Abstract: A surface-mounted apparatus for holding an elongated hand-held instrument, such as a vacuum wand, when not in use, the instrument having a flexible tube-like extension attached to the end inserted in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising an elongated cylindrical shell affixed to a mounting plate, the cylindrical shell having a smoothly tapered longitudinal slot extending from an upper end to near the lower end of the shell, the slot of width sufficient to allow unconstrained passage of the tube-like extension, and the shell of inner diameter sufficient to easily accommodate insertion of the end to be inserted into the shell provided the instrument is rotated to align the extension to pass through the slot during insertion, the mounting plate used to attach the apparatus to a surface in an orientation favorable to the use of the force of gravity to cradle the instrument in the shell against random dislodging forces.