Let’s be honest: RV camping is a messy endeavor. Between dirt and sand getting tracked inside, bugs sneaking in and making themselves at home, and kids dropping food on the floor in the dining area, your RV sees more dirt than your average house does!
You keep a vacuum on hand in your house for inevitable messes…why not your RV? Here are our top five choices for the best RV vacuums out there!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Black + Decker Cordless Vacuum
Runner Up
Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum
Best Handheld Vacuum
Black + Decker Handheld Vacuum
Best Overall
Black + Decker Cordless Vacuum
The very best RV vacuum has to be the Black + Decker Cordless Vacuum! There are a few reasons this is the best vacuum for RVs. Firstly, it’s cordless, which is a huge plus in a space filled with hard-to-reach corners and low on electrical outlets. This feature allows for maximum freedom of movement. It also means you won’t have to “outlet-hop” as you move from room to room in the RV. You also won’t have to worry about snagging your cord on anything!
The next plus to this vacuum is that it’s lightweight and thin. This makes it easy to transport and easy to store. In an RV, preserving space as much as you can is important. There’s already not much square footage to go around, and you don’t want a bulky vacuum taking up more than its share of space. It also means you won’t wear yourself out lugging your RV vacuum around. If you separate the top portion of the vacuum, you’ll end up with a handheld vacuum perfect for cleaning hard-to-reach spots.
However, it is still larger and more difficult to store than a handheld vacuum.
This RV vacuum also comes outfitted with floor lights. In an RV, your lighting isn’t always ideal. The floor lights installed in this vacuum make it easy to illuminate the floor and ensure you don’t miss any messes!
This vacuum holds a charge that fuels about 40 minutes of vacuuming total, so keep that in mind if you’re camping somewhere without an electric hookup.
Pros
- Cordless
- Lightweight
- Easy to store
- Includes lights
- Automatic suction adjustment
- Detachable handheld vacuum
Cons
- Still requires more storage space than smaller models
Runner Up
Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum
Next up on our list of best RV vacuums is the Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum!
While this model is a bit bulkier than the Black + Decker, it matches it in most other categories! The Shark has floor lights installed. It also comes with multiple attachments that allow you to choose the best one for your purposes.
This vacuum’s brush is also considered self-cleaning, which means you don’t have to worry about hairs or threads getting tangled up inside it. The Shark doesn’t automatically switch suction modes when you switch to vacuuming a different surface, but you can switch it manually.
The Shark also has a detachable handheld vacuum attachment! In the unlikely event this vacuum can’t reach any spot in your RV, the handheld vacuum should be able to do the job.
Does your RV have a dust problem? Some cobwebs hiding on the ceiling? Good news: this RV vacuum can even reach the ceiling! All you have to do is remove the bottom portion of the vacuum, place the included nozzle on the end, and have at it!
Pros
- Includes floor lights
- Convertible
- Self-cleaning brush
Cons
- Bulkier design
- No automatic suction change
Best Handheld Vacuum
Black + Decker Handheld Vacuum
If you really want to capitalize on storage space, you may want to choose a handheld vacuum! Stick vacuums are fairly easy to store and often come with detachable handheld vacuums. However, they still take up more space than a traditional handheld vacuum. This is where the Black + Decker Handheld Vacuum comes in!
This handheld vacuum is uniquely shaped to reach even the most narrow areas. It’s also cordless; however, its battery life is only 20 minutes, which is roughly half of what most cordless stick vacuums can manage.
The dirt bowl is also very small, as expected with handheld vacuums. This means it will fill up faster than stick vacuums. However, its compact size makes it extremely convenient for RVers looking to save as much space for storage as possible.
The nozzle of this RV vacuum can rotate as you go, minimizing how much you have to twist to get the right angle. No more sore wrists after vacuuming!
Pros
- Rotating nozzle
- Compact size
- Unique nozzle shape
- Cordless
Cons
- Small dirt bowl
- Short battery life
Best for Aesthetic
Kenmore Cordless Rose Gold Vacuum
When buying an RV vacuum, your first thought probably isn’t how pretty it looks. However, as mentioned previously, RVs don’t have much storage space. If you end up with nowhere to store your vacuum out of sight, it can quickly become a bit of an eyesore. Thanks to the Kenmore Cordless Rose Gold Vacuum, this doesn’t have to be the case!
