14 Smart Ways to Use a Handheld Vacuum (Including Martha's Favorite Tricks)

Let's hear it for the handheld vacuum: It's compact, nimble, ultra-lightweight—and definitely not just for couch crumbs. As far as cleaning tools go, it's definitely one of the most multifunctional in your arsenal. And, if you don't already own one, that versatility (and perhaps this list of some of its most clever uses) may be just what convinces you to make the investment. 

Here, the smart, slightly unexpected ways to put a handheld vacuum to work all around your home.

Car Interiors

Where a traditional corded vacuum cannot reach, a handheld model makes quick work of debris in cup holders, along the dashboard, and auto upholstery. Use a crevice attachment to reach between seats for an easy way to clean without the need for a full detailing.

“One of my favorite spring rituals is washing all the windows in my home,” Martha says in The Martha Manual: How to Do Almost Everything. “First, use a soft-bristled brush to remove dust, dirt, and cobwebs from outside, being sure to hit hinges, sills, and mullions. Then, go over inside with a vacuum brush attachment.”

Window Sills and Door Tracks

A handheld vacuum helps you reach into the corners and grooves of window sills and door tracks. Vacuuming these areas is a must for thorough spring cleaning, Martha says in The Martha Manual: How to Do Almost Everything. "One of my favorite spring rituals is washing all the windows in my home," she says. "First, use a soft-bristled brush to remove dust, dirt, and cobwebs from outside, being sure to hit hinges, sills, and mullions. Then, go over inside with a vacuum brush attachment."

Workspaces

Between working lunches and paper scraps, desks and keyboards can collect an annoying amount of debris that always seems to pull your gaze during Zoom meetings or work sessions. Use a handheld vacuum to rid yourself of those dirty and disorderly visual distractions quickly, so you can get back to work on a clear surface.

Window Blinds and Treatments

"Monthly, vacuum blinds and curtains with the soft-brush attachment," Martha reminds in decorvow's Organizing. And while this would normally be a whole to-do (think: pulling out your heavy, full-sized vacuum and wrestling with both the cord and hose attachment, trying your best to reach those top slats without disassembling), it couldn't be easier with the aid of a handheld model.

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Camping and Beach Trips

Thanks to its cordless, portable design, you can charge up a handheld vacuum and take it with you into the great outdoors. (Just be sure to keep it free of moisture.) Few things cling to everything and can get everywhere like sand, so use it to give beach supplies and accessories the once-over before heading home. And during a camping trip? It can keep your tent's interior floor free of dirt and dust—for the most part, of course. 

Kitchen Counters, Cabinets, and Drawers

Crumbs, coffee grounds, grains of sugar, and flour dust are all signs of a kitchen well-lived and loved. Our only note? Instead of haphazardly brushing it into your palm or reaching for a dripping sponge, try a handheld vacuum for a far more efficient solution. 

And when doing deeper kitchen clean-outs, the tool will prove itself to be even more useful: After emptying utensil drawers, cabinets, and pantry shelves, use it to suck up the bits of food and dust left behind. 

Books and Bookshelves

"Vacuum tops and spines of books," Martha suggests in Organizing. While ideal for deep and seasonal cleanings, this is also an efficient way to give bookshelves a quick spruce-up (without removing everything on them) before company comes. The task becomes even faster and easier with a handheld vacuum with no minutes lost digging out your corded version.

Mattresses

While often overlooked, mattresses benefit from regular care to stay fresh. “Seasonally, vacuum and rotate mattresses,” Martha says in Organizing. A handheld vacuum is ideal for this task, allowing you to target seams and surfaces with ease.

Refrigerator Interior and Coils

Like your mattress (and just about everything else), you'll extend the life of your refrigerator with proper care and maintenance. This includes cleaning the appliance's condenser coils twice a year, "more frequently if you have pets," according to Stewart. As she explains in The Martha Manual, "These are typically found at the back or front bottom of the unit. Use a long-handled brush or the crevice attachment of your vacuum cleaner to remove dust and dirt." Grab your handheld to simplify the process. 

As for more frequent refrigerator clean-outs, your handy handheld can come into play, too. After clearing out the shelves and drawers and wiping up any liquid messes, use it to suck up debris.

Lampshades

Lampshades are notorious for collecting dust, but a soft brush attachment on a handheld vacuum will lift it in seconds. Plus, the suction will be gentler than that of the hose attachment on most full-size vacuums.

Cleaning Up Cat Litter

If you share your home with a cat, consider keeping a handheld vacuum in the bathroom (or wherever you happen to store the litter box). This way, you'll have it at the ready for quick daily clean-ups that'll help you prevent litter from being trailed around the space and beyond. 

The Linings of Bags and Purses

When decluttering and reorganizing purses, backpacks, and tote bags, put your handheld vacuum to work. It'll quickly clear their linings of the crumbs and other grainy debris that tend to collect there.

Stain Spot-Treatments

A vacuum can even play a role in treating stains, particularly oil-based ones when pre-treated with pantry staples like baking soda or cornstarch. "For oily stains, cover the area with baking soda and let sit until it absorbs oil, vacuum, and repeat," Martha instructs.

A handheld vacuum allows for precise removal of the powder before washing and continuing  treatment. (You can even mount the device's charging base in the laundry room for better ease of use when stains strike.)

Painted Walls and Wallpaper

You may not think of your home's walls as magnets for dust—but they certainly can be, especially those wallpapered with textured or fabric varieties. "Once a season, I clean my wallpaper with a vacuum's brush attachment on a low setting, working from the ceiling to the baseboards," Martha shares in The Martha Manual.

Grab a handheld vacuum with a brush attachment (most models will feature one) to save yourself some sweat when taking on the task.