Choose cleanup equipment from the debris and setup.

Write down what you need to collect and where the cleanup happens. Separate ordinary dry debris, permitted liquid pickup and dust collection connected to another tool. Resolve the intended material and operation in the vacuum manual before looking at tank size or battery platform. This gives you a shortlist based on supported use rather than assuming every portable vacuum does the same job.

The DEWALT examples make the first distinction visible. DCV501HB is a dry-only hand vacuum; DCV580H is a cordless wet/dry vacuum. Both catalog records sit in the 20V MAX family, but that shared power context does not make their permitted cleanup jobs equivalent. DCV580H also remains a distinct model from vacuums with another power configuration; check the full model number rather than transferring a feature from a similar title.

Read the included filter list separately from compatible accessories. Bosch GAS18V-3N supplies its VF320H washable HEPA filter. RYOBI PCL733B supplies a cartridge filter and lists optional HEPA and foam filters. Do not turn an optional filter into an included one. Follow the exact instructions for changing the setup between materials; a HEPA label by itself does not establish that every hazardous material or regulatory dust-control task is supported.

Check the physical setup around the vacuum. Compare the supplied hose, nozzles and extension pieces with the surfaces or connections you need to reach. A tool dust port may require an additional supported adapter. Also distinguish storage compatibility from the box contents: PCL733B is LINK wall compatible, but the wall rails are separate. A compatible fitting or storage name does not prove the additional item is supplied.

Use the tank specification as one part of the comparison, then check the actual fill and pickup limits in the manual. Consider the available battery and charger, where the vacuum will be carried, and what must be emptied or cleaned afterward. Save the candidate that supports the operation, plus any needed accessories. Tool Drip does not provide tested suction rankings, measured runtime or a dust-compliance certification.