10 Ingenious DIY Vacuum Cleaners With Good Suction

May 25, 2023

Some vacuum cleaners really suck, which is good! You don't even have to buy one when you can build one of your own DIY design. Here are ten ideas.

A good vacuum cleaner will keep your expensive Persian rugs debris-free, your floors spick and span, and your house will have less fur if you've got pets. However, the vacuum cleaner will be of no help if it lacks good suction. A vacuum's suction power dictates how effectively it cleans up dust, fur, and other dirt and messes from your home's surfaces.

If, after scouring the market, you still can't find one with proper suction or the features you want, save yourself the hassle and build one. For inspiration, we’ve compiled ten ingenious DIY vacuum cleaners with good suction.

Sure, taking down structures with a gigantic hammer during a DIY renovation is fun, stress-relieving, and sort of makes you feel like the stressed-out main character in most movies. But the cleanup part? Not so appealing! If you DIY a lot, build this vacuum cleaner on steroids to ease cleanups after DIY renovation projects or woodworking. It's based on a NOVA FM-300S5 dust collector for maximum suction power. Check out more details on building this project in the Instructables guide.

If you’ve always wanted a Roomba but always go back to your regular vacuum cleaner when you think of the price tag, this DIY robot vacuum floor cleaner is for you. Based around a handheld vacuum, it's controlled by an Arduino Pro Mini microcontroller with ultrasonic sensors to detect and avoid obstacles.

The best part? You do not need a technical degree to build one because everything is well-elaborated in the Circuit Digest guide. While you’re at it, check out some more ideas for easy DIY projects that can make using an electric motor.

Kids are great, but they will turn your house into a pile of chaos within minutes. And it's OK because that's how they learn and grow. However, it's essential to instill a sense of responsibility in them earlier. For instance, instead of cleaning up after little Johnny or Jenny every time they spill their drink, build this kid-sized vacuum cleaner and have them clean up themselves. You’ll undoubtedly see them spill less afterward.

See the Instructables tutorial for detailed instructions for completing this project. And for some more inspiration to keep your kids busy, check out these awesome DIY projects to beat the weekend boredom you can try with them.

Did you know there are up to 3,000 bacteria per square inch on an average computer keyboard and 1,600 on a mouse? Your smartphone is even worse. It harbors up to 25,127 bacteria on every square inch! For regularly used devices, you can easily keep their surfaces clean by getting a mini vacuum cleaner.

There are plenty in the market, but building one is more fulfilling, and this Instructables project is easy to create. It's small and requires easy-to-find materials like a syringe, motor, connector, and an on/off switch.

If you don't like the sight of dust or dirt around you, this pocket-sized vacuum cleaner made on Instructables will be a game changer. It's compact enough to slip in your pocket and aesthetically pleasing thanks to the black jute upholstery used to cover it (but you can use any color or fabric you prefer).

Regarding actual features, it has built-in nozzle storage, a small brush for simple dust removal, and a micro-USB port for easy charging. This mini vacuum cleaner also has a switch for swapping between the blower and suction functions, and you can even power it directly from a DC adapter. For a vacuum cleaner its size, it is incredibly functional.

Need a quick or temporary vacuum cleaner for your keyboard or a vacuum cleaner project you can do with your little one(s)? Check out this easy-to-make mini cleaner made from household materials including a plastic bottle, drinking straw, and cardboard. A tactile switch is wired to a micro motor, as used in a CD/DVD player. Check out the video to see how to build this fun project.

A regular vacuum cleaner makes life easy, but a cyclonic one makes it even easier. This type of vacuum features a cyclone filter that uses centrifugal force to separate larger debris from finer dirt, unlike standard vac filters. The result? You need to empty it less often and you get consistent suction power, meaning an even cleaner space every time you vacuum.

Now picture a bagless cyclone vacuum! That's what following this Instructables tutorial lets you build. Instead of a bag, dust is channeled into an upcycled plastic container, making it incredibly easy to empty.

Commercial vacuum cleaners boast excellent features, but ultimately, they all do the same job: suck up dust, fur, and other debris to keep your space clean. If that's all you need from a vacuum cleaner and not any other extra features such as a blower, skip the costs of a commercial one and try building this incredibly simple vac, as shown in the detailed Instructables guide.

It's made from two bottles and put together using common materials and supplies like a glue gun, Fevicol adhesive, thread, wires, and a tin sheet. It uses a washing machine pipe for the hose, but if you’ve got a better alternative, feel free to use it.

Tired of buying one too many vacuum cleaners because they keep breaking down? Convert the last broken-down vacuum you have into this adaptive vacuum cleaner. It has a wooden enclosure to house the different components and can run on any motor and hose.

So, if you still have the hose from your first vac and a motor from a recently damaged one, you only need to build the wooden enclosure, 3D print a few components, and you are good to go. Check out the Instructables guide to build this vac. If you fancy doing some more upcycling, check out our guide to quick-fix and continue using common household devices.

Don't have a vacuum cleaner, but you’ve got an old hairdryer in your E-junk box? Convert it into a functional vacuum cleaner. A hairdryer already has a motor to blow hot air, so you won't need to find one for this project. The rest of the parts are easy to put together, and the Instructables guide elaborates on every step.

This cleaner has surprisingly great suction and can vacuum dust and any tiny debris, from tiny wires to pads. You may modify it with a powerful motor to amp up its performance.

For good reason, a vacuum cleaner is inarguably one of the most heavily used household appliances. It comes with a hose that makes hard-to-reach places like behind couches incredibly easy to clean. Simply put, it significantly eases cleaning and doesn't require much maintenance. Have fun recreating any of the ingenious DIY vacs above.

Alan Blake holds a degree in microbiology and biotechnology. When he is not in the lab or traveling, you will find him tinkering with electronics or recycling/reusing stuff that would end up in landfills. He currently works as a DIY writer for MakeUseOf covering Arduino, reusing projects, how-tos, and a host of other exciting topics.