After years of RV travel, constantly building up dirt and trying every machine powered device to suck it up, I have come to a conclusion: No single vacuum is perfect for an RV, but some come close. Some are good (enough), some require the dreaded (dare I say old fashioned) bag and others loose (or never had) enough suction power. Here is a breakdown of my RV vacuum trial and tribulations…the good, the bag and the under-powered. Shark – This little guy is hard to beat for under $100. The attachments were functional, it kept the pet hair at bay and, after a year of use it still had good suction power (not amazing, but good enough).   Dyson – They makes some great vacuums…if only they weren’t so darn expensive! We first tried to get away with our standard upright (cleaned great) but was way too bulky for the tiny and oddly shaped areas in the RV.  If you’re looking for a good vacuum for your house, this one is excellent!   Animal – We finally broke down and got one of these guys.

It has a cord but it works like a champ on all the cat hair and obscene amount of dust we seem to collect Wild Camping all the time! The attachments are great and it gets in all the tiny awkward spaces in our RV and Smart Car. Not to mention it has not lost any of it’s awesome sucking power. Digital Slim – We also looked into the cordless option, but I like the flexibility of the canister vacs. For us in the RV we really need the multi-function action of a canister and it’s flexible hose that can go in more places. (and you’d be surprised how quick 20-30min of cleaning time goes by).  However, we know of fellow RV’ing friends who love this vacuum. Roy came equipped with a Dirt Devil Central Vacuum to which I have mixed feelings about: It’s a very love-hate relationship. The “35ft” hose can be clunky and just barely makes it to the front of our coach (so any RV over 32ft long and you’ll need an extension that doesn’t exist). It has decent suction power and 3 out of the 5 attachments are handy: The dusting, selectable rug/floor (really only works well for floors), and crevice tools are great. 

The rugrat (so called) powerbrush is useless. It is terrible on carpet and does more damage to the fibers than picking up any dirt. I have yet to find a good use for the upholstery tool. best carpet cleaner for couchFor what little upholstery we have, the dusting tool does a better job at picking up pet hair.best way to clean and polish laminate wood floors Then there is the bag that needs replacing (for us about every 2-3 months). best upright vacuum cleaners reviewsThis isn’t that big of a deal but seriously, is this 1980? best way to clean microsuede couch

No, we now live in the age of cleanable filters and bagless vacuums. All in all, it gets the job done and came with Roy. If it hadn’t, I wouldn’t purchase and install one.We did make this quick demonstration video for Fleetwood. cost for cleaning ac coilsSo, keep in mind this video isn’t intended to be my personal opinions, it’s strictly informational if you’re curious to see it in action.  air duct cleaning technology Bissel – Out of the gate this little guy impressed us (especially for $35). The battery would last 2 weeks worth of daily sweep/vacuuming and picked up a ton of dirt and pet hair. Sadly after about six months of use it started really loosing battery power and suction to the point of unusable. If you’re the occasional RV’er, this inexpensive vacuum could work great but not ideal for full time use.

Black and Decker – This cordless worked fine for the first six months then quickly started losing suction. Before we reached a year of use the battery was so weak, you were lucky to get 2 solid minutes out of it. Also, with no real floor cleaning option, it was best for small areas/furniture and not ideal for full coach cleaning. Of course, this isn’t every vacuum option out there, just the ones I have personally used and tested. It’s an ongoing search for the perfect cleaning companion. So, if you have a vacuum that has stood the test of time and nomadic abuse, for the love of all things fresh and clean, share in the comment box below! Wild Camping, Boondocking, Dry Camping, Dispersed Camping, Off The Cord…No matter what you want to call it we think being out in… Staying connected on the road is one of the biggest campfire discussions (right after the always fun black tank conversations) and… I love to cook, bake, grill, blend and just about anything that has to do with food and drinks!

10% Off or More (29) 25% Off or More (6)That extremely useful hunk o' plastic that's relegated to a utility closet for most of its life. Yes, I admit it: I have a love-hate relationship with vacuums. Sure, they clean the floor, but these home appliances can also be guilty of a number of offenses that make even the most basic clean-ups a major pain. Some are noisy and heavy and have too few or too many accessories. Others come with bins that are a challenge to empty or bags with hard-to-find replacements -- you get the idea. Basically, there are a lot of potential annoyances you can run into and it's not like any of us need another excuse not to break out the vacuum. On top of that, today's market has expanded to include a bunch of different vacuum categories. So how do you narrow down your options to find something durable that's easy to use and cleans well? Well, by reading this buying guide, of course.Vacuums, vacuums everywhere The beauty of vacuum shopping is that there's almost definitely a machine out there to fit your lifestyle.

