10 Best RV Vacuums of 2020: Brand Buying Guide & Reviews

How many of you have taken a much-desired vacation or trip in your RV and were bummed out by the amount of sand/dirt all over? It shouldn’t be as much of a downer as it is, but we completely understand. Dirt is already a hassle to begin with, and RV trips, when done right, tend to end up with your vehicle on the dirty side.

One way to completely revamp your attitude toward trips and cleaning would be to own one time- and energy-saving appliance—a topnotch vacuum. Note that we said topnotch because a vacuum that isn’t would just compound your stress. That’s why you should take your time looking through different models and choosing the correct one for your needs and your RV.

Just consider it. With the right vacuum, you wouldn’t even think twice about taking a few seconds out of your day to pass it over those annoying patches of dirt/sand. But we also get that what with so many models of vacuums out there, it’s hard to know where to begin.

We’re here to help you out by providing a comprehensive RV vacuum buying guide. The succeeding section is all about which we think are the top ten choices for you. So go ahead and read on, because with this handy appliance, you can relax knowing that it’s got your back when the going gets rough.

Top 10 RV Vacuums of 2019

In this section, we will discuss what we think are the best RV vacuums in the market as of mid-2019. Not only that, we listed them down with short product reviews and pros and cons. Hopefully, these descriptions will put you on the right path to selecting the appliance that best suits your second home.

Everything You Need to Know About RV Vacuums

At this point, you may be wondering why there’s all this fuss about selecting exactly what model cleaner should go in your RV. It’s just a vacuum. But trust us when we say that there are several factors that need to be taken seriously and considered to ensure that the RV vacuum you select is topnotch and fitting for your situation.

This section is dedicated to teaching you what to look for in an RV vacuum. At the end of it, you should confidently be able to tell which models have the right features and which have the wrong ones for you.

What kind of vacuum do I want?

There are five types of cleaners to consider in the world of RV vacuuming: upright or canister vacuums, steam vacuums, wet and dry vacuums, handheld vacuums, and RV central vacuum systems.

The FAQ section at the end of this article will discuss each type with more depth. For now, what we want to share is that you should be aware of the situations you’ll likely encounter in your RV. If you do, then you will correctly choose which type is the one that will tackle your issues best.

For example, in my case, I’d prefer to go with an RV central vacuum system because they’re known to store easily. They can be installed in a storage compartment, under seats, or even inside closets. 

At the same time, I’m looking at steam vacuums and handhelds because I will bring pets with me during the trip. Steam vacuums and handhelds are great for just this situation because they’re great at getting rid of pet odors and disinfecting and stains that they might leave. In addition, handhelds have added maneuverability that the other types don’t have. They can reach nook and crannies, which might be what you need for your rig.

If you figure that you’ll unavoidably encounter messes both wet and dry, then choosing a wet and dry vacuum should be a no brainer.

Ultimately, choosing the best RV vacuum is all about having some foresight and predicting what kind of messes and situations you’ll be meeting in the future. That’s why you should think really hard about what you need in your RV and pick a model that matches.

How easy to use is the vacuum?

In an ideal world, a vacuum would be simple and easy to use. But we sadly don’t live in that kind of world. Like many other products in this day and age, manufacturers made vacuums hard.

Avoid the pain of finding out that your vacuum is not worth the effort after you’ve already shelled out money for it. Make sure that the model you choose isn’t complicated. 

The upside to this is that you can figure that out by reading the always-enjoyable customer reviews. There is no way that the customers won’t sing a cleaner’s praises if it’s great, or complain about it up and down if it’s terrible. That’s why the review section exists, after all. They let you know if a product is user-friendly.

Frankly, this is the number one factor to consider when purchasing a vacuum. No one will want to use a tool that only brings them stress, and cleaning is already a chore as it is. So do yourself a favor and rely on my judgment or read customer reviews before spending any money.

How noisy is it?

Again, luckily for us that for this factor we can rely on the customer reviews to reveal the truth. If someone says that a product is deafening, better believe it and be on your way. 

I mean, do you want to introduce stress and discord inside the space of your RV? An RV should be a haven, a place to rest and relax. A noisy vacuum would only counter both aspects and be an unpleasant experience for all passengers on board.

