Latest sucker star gets the crumbs up!

12th July 2008

Household vacuum cleaners are great for your living room carpet – but they’re often too bulky to be used in the car.

Black & Decker’s new Auto Vac is designed to make the job easy. Its thin, extendable nozzle is ideal for cleaning between the seat and transmission tunnel.

The pivoting head remained locked in position even when we used the vacuum roughly, and the kit was comfortable to handle – although a rubber grip would have been welcome. Suction was impressive: it picked up crumbs and grit at the first attempt. A range of easy-to-use attachments fitted neatly into the carry bag. These were well shaped and had stiff bristles to agitate the carpet. The cleaner runs off the 12V socket, and the power cord reached to the back of our test cars. But in one, the plug came out when the flex was pulled. To empty the unit you have to take the whole thing to the bin, which is a pain. Still, it’s a clever kit with a good range of accessories, and makes reviving your cabin easy.