The best caravan vacuum cleaner will allow you to keep the interior of your tourer in tip-top condition, whether you’re looking to give it a spruce up during your tour or a deeper clean when you’ve returned home.
In the same way you would want the best caravan cleaner for your tourer’s exterior, you’re going to want a good vacuum cleaner to keep the interior clear of crumbs and dirt that can accumulate inside during an enjoyable tour. They also provide an effective way of keeping on top of any pet hairs if you’re touring with a four-legged friend, as well as removing the dust that can build up if you’ve just got your tourer out of storage. No matter the situation you find yourself in, you’re going to want one of the best caravan vacuum cleaners for the job.
Choosing the right vacuum cleaner for a caravan will boil down to how you intend to use it. For instance, if you want to vacuum while you’re pitched up at one of the best caravan sites without access to hook-up, a lightweight option that is 12V or with a good battery will be essential. However, payload concerns are less of an issue if you will only use it when you’re at home.
As well as this, you’ll want to ensure you can get into all of the nooks and crannies your tourer has, which is why we’ve generally picked options that are cordless and are either completely handheld or can be used as a handheld vacuum. However, we have included some 12V options which are corded too.
In this guide, we’re sharing our top picks on the market to help you choose the right vacuum for a caravan for you.
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What is the best vacuum cleaner for a caravan?
The best caravan vacuum cleaners
GTech Multi MK2 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Shark Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Kärcher VC 6
Draper 24392
Beldray BEL0770N-GRY
Best 12V caravan vacuum cleaners
BLACK+DECKER 12 V Flexi Auto Dustbuster
Hilka 12V Corded Wet and Dry Car Vacuum Cleaner
Black+Decker 12V Corded Handheld Vacuum
The best caravan vacuum cleaners are:
GTech Multi MK2 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
- Run time: up to 20 minutes
- Charge time: 4 hours
- Weight: 1.5kg
- Cordless: yes
Reason to buy:
- Useful LED headlight, lightweight
Reason to avoid:
- Better run times available, not 12v
We think there’s plenty to like about this small, lightweight and versatile caravan vacuum cleaner. In fact, it impressed us enough to make our shortlist at the Practical Caravan Awards 2024. Weighing a mere 1.5kg, we’re fans of how the GTech is easy to manoeuvre, allowing caravanners to get rid of the crumbs or bits of dirt that can accumulate in every corner of a tourer. While it’s not a 12V option, it’s still an effective and efficient vacuum.
It offers up to 20 minutes of run time off of a four-hour charge, thanks to its 22V lithium-ion battery. We also think it’s handy that the convenient LED display provides a straightforward way of keeping track of exactly how your battery’s doing. Plus, we like how the LED headlight is ideal for getting into those dark corners of your van and ensuring you don’t overlook any dirt, providing you with an in-depth clean.
We reckon the extension tube it comes with will make it simpler than ever to reach those hard-to-reach areas of your van too.
BLACK+DECKER 12 V Flexi Auto Dustbuster
- Runtime: N/A
- Charge time: N/A
- Weight: 1.49kg
- Cordless: no
Reason to buy:
- A lightweight option that runs on 12V, useful 5-metre long cable
Reason to avoid:
- Not cordless
If you’re looking for a 12v caravan vacuum cleaner, this Black+Decker option is well worth considering.
We like how lightweight it is, coming in at only 1.49kg, offering caravanners a highly portable option. While it’s not cordless, we were impressed to see it comes with a five-metre cable. Combine that with the 1.5m-long flexible hose and you should have plenty of scope for reaching those awkward corners of your tourer that can otherwise be a magnet for dust.
Another feature that stands out to us is how straightforward it is to empty the 500ml dust bowl, something that we always look for in the best caravan vacuum cleaners. Here, it’s done via the side door – this can then be poured straight into the bin.
A little feature we appreciate is the storage bag it comes with – it’s not a dealbreaker in its own right, but it’s a useful way of keeping all of the bits together until you next need it
Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
- Runtime: 40 minutes
- Charge time: 5 hours
- Weight: 2.5kg
- Cordless: yes
Reason to buy:
- Ideal if you want an option to use both indoors and in your tourer
Reason to avoid:
- Premium price makes it unrealistic to buy just for your van
Suitable for use as either a handheld or an upright vacuum, we like the versatility provided by this cordless vacuum cleaner from Dyson.
This is an option you’re not likely to buy solely for use in your tourer, but if you’re looking for a new domestic option that you can also use in your ‘van, we think this could be the perfect option. We like how it can be used on a wide variety of surfaces, ranging from sofas to mattresses, making it perfectly equipped for cleaning the different surfaces in your tourer.
Spinning at up to 110,000rpm, it provides an effective performance and comes with as much as 40 minutes of run time, allowing you to deep clean your caravan. Thanks to its de-tangling technology, pet owners can vacuum up any dog hairs, while a supplied combination tool and crevice tool allows you to reach those awkward areas in your tourer.
There’s no getting away from the price, but we think this is a highly effective product for keeping your tourer in tip-top condition.
Shark Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
- Run time: 10 minutes
- Charge time: 4 hours
- Weight: 1.2kg
- Cordless: yes
Reason to buy:
- Highly portable, ideal for pet owners
Reason to avoid:
- Low run time
We think this is a great option for caravanners who tour with their pets and want to have the option of quickly vacuuming up any dog hairs or dirt that has been trodden in after a walk. Usefully, there’s a battery light that lets you keep an eye on its charging levels, so you’ll know when it’s starting to run down.