Rather, keep an eye out for feedback that praises the model as exceptionally quiet or as maintaining a manageable noise level. Sadly, there isn’t a unit that is completely silent, so be skeptical of any brand that claims whisper quiet as their product’s selling point.

How heavy is it?

Since RV vacuums come in many different forms, naturally they step in at much different weight, too. This may not be a shocker, but you would do well not to underestimate it. It’s just as fundamental to the vacuum decision tree as the rest.

I weigh in so much on this quality because any extra pounds add up very quickly. It may not amount to much at first, but soon you’ll be vacuuming and vacuuming and you’ll notice your arm tire. It gets taxing after the nth time you move it.

That’s why you want a light unit. It makes cleaning so much easier when you don’t dread being tired after, doubly so if you’re similar to me who keeps spilling everything.

Will it keep my carpet fibers safe?

If you’re keen on keeping your carpet safe from wear and tear, then make sure to take this question seriously. The factors that will determine the answer to this question are one, what type of fibers your carpet has, and two, how strong the suction of your vacuum will be.

Your carpet is most likely made of synthetic fibers such as elofin, polyester, or nylon. In this case, lucky for you, you don’t need to fret. They can take a beating and sustain any aggressive action from powerful suction.

On the other hand, natural fibers need some more tender love and care. If your carpet completely covers the floor as mine does, then most probably it’s wool. In that case, avoid cleaners with powerful suctions because they will only damage your carpet. Wool can take a beating, but only so much. 

While you’re at it, try to get a vacuum with a revolving brush. This revolving brush should have gentle bristles. The bristles shouldn’t be as dense as your carpet fibers, either, or else you’ll wear your carpet out.

All this means that for me, I need to get a gentle vacuum. If I do, then my carpet will surely be pristine for many years—even if I do keep spilling everything. Similarly, you should follow my example and assess your carpet fibers and vacuum suction power to ensure you won’t regret your purchase.

How long will the battery life last?

If you do choose an RV vacuum that has a battery, check the battery life. The entire point of getting a battery-powered one, after all, is so that you can move around your rig without a cord tailing you. You’ll defeat that purpose if you get a battery-powered cleaner that constantly needs to be plugged back in.

In addition, ensure that the battery of your vacuum is top tier. Customer reviews are your friends, so check them out and see what they have to disclose about battery performance. Essentially, you want a vacuum that can last a long, thorough cleaning session.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s say you read through this entire article so far and you still have some questions bouncing around in your head. That’s okay, that’s what this section is for. We’re going to try to address any leftover questions and problems you might have remaining regarding these products.

What defines RV vacuums?

There are many different kinds of RV vacuums in the market today. That makes it difficult to speak of RV vacuums in broad terms. However, the general idea behind them is that they’ll take care of the muck that tends to pile up in your RV. To add to this, the difference between RV cleaners and household cleaners is that manufacturers tend to modify a few features—such as suction—to suit RV environments more.

The thing about RV environments is that there are as many of them as there are people with RVs. That’s why we have so many kinds of vacuums available, and why what might work for one rig may be godawful for another.

To prevent something as disastrous as picking the wrong vacuum from happening, you need to consider a few things (which we already elaborated on in the previous section). Each of them will help you decide which is the RV vacuum you need.

However, there are a few parts to an RV vacuum that should remain the same whichever you pick. These are the porous bag, electric motor, fan, intake port, and exhaust port. When you connect the vacuum to a power source, you turn on the motor. The motor’s job is to spin the fan so that air flows into the exhaust port, creating suction. Meanwhile, the intake port harnesses the suction generated by the exhaust port and pushes it towards the cleaner. This leads to friction that sucks debris and dirt inside the vacuum.

But really, at the end of the day, the aim is to find a vacuum that meets all your requirements and won’t blow your budget. Our hope is that our article will help with just that—giving you an idea of what to get. Maybe you can even choose a model from our list!

What kinds of RV vacuums are out there?

Now that we’ve tackled the definition of a vacuum and the mechanism behind it, we’re going to move onto the different kinds you’ll meet during your research. You’ll encounter five kinds, which we briefly mentioned above: steam vacuums, handheld vacuums, canister or upright vacuums, wet and dry vacuums, and RV central vacuum systems.

