Ideal for quick pick-ups on hard surfaces, the compact and lightweight Aeroslim with its combo crevice tool and soft brush accessory is great for taking care of crumbs on your laptop, in your car, or in between the sofa cushions. The storage stand with its built-in cap holds the vacuum upright, and holds the accessory tool too, so it’s always where you need it. It has a washable filter, and charges via a USB port.

The nubby rubber nozzle of this well-priced little (less than 4-pound) vacuum was made for those annoying pet hairs. It flexes and contours around chair arms and stair treads to get every last piece. For dry spills on bare floors (like kitty litter), remove the rubber tip and extend the wide, built-in crevice tool for quick pick-up. Even though it's not cordless, the power cord is 16-feet long for great reach.

With Black+Decker’s motorized mini brush attachment, there’s nowhere pet hair can hide. An extra-long pullout crevice tool and the extra-large bottom-emptying dust bin make cleaning up after pets even easier. 

No surprise, the Black+Decker aced our pet-hair-pickup test and did well with other messes too – even without using the boost power setting – although some sand scattered on hard flooring. The filter is washable, and we like that the vacuum stands upright on end for charging or storage. Using the standard setting, it ran for 32 minutes on a charge.

Don’t let the Eufy’s slim shape fool you. About the size of a wine bottle (but lightweight, at just over one pound), this sleek handheld vacuum is full-featured. It includes a crevice/brush tool, a washable filter and a cap that lets it stand upright for storage or charging – standing on a bookshelf, you’d never know it was a vacuum. 

Small but mighty, the Eufy rivaled bigger models for cleaning ability. A soft grip makes it comfortable to hold. It runs quietly for up to 13 minutes, and lights alert you when the battery needs charging.

The RIDGID might have been designed for a workshop or a garage, but it’s right at home inside the house. This powerful champ zapped messes and pet hair nearly as well as ones with rotating brushes. It includes a 22 inch extension tube, crevice tool and floor nozzle, but not a battery and charger, which you need to purchase separately. The removable battery is interchangeable with other RIDGID tools – it charges exceptionally quickly, and larger capacity batteries give the vacuum an even longer run time. We like the easy-grip handle, the washable filter, and the extra-large twist-off dust cup is a cinch to empty. 

The Hoover ONEPWR is a little powerhouse, while the onboard crevice tool makes it easy to clean hard-to-reach places. It easily nabs dirt and debris, and during our tests even pet hair was not a problem. We love how easy it is to empty the dust cup and remove the filter to clean. 

A very handy feature, if you already have other ONEPWR System cleaning products, is the removable rechargeable battery. It's compatible across devices, so if the battery runs out on your hand vacuum, you can borrow the battery from, say, your ONEPWR carpet cleaner. Or you can purchase a spare battery to keep charged and ready for a longer cleaning session

The Shark WANDVAC is compact and super lightweight, and ideal for those quick clean-up jobs. The accessory bank attaches to the charging dock, keeping the duster crevice tool and multi-surface pet tool right where you need them. It performed well in our tests, and was especially good at picking up pet hair with the multi-surface pet tool, although much of the fluff was caught up on the tool. We like its washable filter, and that it recharges faster than other slimline handheld vacuums

Although it can easily handle dry pickup, the corded MR-50 is a steamer that excels at wet pick-up, especially pet messes, eliminating the need for chemical cleaners. It comes with a squeegee and nylon brush attachments, and a spare washable filter. Little wheels by the nozzle help you perfectly position the vacuum to suction. Then, flip the switch and steam the area, using dry or wet steam. During our tests, no stains or odor remained. We loved how quiet and simple the whole process was, and also how easy it was to empty and clean the machine afterwards.

This lightweight and inexpensive vacuum plugs into any 12V outlet and has a 10 foot power cord. It performed surprisingly well in our tests – it easily picked up dirt and debris as well as pet hair from vehicle carpeting and seats. It comes with a crevice tool and brush tool, as well as a carrying bag to keep the vacuum and accessories neatly stored together in your trunk or garage.

More at home in your workshop, the cordless DEWALT is ideal for craft and DIY projects, and even wet spills. Its powerful suction and extra-large tank lets you clean up big messes, and it’s easy to empty and clean too. The attached extendable hose gives an extra two and a half foot reach to get into awkward nooks and crannies, and we love that it has a HEPA filter. This kit includes a charger and removable battery, which is interchangeable with batteries in other DeWalt tools.

Designed for vacuuming upholstery and mattresses, the corded compact IRIS has a very powerful suction and mechanism to shake loose and remove dust, dust mites, and other allergens. Its special sensor and colored lighting system lets you know if the surface is completely clean, and its ergonomic handle and hinged body make it easy to use. During our tests, it performed poorly trying to pick up debris from a hard floor, although it picked up pet hair from carpet and crumbs from a fabric covered chair with ease.