HOTO BlowVac Handheld Vacuum

One of the delightful things about having children is the close and intimate bonding you get to experience with your cleaning products. I’m not sure why we even have plates when 90% of what they are eating is guaranteed to end up on the floor. The HOTO BlowVac Handheld Vacuum is one of those gadgets that once you start using it you really do wonder how you survived without it. Combining a handheld vacuum with a powerful air blower, it’s equally happy cleaning crumbs from your keyboard as it is blasting dust from awkward corners.

With the main body weighing a little over 2lb (minus attachments), the BlowVac is light enough to use comfortably with one hand while still feeling reassuringly well built. Its brushless motor spins at up to 130,000rpm, generating a maximum suction power of 23kPa alongside 70m/s of strong air blowing function. Whether you’re tackling biscuit debris in the car or pet hair on upholstery, it makes short work of everyday mess.

The five integrated 2,500mAh lithium-ion batteries delivers up to 45 minutes of runtime on the eco mode, while USB C charging only takes 1.5hours before it’s ready to go again. A washable HEPA filter captures fine dust particles, helping prevent them from being blown straight back into the room, while the transparent dust container is simple to empty without covering yourself in yesterday’s crumbs.

HOTO includes a useful collection of accessories, including narrow crevice nozzles, brush attachments and blower tips, allowing the device to adapt to everything from camera equipment and keyboards to car interiors and inflatable toys. The compact body also slips neatly into a drawer or glovebox when not in use.

Its only real weakness is something all handheld vacuums suffer from, endurance. Maximum suction understandably shortens battery life, and while 25kPa is impressive for a cordless handheld cleaner, it won’t replace a full-sized vacuum for larger cleaning jobs. The relatively small dust container also needs emptying regularly if you’re tackling anything more ambitious than under the dinner table or vehicle.

For quick clean ups (which is all the time with small children) and awkward spaces, though, the HOTO BlowVac is a genuinely useful little multitasker. If things get really messy it can be used to quickly to inflate the paddling pool so you can hose them down. Stylish, versatile and surprisingly capable, it’s proof that sometimes the best cleaning gadgets are the ones you didn’t realise you needed. RRP £102

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