The rise of battery-powered vacuum cleaners in tandem with corded vacuum cleaners is something to be commended, it opened up vacuuming to previously unreachable places and has driven a quest to make lighter, more portable machines, all good news for car interior cleaning. However, in our professional opinion, the very best vacuum cleaners remain tethered to a source of electricity by a (preferably) long power cord.
Despite a general love affair with cordless tools and tech, corded machines and appliances have yet to be booted unceremoniously into the past. This is because corded usually remains superior to cordless in terms of power, performance, versatility (including wet and dry vacs) and certainly price.
The best corded vacuum cleaners for car cleaning at a glance:
Editor’s choice: Numatic Henry – Buy now from Argos
Best vacuum for pets: Miele Complete – Buy now from Currys
Best wet and dry vacuum: Karcher WD 2 Plus – Buy now from AmazonUK
If you’re after the raw cleaning power of a corded vacuum cleaner, we have you covered with our top picks perfect for cleaning the car. These vacuums all feature the right types of attachments, long hoses and the power output to vanquish the punishment meeted out by the kids and even the pets, and to get your fabrics looking like new. Best of all, these vacuums will also seamlessly transition to cleaning around the home too, potentially saving you cash and ensuring you have immaculate floors.
The best corded vacuum cleaners
Best corded vacuum cleaner
On sale
Rrp: £159.99
Rrp: £159.99
The suction offered by the 620W motor may not be on par with some of the more industrial units on sale, but it’ll still deliver excellent suction, ensuring carpets, seats and floors are thoroughly cleaned of debris. Add in the raft of included attachments, clever cable storage and dust-free emptying and the Henry only gets better and better. The final and most impressive aspect of the vacuum is the durability, Henrys are built to last and offer the type of dependability that’s sadly missing from many modern appliances.
Pros
- Dependable and rugged build
- Packed with attachments
Cons
- The body will get snagged as you manoeuvre the vacuum
| Weight: | 7.5kg |
| Dimensions: | 320 x 340 x 345mm |
| Bin capacity: | Six litres |
| Operating radius: | 25.7 metres |
| Attachments: | Floor tool, crevice tool, soft dusting brush, upholstery nozzle, slide-on brush for upholstery tool |
Best corded vacuum cleaner for pets
SAVE £90
With six power settings to choose from, the Miele is a versatile option, further shown by the generous inclusion of a floor tool, crevice tool, dusting brush and upholstery tool, the latter options neatly stored under a panel in the vacuum’s body. It’s a more refined option for vacuuming, but it’s not the most rough-and-tumble option around, you’ll want to remove any larger pebbles and debris before diving into a car interior with the C3.
Pros
- Beautifully made
- Very effective on pet hair
Cons
- Requires a dust bag
| Weight: | 4.7kg |
| Dimensions: | 496 x 496 x 227mm |
| Bag capacity: | 4.5L |
| Power: | 890W |
| Hose length: | 1.8m |
| Cord length: | 8.5m |
| Attachments: | Floor tool, crevice tool, dusting brush, upholstery tool |
Best corded wet and dry vacuum cleaner
On sale
Rrp: £67.99
Rrp: £67.99
One of the major plus points of the WD 2 Plus is the single-piece cartridge filter which makes wet and dry vacuuming totally seamless. The Plus also has a blower function, a rotary knob rather than a switch, a carry handle, and accessory storage. The main issue you’ll find is that the powerful motor and industrial quality translate into something that’s louder and less refined than the other options on this list.
Pros
- Works for wet and dry suction
- Powerful suction
Cons
- It’s quite industrial
| Weight: | 4.4kg |
| Dimensions: | 349 x 328 x 378mm |
| Bin capacity: | 12L |
| Power: | 1000W |
| Hose length: | 1.8m |
| Cord length: | 4m |
| Warranty: | 24 months |
| Attachments: | Floor tool, crevice tool |
Best bagless corded vacuum
Rrp: £149.99
Rrp: £149.99
It’s a lightweight option but still packs a hefty 750W motor for the best suction power. This is also aided by a four-stage filtration system to keep airflow working at its best. Beyond that, it also makes use of a one-button bin-emptying mechanism and features large wheels to keep everything stable while your clean.
Pros
- Bagless for easy maintenance
- Quality construction
Cons
- Short operating radius
| Weight: | 4.5kg |
| Dimensions: | 365 x 480 x 400 mm |
| Bin capacity: | 1.8 litres |
| Power: | 750W |
| Operating radius: | 7 metres |
| Attachments: | Floor attachment, combination crevice nozzle/brush, upholstery nozzle |
Best budget corded vacuum cleaner
Rrp: £99.99
Rrp: £99.99
Pros
- Decently powerful motor
- Effective on pet hair
Cons
- Shorter extension cord
| Weight: | 4.1kg |
| Dimensions: | 162 x 113 x 106mm |
| Bin capacity: | Two litres |
| Power: | 700W |
| Operating radius: | 7.5 metres |
| Attachments: | Floor tool, dusting brush, pet hair nozzle |
What you need to know about corded vacuum cleaners
What is a corded vacuum cleaner?
It’s a vacuum cleaner you plug into a mains socket to work.
Why should I choose a corded vacuum cleaner?
While there may be limited portability with these vacuum cleaners, the suction power offered by the socket-powered motor will be far superior to any battery-operated example. There’ll be no worry about battery runtimes either here.
Any of our favourite corded vacuum cleaners will also have a bigger dust capacity than any cordless example, meaning you won’t be forever emptying the vacuum or struggling with dust backing up. For deep cleaning your home and car, this is the most obvious choice.
The best vacuum brands for corded vacuum cleaners
Numatic’s iconic range of smiley-faced vacuums has garnered a reputation for suction power and dependability. If you can stomach the premium price, you’ll be buying something that should last for years without any trouble. The same can be said for Miele’s range of cylinder vacuum cleaners.
On the more affordable end of the market, Bosch and Vax will both offer reliable corded vacuum cleaners that may scrimp on a few features but will still be excellent performers.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers and CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. With an MA in Automotive Journalism, when he’s not testing buckets he can be found looking at old Porsches.
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