Black & Decker Powered Floor Sweeper - Classic Mint

Why I reached for this sweeper

Some messes don’t warrant hauling out a full vacuum, but a broom and dustpan just push crumbs around. That’s the gap this Black & Decker sweeper aims to fill, and after several weeks of daily use on hardwood, tile, and a mix of low‑pile rugs, I’ve come to rely on it for quick resets between deeper cleans.

It’s not a vacuum and doesn’t pretend to be one; think of it as a powered carpet sweeper with a motorized brush and a built‑in dustbin. Used within that lane, it’s genuinely handy.

Setup and charging

Assembly took a few minutes with no tools. The unit arrived with a partial charge, but I performed a full charge before testing. Charging is via a simple jack‑plug wall charger. The built‑in LED gives a basic status (charging, charged), which is helpful, though it’s not a multi‑bar meter.

One note on the battery: marketing materials can be confusing about whether a battery is “included.” My unit had an internal battery and the charger in the box; I didn’t need to purchase anything extra. If you’re buying online, double‑check the listing to be sure you’re getting the charger.

Design and ergonomics

The sweeper is compact, with a low profile that lies nearly flat to slide under beds and sofas. The 360‑degree swivel head is the star here. It turns on a dime around table legs and snakes under chair rungs better than any stick vac I own. The on/off foot control is a small touch that makes a difference—you can tap it with your toe while carrying a toddler or a bag of groceries.

It stands on its own without leaning, which sounds minor until you realize how often you pause to move a stool or pick up a stray cable. Storage is flexible: stand it in a corner, hang it, or tuck it flat on a shelf.

A curious point: the listed weight varies wildly depending on where you look. In hand, it feels very light—closer to a couple of pounds than double digits. Whatever the true number, it’s easy to carry up stairs and never feels fatiguing over longer sessions.

The base rides on smooth glides rather than traditional wheels. On my prefinished oak and sealed tile, it slid cleanly without marking, but on textured slate it felt a touch “draggy.” I kept an eye on the underside and wiped the glides periodically; any trapped grit under a glide could, in theory, scuff softer finishes.

Everyday performance

On hard floors, the sweeper excels at what most of us need daily: toast crumbs, pet kibble fragments, dust bunnies along baseboards, tracked‑in dry soil, and the confetti of life (I’m looking at you, tortilla chips). It’s faster than a broom because the motorized brush actively feeds debris into the bin instead of relying on momentum.

Low‑pile rugs and flat‑weave runners are doable, with caveats. The brush has enough power to lift fine debris and lint, but you may notice a slight slowdown as friction increases. It still gathers surface dust and hair, yet it won’t lift fibers or groom a rug the way a true vacuum does. If you’re after visible “carpet lines,” this won’t give them to you.

For edge and corner work, I typically run a slightly overlapping pass along the baseboard, then approach from another angle to catch anything the front bumper nudged forward. Lightweight lint and feathers can scoot ahead of the head if you push too fast. Slowing down and taking a second pass solves it, but it’s something to know.

Pet hair, seeds, and the usual suspects

With two cats and an ever‑shedding throw blanket, my floors see plenty of fine hair. The sweeper picks up a surprising amount on hard surfaces, and it does fine with light daily shed on low‑pile rugs. Heavy shedding days can overwhelm the brush bar, where longer strands wrap and reduce efficiency until you clean it off. Expect to stop occasionally, cut through hair with scissors, and pull it free.

I also used it around a bird stand. Seed hulls, stray pellets, and downy feathers are a sweet spot for this machine; it collects these quickly without scattering them like a broom would.

Dustbin and emptying

The dustbin is rated at 750 ml, and for typical crumb‑and‑dust work, that’s plenty. Pet hair is less compact; if your home is hair‑heavy, you’ll fill the bin faster and may need a couple of empties per session on rug areas. The one‑touch trap door makes emptying easy—hover over the trash can, pop it open, done. The clear window is useful to see what you’re collecting, though static can leave a fine dust film on the inside. A quick wipe with a slightly damp microfiber cloth keeps it looking clean.

Battery life and charge time

Black & Decker quotes up to 30 minutes, and my results were close. On hard floors I consistently got 25–30 minutes. Mix in a lot of low‑pile rugs and that dipped to around 20–25 minutes. For a “quick clean before guests arrive” or a nightly sweep of the kitchen, dining, and entry, that’s sufficient. Charge time is several hours from empty; I got into a habit of plugging it in after use so it’s always ready.

Noise

Quieter than a vacuum, louder than a manual sweeper. It’s a low hum with brush noise rather than a high‑pitched whine. I could run it without spooking the cats too badly, and it’s conversation‑friendly.

Maintenance and durability

Beyond emptying the bin, the main maintenance item is the brush bar. Hair and string will collect, and you’ll need to clear them out regularly to maintain performance. Keep the glides clean, and brush away any grit that could scratch delicate floors. The charger is a simple wall wart—no dock to misplace—and the self‑standing design reduces the chance of it falling and cracking.

Build quality is mid‑range: lightweight plastics, nothing creaky, and no loose tolerances on my unit. This is a utility tool, and it’s built like one.

Where it shines—and where it doesn’t

Strengths:
- Fast, cordless cleanup on hard floors
- Excellent maneuverability and low profile for under‑furniture reach
- Stands on its own and has flexible storage options
- Simple, clean emptying and an easy foot‑tap power control
- Respectable runtime for daily touch‑ups

Limitations:
- Not a deep cleaner; won’t groom or “fluff” carpet
- Multiple passes sometimes needed for light, fluffy debris
- Brush bar needs regular hair removal in pet households
- Glides (not wheels) can feel draggy on textured surfaces; keep them clean
- Battery indicator is basic, and charge time is on the longer side

Who it’s for

If your home is mostly hard flooring with a few low‑pile rugs, and you prefer a quick, cordless sweep between weekly vacuum sessions, this fits perfectly. Apartments, kitchens, dining rooms, entryways, workshops with sawdust, and pet areas with scattered kibble are all ideal use cases. It’s also a good match for anyone who values a lightweight tool that stores upright and doesn’t require a docking station.

If you have wall‑to‑wall plush carpet, want vacuum‑like grooming, or deal with heavy pet shedding that fills bins rapidly, you’ll be happier with a true stick vacuum. Likewise, if you expect single‑pass pickup of ultra‑light lint on rugs, you may find yourself doing extra passes.

The bottom line

The Black & Decker sweeper is a practical, no‑nonsense solution for the everyday messes that don’t justify a full vacuum. It’s light, nimble, and thoughtfully designed for life in between deep cleans. Treat it as a powered broom with a bin, not a vacuum, and it earns its spot in the cleaning lineup.

Recommendation: I recommend this tool for homes with primarily hard floors and for anyone who wants a quick, cordless way to keep high‑traffic areas presentable. Its maneuverability, self‑standing design, and easy emptying make it a pleasure for daily touch‑ups. I would not recommend it as a primary cleaner for carpeted homes or heavy‑shedding households that need deeper suction and grooming—there, a stick or upright vacuum is the better investment.