatera, Cloudways, Liquid Web, Ionos, A2 hosting, and ScalaHosting.
Managed dedicated hosting
A managed dedicated hosting environment is one where the server or provider gives you complete access to all the resources in a server and handles the setup and all technical aspects.
The provider handles the installation and maintenance of everything in the control panel and software environment. The provider handles administration, management, and support of the application environment and physical server.
This service is also known as a single-tenancy architecture fully dedicated to only one user. Users enjoying managed dedicated hosting have access to a private server, complete bandwidth, RAM, and storage. It is a great option for high-traffic sites that require guaranteed power. While it costs more than shared and VPS-managed hosting, it is more cost-effective in terms of performance.
Some providers can lease a bare metal server and handle security patches so you can enjoy the hands-off experience in a fully managed dedicated hosting.
Types of unmanaged hosting
Unmanaged shared hosting
There is little help in unmanaged shared hosting. It is the simplest form of hosting which involves a user renting hosting space and uploading a website to it. The user installs software, designs the website, and regularly updates it.
For small businesses and small sites, unmanaged shared hosting is fine and cheaper than managed shared hosting. You have complete control over your website and what is done on your section of the server.
Most providers with unmanaged shared hosting have an administration console for installing popular software such as WordPress. However, time that could be used in growing your site and business is spent setting up and managing your website.
Unmanaged VPS hosting
Unmanaged VPS hosting is where the user manages, maintains, and updates the server where the site is hosted. The provider only manages the physical server and uptime in this case. This hosting service is cheaper than managed VPS and dedicated hosting but requires technical expertise and in-house resources to manage the operating system, memory, and other resources.
Unmanaged dedicated hosting
Unmanaged dedicated hosting is a service where the user has complete control of their server, operating system, and root-level access. The user manages the infrastructure, software patches, and other complex tasks independently. In this case, the hosting provider provides complete access to the server’s resources and basic services like network and connectivity monitoring.
Pros and cons of managed hosting
It is important to consider the pros and cons of managed hosting to determine if it fits your website and its operations correctly. Below are the pros and cons of managed hosting:
Pros of managed hosting:
Website performance monitoringAutomated backups and updates24/7 Customer Support ServiceConstant security monitoringRequired low or no technical skillsInstallation and configuration of web server, e.g., web patches Migration of website
Cons of managed hosting:
It is expensive Any changes you want to make to your website must be discussed with the hosting provider managers.
Pros and Cons of Unmanaged Hosting
It is important to consider the pros and cons of unmanaged hosting to determine if it is the right fit for your website and its operations. Below are the pros and cons of unmanaged hosting:
Pros of unmanaged hosting:
Full root control over your websiteIt’s cheaper than managed hosting.Access to customize anything how you want it
Cons of unmanaged hosting:
Requires high technical skillsRequires time and effort to sustain
Factors to consider when choosing between managed and unmanaged hosting
Here are three factors to consider when choosing between managed and unmanaged hosting:
Budget
The amount you can spend on a hosting provider matters, as managed hosting costs more than unmanaged hosting but has more features and saves time.
Technical expertise
If you do not have the technical expertise to set up an unmanaged server, do not host your website with an unmanaged package plan.
Security and backup
It is very important to consider how secure your data is on your server. Can you manage your security protocols, or are the storage terms provided by the hosting provider suitable?
Managed vs. unmanaged hosting: Which one is better for your business?
If you are considering upgrading or migrating your hosting services or want to create a website for your business, knowing which one to go for depends on the size, complexity, budget, and technical needs of the website you want to upgrade or create. You should consider your website’s pricing, size, technical skills, and complexity because it will enable you to choose the best one for your business.
Managed hosting is a great option for professionals and business owners who want the hands-off experience and will rather spend time on other business-building activities than maintaining their website. Unmanaged hosting is a great option for small businesses or individuals looking for cheaper hosting and more control.
Final thoughts
This article has compared managed vs. unmanaged hosting and how you can make the right choice for your business.
Making the right decision for your business is important and can significantly impact your performance, customer retention rate, and scalability. Managed and unmanaged hosting have their pros and cons. Your choice depends on your needs.
Here’s a list of the best web hosting services on the market