Safety First: What PPE do you guys use with car vacuums?

Hey folks, just finished a job cleaning out a contractor's work truck and it got me thinking. I always wear my usual safety glasses and gloves when using my shop vac in the garage, but with car vacuums, especially those compact ones with strong suction, do you bother with PPE? I've had debris fly back at me more than once. What's your routine?

Great topic Felix! As a loyal DeWalt user, I swear by their cordless car vac - but safety is non-negotiable. I ALWAYS wear my DeWalt safety glasses (clear ones for low light) and a basic dust mask if I'm dealing with super fine dust or allergens. Gloves too, not just for grip but to avoid cuts from hidden sharp objects in the car. Trust me, a stray piece of plastic trim can slice you up!

Precision matters here, even in cleaning. I use a Milwaukee M18 vac for my truck after hauling mulch and tools. Minimum: ANSI-rated safety glasses (debris projection is real), and a N95 mask if it's dusty. Also, ear protection if running it a while - some of these vacuums whine at high frequencies that'll fatigue you. And check the filter often; a clogged one makes the motor work harder and heat up.

Good points both! Larry, I hadn't thought about ear pro - my Rigid vac is pretty loud on max. Carl, the glove tip is smart; I once found a broken razor blade under a seat... yikes. Maybe I'll add a lightweight respirator to my kit for those really nasty jobs. Anyone use face shields or is that overkill?

Face shield might be overkill unless you're doing heavy mold remediation or something extreme. Stick to the basics: glasses, mask, gloves. And Felix, since you're a pro, consider a vac with a HEPA filter if you do client cars regularly - protects you AND them. DeWalt's got one that's a beast for allergens. Stay safe out there!