This vacuum is painted a burnished rose-gold color, and one look will tell you why it’s our pick for aesthetic purposes. This might be the prettiest vacuum on the market. If you have to keep your vacuum out in the open, this one won’t interfere with whatever décor you’ve set up in your RV.
But this vacuum comes with more than a pretty face. With a 40-minute battery life, floor lights, an extra-large dirt bowl, and a lightweight design, this vacuum will get the job done easily. You won’t have to empty it as frequently as other models.
Pros
- Extra-large dirt bowl
- Sleek exterior
- Lightweight
- Cordless
- Includes floor lights
Cons
- Slightly bulkier than other models
Best for Pet Owners
Shark IX141 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum
If you like to bring your fur babies camping with you, then not only do you have muddy paws to deal with…you have pet hair piling up. The Shark IX141 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum is a great RV vacuum option for pet owners!
One of the great things about this vacuum is its hypervelocity suction! Not only does this mean maximum performance on everyday messes, but it also means this vacuum does a great of sucking up all that unwanted pet hair!
With a runtime of 40 minutes, this powerful little vacuum gets the job done quickly, allowing you more time to enjoy the outdoors. Its low-profile design makes cleaning under furniture a cinch, and it easily transforms into a hand vacuum for above-floor cleaning.
Pros
- Exceptional at picking up pet hair
- Comes with a Crevice Tool & Pet Multi-Tool
- Comes with a removable XL Dust Cup with CleanTouch Dirt Ejector
Cons
- Battery is not great for large RVs
- Not great for long hair
- Cannister fills quickly
RV Vacuum FAQ
How often should I clean out my RV vacuum?
There’s an easy answer to this: whenever the dustbin fills up. However, this isn’t where vacuum maintenance stops!
While you want to make sure you’re emptying your dustbin out on a regular basis, you should also check your vacuum’s brush bar. (If it has one, not all models do!)
If you notice a drop in suction power when vacuuming, check the brush bar for any tangles. Sometimes thread or hair or other types of fibers get tangled up and disrupt the function of the vacuum.
Check the brush bar after every trip you take in your RV. If you’re a long-term RVer, check it every two weeks.
What if I’m camping somewhere with no electric hookup?
Luckily, most of the vacuums on this list are cordless. This is an intentional choice—cordless is the best choice for RV vacuums if you can help it.
Not only does this prevent issues with reaching all areas of the RV, it also eliminates the need for electric hookups.
You will need to ensure you charge your vacuum fully before you leave for your trip. However, cordless vacuums hold enough of a charge that they should last for the duration of any boondocking venture.
Worst case, if your vacuum runs out of battery and you don’t have access to an electrical hookup, you can sweep the floor in the meantime. You can save the vacuuming for when you get back home!
If you do have an electric hookup, you won’t have to worry about things like battery life.
When should I NOT vacuum in my RV?
We don’t recommend vacuuming your RV if there are puddles or clumps of mud on the floor.
Even if they’re small, don’t vacuum up pebbles, shells, or rocks of any kind. These things can cause considerable damage to the inside of your vacuum.
What camping messes can I use my RV vacuum on?
We all know camping comes with its share of messes, and RV camping is no different. Your vacuum will come in handy for cleaning up tracked-in dirt or sand, dust, grass, and dead bugs. Basically, anything from the outside that makes its way inside!
Most RVs come with dining areas and kitchens, which means you’ll be dealing with some food spills, as well. Anything you would normally vacuum up at home, you can vacuum up in your RV!
Keep the Camper Clean!
Once you’ve picked the best RV vacuum for you, you can head out on your next adventure, knowing you’ll be able to tackle any mess thrown at you!
For more tips about RV camping, visit our RV page now!
- About the Author
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Cassidy Eubanks is a proud Michigander, an avid reader, and a writer for Apple Pie Media. Her bachelor’s in Creative Writing has fueled her love of storytelling in all its forms…including campfire stories!
With many years of both tent camping and RV camping under her belt, the ability to roll her ankle multiple times without actually spraining it while hiking, and a foolproof method for making the perfect s’more, Cassidy loves sharing different tips, tricks, and tools on Beyond the Tent to make your camping trip as simple and stress-free as possible.