Black & Decker POWERCOMMAND 40V MAX Cordless Sweeper

A lightweight sweeper built for hard surfaces and quick cleanups

I spent several weeks using the LSW36 around a small suburban property—patio, front walk, driveway apron, garage floor, and a deck that constantly collects crumbs of bark and windblown grit. It’s an easy tool to live with: light in the hand, quiet enough to use early without waking the block, and simple to operate with its thumb‑wheel speed control. It also has clear limits. This is a hard‑surface sweeper first and foremost, not a yard‑clearing leaf blower.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box, the sweeper is essentially ready once the 40V MAX battery is charged. The included fast charger tops off the 1.5 Ah pack in roughly 90 minutes. The pack clicks in solidly, and mine holds charge well between sessions. The overall weight—about 4.7 pounds without feeling nose‑heavy—makes one‑handed use comfortable, and the soft‑grip handle is easy to hang onto with light gloves.

The design is straightforward: a slim blow tube with a molded scraper at the tip for stuck leaves, a trigger, and a six‑position POWERCOMMAND dial to trade runtime for oomph. There’s no turbo button or fancy nozzle kit; simplicity is the point.

Performance on real tasks

On hard surfaces, the LSW36 is effective when used thoughtfully. Airspeed tops out at 120 MPH, but airflow is only 80 CFM, and that matters. Think of it as a directed broom: it moves debris that’s close to the nozzle very well, but it won’t push heavy material from a distance like a high‑CFM blower will.

What it does well:
- Dust, sand, and grit on concrete or pavers
- Grass clippings on sidewalks and driveways
- Dry leaves in a single light layer
- Cobwebs in garage corners
- Light, dry powder snow (up to about an inch) off steps, mats, and car windows

With the speed dial at 4–6, I could clear a two‑car driveway’s worth of clippings and grit in a few minutes. The narrow tube concentrates the stream; keep the tip low and sweep at a shallow angle to “peel” material forward rather than scatter it. The scraper on the nose is genuinely useful when leaves are matted down; a quick nudge with the tip breaks their grip and the airflow takes it from there.

Where it struggles:
- Piles of leaves, especially damp, matted, or deep
- Pine needles embedded in turf
- Pushing heavy debris from several feet away
- Clearing beds or lawn areas where volume, not just speed, moves material

If your fall cleanup involves corralling a yard’s worth of leaves, this isn’t the right tool for that job. You can get there eventually, but it will feel like sweeping with a whisk broom.

Runtime and charging

With a 60 Wh battery, runtimes vary notably with the dial setting and how hard you keep the trigger pinned. In mixed use on hard surfaces:
- At lower settings (1–3), I routinely saw around 25–35 minutes.
- At higher settings (5–6), expect more like 12–18 minutes.

For routine touch‑ups after mowing or a quick porch sweep, that’s plenty. For larger areas or extended sessions, one battery will feel limiting. The good news is the charger is genuinely fast at about 90 minutes, and the 40V pack’s fuel gauge makes it easy to check status. If this is your primary outdoor cleanup tool, a second battery is a smart upgrade.

Noise, comfort, and control

The low‑noise design is a real advantage. On the top settings it’s audible but not shouty; on 2–3 it’s conversational. Vibration is minimal, there’s no two‑stroke rasp, and there are no fumes—huge quality‑of‑life benefits if you’re cleaning near doors and windows. The balance is handle‑centered, so even extended use doesn’t tire the wrist.

The speed dial is the star of the controls. Rather than an on/off blower that’s either too weak or too wasteful, I could run at 2–3 to dust off the garage or porch and bump up to 5–6 only when I hit stubborn spots. That level of control is more useful in day‑to‑day chores than a single “high” mode.

Build and design details

Fit and finish are in line with a midrange homeowner tool. The housing is rigid, the tube locks in firmly, and the battery interface is crisp. The wall‑mountable charger keeps the footprint small, which matters if you’re slotting this into a crowded garage. There aren’t many parts to break, and the intake is tucked so it doesn’t suck at clothing.

Maintenance is minimal: keep the tube and intake clear, wipe down dust, and store the battery indoors. The scraper tip is thick enough that scuffing on concrete doesn’t immediately wear it down.

What the specs mean in practice

It’s easy to get hung up on “120 MPH,” but on blowers, volume moves piles and speed loosens edges. With only 80 CFM, the LSW36 is engineered to focus airflow for close‑range work on hard surfaces. That’s why it feels snappy when you’re chasing grit along a sidewalk but underwhelming if you try to herd a lawn’s worth of leaves to the curb. If your use case is mainly hard surfaces around the house, the spec sheet aligns with that experience.

Tips for getting the most from it

• Use the right angle: Keep the tube close to the surface and sweep shallowly to roll debris forward.
• Step up, don’t start at max: Run on 2–3 for most tasks and notch up to 5–6 only when needed; you’ll double your practical runtime.
• Leverage the scraper: For stuck leaves or damp corners, a quick nudge with the tip increases effectiveness more than simply cranking the dial.
• Plan for battery use: If you want to do driveway, walk, deck, and garage in one go at higher settings, a second 40V battery is worthwhile.
• Light snow only: It’s good for a dusting. Anything heavy or wet is shovel territory.

Who it’s for—and who it isn’t

The LSW36 shines for homeowners who want a quiet, no‑fuss tool for:
- Cleaning patios, decks, and porches
- Clearing clippings and dust after mowing
- Quick driveway touch‑ups
- Keeping a garage floor tidy
- Knocking off a light layer of powder snow on steps

It’s not a match if your property collects deep, wet leaf fall, if you regularly clear large areas of lawn, or if you expect gas‑like performance. In those cases, look for a higher‑CFM cordless blower with a larger battery, or stick with a corded/gas unit for heavy seasonal work.

The bottom line

The LSW36 is exactly what it presents itself to be: a lightweight, low‑noise, hard‑surface sweeper with simple controls and enough power for everyday cleanup. Its limitations are just as clear. It trades volume and long runtimes for comfort, convenience, and quiet operation.

Recommendation: I recommend this sweeper for small to mid‑size properties where the primary need is tidying hard surfaces and clearing light debris. It’s easy to use, comfortable, and genuinely pleasant compared to loud, heavy blowers. I would not recommend it as a primary leaf‑clearing tool for heavy fall cleanup or large yards; in those scenarios, you’ll want more airflow, a larger battery, or both.