It’s worth drawing attention to its runtime though. Offering only 10 minutes of use off of a charge time of around four hours, it’s got one of the lowest runtimes in our guide.
However, we like how the cordless product is highly lightweight, meaning it will be easy to manoeuvre wherever it’s needed. It helpfully comes with three different attachments too – a motorised pet tool, a dusting brush and a crevice tool.
Black+Decker 12V Corded Dustbuster
- Runtime: N/A
- Charge time: N/A
- Weight: 1.3kg
- Cordless: no
- A good five-litre cord, runs on 12V
- Can’t be used cordlessly
At 1.3kg, this Black+Decker option is a fairly lightweight 12V option to consider. While we should highlight it can’t be used cordlessly, it only requires a 12V DC outlet to run, and comes with an impressive cable length of five metres which should provide plenty of freedom for achieving a tidy tourer.
Thanks to its 12.5 air watts of suction power and 1,053l/min airflow, it should be capable of getting rid of crumbs and dirt that get trodden into your tourer, and we like how it should be easy to know when the 0.5L dustbowl needs emptying, thanks to its transparent exterior. We reckon it’s better suited to lighter debris than achieving a thorough clean but for a quick freshen up of your interior while you’re away, this should tick the boxes. Helpfully, it also comes with a brush tool, a crevice tool and a flexible hose.
Draper 24392
- Runtime: N/A
- Charge time: N/A
- Weight: 1.5kg
- Cordless: no
Reason to buy:
- Low wattage option at 600w
Reason to avoid:
- Not cordless or 12v
Draper is a name caravanners who are into DIY are likely to be familiar with, as the brand makes numerous items that could feature in a caravan tool kit. In the case of this vacuum, it’s a corded option and isn’t 12V, but we like how it has a wattage of only 600 watts. It’s fairly lightweight too, weighing only 1.5kg to provide you with some useful portability.
We’re fans of the variety of useful accessories it comes with too, including a hose, a swivel head brush nozzle and a square head brush, so you can get the attachment set up that suits you. That’s not all – it even features a shoulder strap. A lead of around 4.5M should ensure you can give your tourer a thorough clean too.
Hilka 12V Corded Wet and Dry Car Vacuum Cleaner
- Runtime: N/A
- Charge time: N/A
- Weight: 977g
- Cordless: no
Reason to buy:
- Budget friendly, 12v, can be used on small wet spillages
Reason to avoid:
- Not cordless, only 2.8m long lead, more suited to small tourers
This corded vacuum from Hilka is a budget-friendly option which runs on 12V. One of its most impressive features is how it not only deals with dirt but can also combat small wet spillages, ideal if you accidentally knock a drink over in your tourer.
Its lead is only 2.8m long, so nearly half the length of the other 12V option in our guide, the Black+Decker, so we reckon it’s more suited to those with smaller tourers. However, it offers an impressive 500ml capacity and would be ideal for giving a smaller van a quick freshen-up while away, before a more in-depth clean is done upon your return.
Beldray BEL0770N-GRY
- Runtime: N/A
- Charge time: N/A
- Weight: 1.38kg
- Cordless: no
Reason to buy:
- Only 600w, can be used handheld or as a traditional option
Reason to avoid:
- Not a cordless option
This budget option from Beldray is another lightweight option that is ideal for giving your tourer some TLC when you’re on the road. We should highlight that it’s not cordless – instead, the 600W product will need plugging in to run. However, we like how it has a five metre cable and, impressively, a one litre container for suctioning up debris in your van.
What we particularly like with it is the option of either using it upright as a more traditional vacuum or, if you prefer, as a handheld option, giving you the flexibility to clean your tourer as required.
Usefully, it comes with a crevice tool for getting into those tiny gaps and corners of your van too.
Kärcher VC 6
- Run time: up to 50 minutes
- Charge time: 270 minutes
- Weight: 2.6kg
Reason to buy
- Excellent run time, can also be used upright
Reason to avoid:
- More budget-friendly options available
While it may be one of the pricier options on our list, the VC 6 offers an impressive run time of up to 50 minutes, providing more than enough time to give your van and tow car a deep clean. This efficient cordless vacuum comes with a number of accessories that will let you quickly and easily tidy up your tourer, whether you’re dealing with carpets or a hard floor. This includes a handheld attachment, which is ideal for getting into those small crevices our tourers have in abundance.
Coming with a wall mounted charger for convenience at home, it takes around four and a half hours to get a full battery. It’s nice and quiet to operate, while we also like that the container can be emptied at the click of a button.
For those who are after a cheaper option with a shorter run time,a 30-minute option, the V4, is also available for caravanners who have a smaller tourer or just don’t need up to 50 minutes of use.
How to choose the best caravan vacuum cleaners
Before buying any caravan vacuum cleaner, make sure you know how you want to use it. What we mean by this is do you want the option of taking it on tour with you, or do you plan to stick with using it before and after you’ve enjoyed a getaway in your van?
If you want to take it way with you, factor in how much it will weigh and whether you have the payload to take it – after all, when you’re loading a caravan, you don’t want to bring an unnecessarily cumbersome device.
An option which provides a good battery will be important if you’re not going to be able to charge it up when you’re away. Even if you’re vacuuming your caravan at home, you still want to have a good enough runtime to be able to give it a thorough clean without having to recharge it every five minutes.
Lastly, be sure to pick a portable option that you will be able to manoeuvre to clean all of the nooks and crannies in your tourer.
Are you looking for a way to get your tourer back to its sparkling best? Then take a look at our guide to cleaning a caravan to see the steps involved.
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