The problem with vacuum shopping is that there are tons of options and it can be difficult to zero in on that perfect model. I mean, you can find upright, canister, robot, handheld, stick, and even convertible vacuums that can be both upright and canister or both handheld and stick (depending on the configuration). So, here's a rundown of the top vacuum styles, their key features, and details about what type of cleaning is best suited for each one. Upright vacuums are the most common style found in homes today. As you likely guessed, they sit in an upright position, so they are a great option if you don't want to bend over a lot. Typically, they have a foot lever you press to change the angle of the machine for increased maneuverability. Features can vary a lot, but one decision you will definitely have to make is whether to get a model that collects dust in a bin or in a bag.Key features: Upright position, bins or bags collect debris, typically comes with accessories, including a wand for corners or stairs.

Many can transition between carpet and bare floors.Takeaway: Best if you have the space to store something tall. They typically weigh more than other models, so an upright stick vacuum might be a good lighter-weight alternative. Bagless vacuums are generally more expensive, reaching average prices near $700, whereas bagged models rarely exceed $300. Canister vacuums are also popular. They are a bit more versatile than uprights, because you can lift the canister and take it wherever you want to go. They are known for working well on stairs, because you can carry the canister and use the long wand extender to tackle each level with ease.Key features: Most offer the same or similar cleaning options as uprights, but with increased mobility.Takeaway: They are lighter than uprights, but you still have to be comfortable lifting at least 8 pounds. You'll also have to bend over to push the canister around the house (or you can use the wand to pull it, but you'll have less control over the movements).

The long wands and cords get tangled more easily, and might be a more difficult to store because the hose and wand don't snap to the canister. Robot vacuums may seem like a novelty, but they actually do a lot to keep your floors clean. Just let 'em go, and they bounce around your carpeted and bare floors to tidy up your messes.Average weight: Typically under 10 poundsKey features: Battery-powered with docking station, cordless, sensor-controlled, automated via scheduling feature, various cleaning modes, many can clean both carpets and bare floors.Takeaway: This is a great supplement to regular vacuuming. If you hate vacuuming and have the money, use a robot vacuum so you can wait longer between each full-scale vacuum session. These little mini-vacs are great for smaller jobs. Some are cordless, so they work well for quick and easy cleaning or as compact on-the-go option for RV owners. It's also a great supplement if your main vacuum doesn't offer many attachments or if you'd rather not pull out your whole vacuum every time you spot a mess.

Average weight: About 5 poundsKey features: Lightweight and incredibly easy to store. Takeaway: Great option for small spaces and easy lifting. Cordless models can also clean your car, boat, and so on. The Stick vacuum is similar to the upright but without any added attachments or accessories. It's about as streamlined as it gets, and therefore easier to store and lighter weight. These models typically run on batteries, so they can go where corded vacuums can't. They also tend to be less powerful than their upright counterparts.Average weight: Typically under 10 poundsKey features: Lightweight, often cordless and battery-powered, can transition from carpet to hardwood.Takeaway: Great if you want something that can handle light debris. A good lightweight option for those with limited arm strength. As if vacuums weren't already confusing enough, some models are convertible. That means that they can do more than one thing. For example, the Eureka vacuum pictured above can work as a stick or a handheld vacuum, and the Shark Rotator Pro Lift-Away model I recently reviewed is an upright vacuum that can convert into a canister vacuum.

These models tend to offer a great value since you're getting more options; a two-for-one, if you will. Key features: Extra accessories and attachments, extremely versatile.Takeaway:If you know you want an upright, but also want to regularly vacuum stairs, a convertible canister model like the Shark Rotator Pro Lift-Away makes sense rather than buying two separate machines. Or if you think the attachments on an upright won't tackle your detailed dusting, you can get a stick and a handheld model like the Eureka.Other considerations In addition to the different types of vacuum models available today, there are a couple of other things you ought to think about before making a final decision. If you're buying an upright or a canister vacuum, you will have to opt for disposable bags or a reusable bin. Bags tend to hold more dust, but it's much harder to tell how full the bag is without removing it completely from the vacuum. Bags also release less dust into the air during disposal, but you have to deal with buying replacements fairly regularly.

Dust bin models have been increasing in popularity ever since James Dyson invented the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum in the 1980s. The bins are transparent, making it easier to tell when they're full -- and you can empty and reuse them countless times. You may still have to replace the filter, though, which is more expensive, but less frequent than buying bags. Both bag and bin models are widely available, so it's really a matter of preference here. Many vacuums today come with a dedicated HEPA filter. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. That may sound fancy, but it really just means that it removes harmful allergens like mold, smoke, or dust from the air. All filters do that to some extent, but the more expensive HEPA variety must trap at least 99.97 percent of particles to be considered the real deal. If you have asthma or allergies, or are just generally concerned with air quality, a vacuum with a HEPA filter might be worth your consideration. Many of them are removable and can be cleaned with water until they need to be replaced.