The ArmorAll AA255 is specifically designed to clean the interior of your car. Unlike many of the best shop vacuums, it has no wheels, and the tank has a capacity of only 2.5 gallons. It handles both wet and dry pickup and comes with an assortment of attachments despite its small size. For large messes, though, you'll have trouble cleaning up everything with this vacuum.
ArmorAll AA255: Performance
As with all the shop vacuums we reviewed, I tested the ArmorAll with a mix of screws and mulch for dry pickup. With a smaller shop vac designed for car use, you can't expect the performance of large and expensive shop vacuums, so I wasn't surprised that this wasn't the most powerful vacuum we tested. When it came to picking up large debris, it left behind large pieces and only cleaned just over half of the mulch in one pass. For wet suction, its low capacity limited it. Despite having a 2.5-gallon tank, it had trouble with 2 gallons. It did suck up the water quickly, but it left some behind. If you need greater cleaning power, the Ridgid WD1450 might be a better choice.
This is a portable shop vacuum that doesn't have wheels. You'll need to carry it around using the plastic handle on top. It's light at a little over 8 pounds, but a shoulder strap would have made it easier to operate. It does have a 10-foot power cord and a 6-foot hose, meaning it has a good length for cleaning your entire car.
It somewhat makes up for its lack of capacity with a good mix of attachments. The shop vacuum comes with a floor nozzle, crevice tool, concentration tool, and car nozzle, which means it can clean out every area of your vehicle. It also has a nice nozzle for using the blower function. It even has an on-board hose and accessory storage. Basically, everything you need to reach any corner of your car is completely covered. The one thing we'd note is that it doesn't have an extension wand, though, so don't expect it to reach high places. The lack of an extension wand may make it a pain to use on carpets or floors, but its cord is 10 feet long, which will work for many homes.
Should you buy the ArmorAll AA255?
The ArmorAll AA255 is a good shop vac if your main goal is cleaning your car. It's made to fit comfortably in a trunk and to be easy to carry around. It isn't a good wet-dry vacuum for bigger messes or even to use in a shop. It doesn't have the power for large debris, has trouble with wet suction, and isn't designed for cleaning simple floors.