Steam RV Vacuums 

Pet owners, rejoice, for this product was practically made for you. Steam vacuums are amazing in that they were specifically designed to deal with mold or pet-caused stains. I own dogs, myself so I know the amount of grief they can cause to your furniture, whether it’s a restroom accident or an upchuck.

Handheld Vacuums

Handhelds are the go-to choice when you have an abundance of difficult-to-reach spaces in your RV. As their name suggests, they’re operated by hand. This means heightened storability and maneuverability. Note that they are usually heavy and high-powered because they’re powered by a battery.

Upright or Canister RV Vacuums

Consider uprights a close cousin of the handhelds. They typically end up offering the same kind of control and maneuverability, anyway, because they have attachments that lengthen the vacuum’s arm. These attachments help with getting into those nooks and crannies we keep mentioning.

Whether this type is the best choice for you, though, depends on how much space you have. They take up quite a bit of space, so they aren’t good fits for smaller RVs.

Wet and Dry RV Vacuums

The name is the form is the function with this one. Wet and dry vacuums have different receptacles for wet mess and dry mess. As you would expect, that means they’re amazing at resolving wet messes such as bathrooms and sinks.

But if you do not anticipate meeting plenty of wet issues in your RV’s future, then there really isn’t much point to getting one. It wouldn’t be logically or financially sound.

RV Central Vacuum Systems 

These are the John and Jane Does of the RV vacuum cleaning world. They’re usually what comes with your RV when you first buy it. They need to stay connected to a power source to function, but they do have some perks, such as easy storage. So don’t turn your nose up at them too soon.

Why get an RV vacuum in the first place? 

You’re fully aware of why you should invest in an RV vacuum; don’t try to deny it. You need one for the simple yet practical argument that you need to maintain your RV and the things inside it free from sand, dust, and other nuisances.

Do you enjoy discovering you have sand left inside your shoes after a great day at the beach? Do you like stains and cobwebs? Your answer’s probably (so we hope) “no,” so do the right thing and have one well within reach. Your life will be easier, you’ll stay in good health and hygiene, and your future self will thank you.

As to why you should get a vacuum specific for RVs, and not a typical household version, that’s due to a difference in manufacturing. Households have environments and surfaces different from RVs, so it follows that the vacuums made for them have different specifications. An example is that generally speaking, RV vacuums’ sizes and shapes are different to accommodate the unique shape and limited space of RVs.

In short, an RV vacuum is made to fit an RV like a glove. As a result, choosing a regular household-issue simply won’t make the cut and won’t make sense. Of course, they’ll work for your rig, but not in any way that will save time, effort, and stress.

Wrap-Up

Phew, that was a lot to take in. But now we’re confident that with all the information about RV cleaners that you’ve mastered, you are ready to pick the unit for you. Here comes the fun part—making a few clicks on Amazon to get to the RV vacuum page and adding said unit to your cart. Once that’s done, no dust, sand, muck, or mess will ever get the better of you during your trips. All you have to do is take your vacuum out and witness as it sucks all that dirt and your worries away.

After that—voila! There’ll be nothing else to keep you from having fun during your vacation. You can just rest and relax because you’ll be comfortable with the confidence that allergy or sand attacks is a thing of the past. I am so aware that it sucks when that happens, as I’m sure you know too.

With that, we have shared every shred of information we wish to impart. Thank you for reading. Remember to make sure that the vacuum you get will fulfill all the criteria we just mentioned. If it does, then we promise that you will never look back and regret. On the contrary, you’ll be overjoyed.

If you’re interested in finding out how else to make your RV-ing experience memorable and worthwhile, we invite you to take a gander at these other articles we have lined up for you: the top RV vent fans, top RV grills, top RV air conditioners, and top RV thermostats, all with our ratings and reviews. While we’re at it, if you’re looking to improve your RV air conditioning, ventilation, heating, and appliances, also check out our articles on the top RV heaters, top RV washer/dryer combo, top 12 volt refrigerators, and top RV dehumidifiers.

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