Which is better for cleaning a car interior?

The Armor All. At 7 lbs with a 1-1/4 in hose, it reaches into footwells and seat gaps, and 2.5 gallons is enough for one car. The Ridgid works but its 23 lb canister and wide hose are awkward inside a cabin.

Which handles a flooded basement?

The Ridgid. A 16-gallon drum and 5.0 peak HP move far more water per pass than a 2.5-gallon, 2 peak HP unit that needs constant emptying.

Is the Ridgid worth about $55 more than the Armor All?

If you have large wet or dry messes, yes: $69.88 at Home Depot as of November 7, 2026 buys six times the capacity and much stronger suction. If you only clean cars and small spills, the $15.23 Armor All covers it.

Which is easier to store?

The Armor All. It weighs 7 lbs and wall-mounts. The Ridgid is 23.15 lbs and about 27.7 in tall, so it needs floor space.

Do both blow air as well as vacuum?

Yes. Both convert to a blower. The Ridgid's stronger motor moves more air for decks and walkways; the Armor All is fine for light debris.

Which has better filtration for fine dust?

The Ridgid, which uses paper and cartridge filters suited to drywall and concrete dust. The Armor All uses cloth and foam filters aimed at general garage and car cleanup.

Ridgid HD1640 16 Gal. Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum vs Armor All 2.5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum

Buy the Ridgid HD1640 for big jobs: flooded basements, sawdust in a shop, leaves on a deck. Buy the Armor All 2.5 gallon for car interiors, small garage spills and quick pickups where a 23 lb canister is in the way. The Ridgid is $69.88 at Home Depot as of November 7, 2026; the Armor All is $15.23 at supercomputersstore.org as of the same date. The price gap is real but so is the capacity gap: 16 gallons and 5 peak HP against 2.5 gallons and 2 peak HP.

Today the Armor All 2.5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum costs $54.65 less at its best price.

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