A handheld vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction inlet; a main body and a handle defined by a portion of the main body; a motor disposed within the main body operating a suction source; and a filter coupled to the main body, the filter configured to separate debris from a flow of fluid drawn through the suction inlet, the filter including a housing forming a first volume; a filter media forming a second inner volume, the filter media coupled to the housing such that the first and second inner volumes together at least partially define a collection container configured to store debris separated by the filter media from the flow of fluid; and an inlet opening that extends through the housing to provide fluid communication into the collection container such that the flow of fluid with the debris can flow into the collection container and a relatively clean flow of fluid exits through the filter media, characterized in that the handheld vacuum cleaner further comprises: an outer housing surrounding the filter, the outer housing including tabs; wherein the outer housing is removable from the main body by pulling on the outer housing and the filter is removed from the main body with the outer housing, wherein the tabs contact the housing of the filter to pull the filter with the outer housing from the main body such that the filter is releasable from the main body without a user touching the filter. a suction inlet; a main body and a handle defined by a portion of the main body; a motor disposed within the main body operating a suction source; and a filter coupled to the main body, the filter configured to separate debris from a flow of fluid drawn through the suction inlet, the filter including a housing forming a first volume; a filter media forming a second inner volume, the filter media coupled to the housing such that the first and second inner volumes together at least partially define a collection container configured to store debris separated by the filter media from the flow of fluid; and an inlet opening that extends through the housing to provide fluid communication into the collection container such that the flow of fluid with the debris can flow into the collection container and a relatively clean flow of fluid exits through the filter media, characterized in that the handheld vacuum cleaner further comprises: an outer housing surrounding the filter, the outer housing including tabs; wherein the outer housing is removable from the main body by pulling on the outer housing and the filter is removed from the main body with the outer housing, wherein the tabs contact the housing of the filter to pull the filter with the outer housing from the main body such that the filter is releasable from the main body without a user touching the filter. a housing forming a first volume; a filter media forming a second inner volume, the filter media coupled to the housing such that the first and second inner volumes together at least partially define a collection container configured to store debris separated by the filter media from the flow of fluid; and an inlet opening that extends through the housing to provide fluid communication into the collection container such that the flow of fluid with the debris can flow into the collection container and a relatively clean flow of fluid exits through the filter media, characterized in that the handheld vacuum cleaner further comprises: an outer housing surrounding the filter, the outer housing including tabs; wherein the outer housing is removable from the main body by pulling on the outer housing and the filter is removed from the main body with the outer housing, wherein the tabs contact the housing of the filter to pull the filter with the outer housing from the main body such that the filter is releasable from the main body without a user touching the filter. an outer housing surrounding the filter, the outer housing including tabs; wherein the outer housing is removable from the main body by pulling on the outer housing and the filter is removed from the main body with the outer housing, wherein the tabs contact the housing of the filter to pull the filter with the outer housing from the main body such that the filter is releasable from the main body without a user touching the filter.