Black & Decker POWERSERIES Extreme Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

First impressions and setup

I like vacuums that get out of my way, not ones that ask me to work around them. The PowerSeries Extreme is mostly in that first camp. Out of the box, the setup is straightforward: click the wand into the floorhead, slide on the handheld unit, and you’re ready to go. The included wall-mountable charging base is simple and sturdy. I clocked a full charge from empty at just under five hours on the included charger, which is on the longer side, but the removable 20V MAX battery softens the blow because you can swap packs if you own other Black+Decker 20V tools.

At roughly ten and a half pounds, this isn’t the lightest stick vac, but the weight distribution is decent for floor work. It also stands on its own without leaning on a wall—something many stick vacs can’t do—and I ended up appreciating that more than I expected when pausing to move chairs or pick up toys.

Design and ergonomics

The layout is practical. The front-facing dustbin dumps forward with a single button press, and the bin’s volume is generous for a stick vac. I didn’t have to empty it as often as I do with slimmer competitors. The trade-off is that the front bin adds some bulk, so while the head will lay fairly flat, it won’t snake far under ultra-low couches.

Controls are simple: three speeds, with the ability to run the brush bar off for hard floors. There’s a bright LED on the floorhead that actually helps; it lights up dust and pet hair lines along baseboards that would otherwise disappear into flooring patterns. The included crevice tool (with a flip-out dusting brush) and upholstery tool clip onto the wand for quick access.

In handheld mode, it’s capable but a bit heavy for extended overhead work. Cleaning ceiling cobwebs or curtain rods will test your forearms after a few minutes. On the flip side, the self-standing design and quick conversion make it easy to bounce between floor and above-floor tasks.

Floor performance: hard floors

On sealed hardwood and vinyl, I had the best results using low or medium speed with the brush bar off for fine dust and light debris. The V-shaped bristle pattern does a good job channeling dust toward the intake, and the LED helps you see what’s left. For heavier crumbs and larger bits (think dry cereal), it can “snowplow” if you charge straight in; a slower approach or lifting the head slightly avoids pushing debris ahead of the nozzle.

Edge cleaning is adequate but not class-leading. Along baseboards and in corners, I often needed a quick pass with the crevice tool to get everything up. If your home is mostly hard surfaces with lots of grit that settles into baseboard lines, plan on using the crevice tool as part of your normal routine.

Floor performance: rugs and carpet

This is where the PowerSeries Extreme feels more at home. On low- to medium-pile rugs, medium speed provided a noticeable lift without bogging down, and the anti-tangle brush bar did what it promised—after multiple runs on pet fur, I didn’t have to cut hair from the roller. For thicker pile, I bumped it to high, which increased pickup but also made the push heavier and drained the battery faster. It still isn’t a deep-clean replacement for a corded upright, but for everyday maintenance, it pulls up sand, crumbs, and hair reliably.

Battery and runtime

Black+Decker quotes up to 55 minutes, and that lines up only in a very specific case: low speed on hard floors with the brush bar off. My typical mixed-floor sessions were more realistic:

• Low, brush off (hard floors): 45–50 minutes
• Medium, brush on (rugs): 18–20 minutes
• High, brush on: 9–11 minutes

The three-speed control is useful. I’d start on low for hard floors and bump to medium for area rugs. High is best reserved for short bursts on stubborn spots. If you regularly clean a larger space or prefer to stay on high, a second 20V battery is a smart buy. Charging took about five hours from empty on the included base.

Filtration and maintenance

The front bin empties cleanly into the trash with one press, though long pet hair can cling to the internal shroud and sometimes needs a shake or a quick finger pull to clear. The washable filter and pre-filter are easy to reach, and the twist-to-clean mechanism helps knock off fine dust between washes. That said, if your messes include a lot of pet hair and dander, I recommend keeping a spare filter set on hand—swapping in a dry filter maintains suction and lets the washed one air-dry fully.

Cyclonic separation is decent for a vacuum at this price, but not premium-level. Fine dust builds on the filter sooner than on high-end cyclones, which means suction can taper if you go too long between cleanings. A quick filter “twist clean” every couple of uses and a rinse-and-dry every 1–2 weeks (depending on soil level) kept performance steady for me.

Noise and usability

Noise is moderate and a touch lower-pitched than some stick vacs, which I appreciated during early-morning cleans. The floorhead tracks predictably, and the swivel is tight enough for navigating chair legs without feeling floppy. The self-standing feature is genuinely convenient in daily use; being able to stop it anywhere and step away feels small until you go back to a vac that flops to the floor.

Accessories and versatility

The crevice tool with flip-out brush is versatile; it’s not a substitute for a motorized mini brush, but it gets vents, window sills, and car trim handled. The upholstery tool is fine for sofas and mattresses, especially for lint and surface hair. If you deal with embedded pet hair in upholstery, you’ll wish for a powered mini brush, which isn’t part of the basic bundle.

As a handheld, the unit shines on stairs because the weight sits in your hand and the footprint is compact. For high shelves and ceiling work, the overall mass and front bin make it more fatiguing than featherweight sticks.

Build quality and warranty

The plastics are solid enough for a daily driver, with an emphasis on practicality over polish. Nothing felt fragile during wand clicks or bin removals, and the hinge tolerances are acceptable. It’s not boutique, but it’s not flimsy. The two-year limited warranty is competitive for this class.

What could be better

• Edge cleaning: It’s serviceable but not a standout; plan on using the crevice tool along baseboards.
• Large debris on hard floors: It can push or scatter if you approach fast. Slow passes or lifting the head solves most of it.
• Weight overhead: Great on floors, less so above shoulder height.
• Charge time: About five hours is long; the removable battery mitigates this if you have spares.
• Accessory range: No motorized mini brush in the base kit limits upholstery deep cleaning.

Who it’s for

• Mixed-floor homes that need a reliable daily cleaner for dust, crumbs, and pet hair.
• Households already invested in Black+Decker 20V batteries who value swappable power and extended runtime.
• Anyone who wants a self-standing stick vac for quick pickups without wall juggling.

Who should look elsewhere:

• Homes that are entirely hard flooring with heavy debris along baseboards and corners; you’ll spend more time on edge passes.
• Users who prioritize ultra-light above-floor work, like frequent high cobweb cleanups.
• Those needing corded-level deep cleans in thick carpet.

Recommendation

I recommend the PowerSeries Extreme for mixed-floor maintenance, especially if you value a self-standing design, want a removable battery, and already own other Black+Decker 20V packs. It’s efficient on rugs, picks up everyday hard-floor messes well with the right settings, and the anti-tangle brush bar genuinely reduces hair wrap. You’ll need to accept average edge performance, longer charge times, and a bit of heft in handheld use. If your priorities are quick daily cleanups, easy storage, and platform battery flexibility, it’s a strong, budget-friendly choice. If precision hard-floor edge cleaning or long high-power runtimes are top of your list, consider a model with better edge suction or plan on a second battery to cover larger sessions.