When it comes to daily cleaning, I like to be as lazy as possible. The easier a task is, the more likely I am to get it done every day – that’s why I love my handheld vacuum cleaner.
From crumbs to hair and game consoles, there are plenty of tasks that my handheld vacuum takes care of in seconds, saving me time hunting down, cleaning clothes and carefully transferring debris to the trash.
Here’s exactly why I love my best handheld vacuum, and how I use it in most rooms of my home every day to keep cleaning simple
How a handheld vacuum helps to shave time off chores
Getting through all the daily cleaning habits for a tidier home is a chore, especially when you have to repeat them day in, day out. It all becomes very monotonous. Even my relaxing closing shift routine can seem like too much effort if I have already spent the whole day cleaning.
A handheld vacuum cleaner makes cleaning ten times simpler, however, changing up my cleaning routine for the better.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Rated H&G's top handheld vacuum overall, we loved the Black+Decker handheld vac for its powerful suction and ability to reach every hard to reach nook. It's expensive, but the price pays off.
Voted our best for pet hair, the Bissell comes with a specialized hair attachment that rakes up even the most embedded of pet hair from pet beds and furniture.
Want to keep cleaning compact? This handheld wand vacuum is the perfect size for quick clean ups and does a decent job against dust despite having a slightly lower suction power.
1. Dusting
When getting rid of dust properly, I tend to love the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster. However, dust builds up rapidly in our home on account of us being in all the time, and both me and my partner being shedders (the amount of hair we lose is almost concerning).
Sometimes I don’t want to trudge up to the bathroom where I keep my damp duster (from Walmart), nor do I want to get on my hands and knees to dust the fireplace surround or the media unit.
That’s where the handheld vac comes in to make my life a little easier. I generally keep it in the living room, tucked under the sofa, and it means I can whizz around with the small brush attachment and remove dust properly. I often find that having this tool means I am more likely to clean baseboards, too, as I don’t have to crawl around to do so.
2. Cleaning the stairs
I have one of the best cordless vacuums, but that doesn't mean it is without its downsides. The main unit is still fairly heavy, even when I switch to the hose attachment to clean my stairs.
The handheld vac is not as powerful as my regular best vacuum, but it is a great tool for in-between deep cleans to stay on top of hair, dust, and fluff from slippers and stop the majority of nasties from getting stuck to my feet.
H&G head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden, loves a manual carpet scraper. She says, 'It's especially handy if you have pets. My cats like to sleep on the stairs so I vacuum daily, and scrape weekly.'
Punteha says, 'I use this every day and it's the most effective way to pull up the cat hair in my carpet. Even after vacuuming, this pulls up fur and dander. I keep on downstairs, another upstairs so they're always to hand.'
3. Cleaning kitchen counters
Vacuuming kitchen sides is one of the things I do daily to keep kitchen counters clear. Why not just use a cloth? You ask. Simple – the vacuum does it better.
My partner is very prone to leaving crumbs behind on the counter, so they build up quickly. Don’t get me wrong, for small messes, I will still reach for a microfiber cloth, from Walmart, to collect them up and shake them off into the bin, but the vacuum means there is less chance of me missing any or dropping any on the floor when I try to guide them into my hand. This makes cleaning a kitchen just that little bit simpler.
I also use it to remove dust from and clean kitchen cabinets, and dust the top of my range hood, rather than clog up a cloth that will then have to go straight in the washing machine.
A bestseller, this Black+Decker handheld vac is praised by reviewers for being lightweight and simple to use, working well in small gaps such as in cars and sliding door tracks. They also love it for cleaning upholstery quickly and easily.
4. Cleaning electronics
We are a chronically online household, so we have a lot of devices from laptops to game consoles.
One of the key problems with electronics is that as they get hot, they become dust magnets, and more often than not, their filters and vents are in awkwardly placed spots that are tricky to reach (I am looking at you, PS5).
The handheld vacuum, however, comes with a small enough detail brush attachment to reach into these small gaps and suck all the dust out so the console runs more efficiently. It is also helpful to clean dust from a PC without compressed air, and clean computer keyboards.
I even use it to quickly remove dust from the filter in my best dehumidifier and my best air purifier to extend its lifespan, too.
5. Removing lint from the washer (and dryer)
An important part of cleaning a washing machine is removing built-up hair and lint. I leave the washing machine door open after each cycle to let it dry, and once all the water has gone, I will often use my handheld vac to quickly collect up any lint and hair from the drum and seals. This not only results in cleaner, fresher laundry but extends the lifespan of my washer too.
I don’t have a dryer, but I have heard plenty of anecdotes of people using a similar method to clean a dryer vent and lint trap, too.
6. As a lint 'roller'
This one may sound strange, but I will sometimes vacuum myself...
We don't have pets, so we don't keep lint rollers lying around, but that doesn't mean that we don't have hair, dust, and fluff that sticks to our clothing on occasion.
If I notice that my outfit looks particularly dusty, I will sometimes reach for my handheld vac and run it over my clothing with the clean brush attachment. More often than not, it sucks up all the lint and leaves me looking a little more polished.
It's one of the best ways to remove lint from clothes without a lint roller in my experience, and it certainly beats wrapping my hand in tape.
Picking up a handheld vacuum is a great cleaning tip for ‘lazy’ people like me who want to shave time off chores and make to-do lists less overwhelming, helping you to clean as you go and clean your house when you’re too busy.
