Black & Decker Cordless Hand Vacuum with Charger, Filter and Brush Crevice Tool

A compact cleaner that makes quick work of small messes

I’ve been keeping a compact handheld vac within arm’s reach for years to tackle crumbs on the counter, pet hair on car seats, and the stray dust bunny on the stairs. After a few weeks with Black & Decker’s cordless hand vac, I’ve formed a clear picture of where it shines and where it comes up short. It’s a lightweight, simple tool that’s at its best for fast spot-cleaning, less so for heavy debris or extended sessions.

Design, build, and what’s in the box

This hand vac is slim and lightweight at about 2.1 pounds, and it feels well balanced in the hand. The long, narrow nozzle reaches into tight areas—between car seats, along baseboards, and behind small appliances—without feeling awkward. The housing uses Tritan Renew with 50% certified recycled material, which gives it a rigid, glassy feel that seems tougher than the glossy plastics you often see on budget handhelds. It has held up well to knocks and bumps in my kitchen and garage.

The dust bowl is translucent and removable, so I can see when it’s time to empty it and pop it off with one hand. Capacity is just under half a liter, plenty for daily crumbs and light dirt. The filter and pre-filter are both washable, and replacements are easy to find (HLVCF10). The unit ships with a flip-up brush integrated into the nozzle, a separate crevice tool, and an upholstery brush. There’s no charging dock—instead you get a jack-plug wall charger.

Setup and charging

Charging is straightforward: plug the barrel connector into the port, and you’re set. I prefer a drop-in base for storage and charging, but the plug-in approach keeps the footprint small and lets me tuck the vac anywhere. There’s no battery pack to remove, and the 8V MAX lithium-ion battery is sealed inside the unit.

One note on storage: because there’s no stand, I ended up hanging the vac by its handle on a hook near an outlet, with the charger coiled nearby. It keeps the tool ready to go without taking counter space.

Suction and real-world performance

Black & Decker rates the suction at up to 19 air watts. In practice, that translated to reliable pickup of everyday dry debris—oats, coffee grounds, sugar, bread crumbs, and light grit on hard floors. On my kitchen counters and around the toaster, it grabbed everything in one pass. The flip-up brush is genuinely handy for crumbs on textured surfaces like car mats or fabric upholstery; it agitates just enough to free debris without scratching.

On upholstery and pet hair, performance depends on hair length and surface. Short hair on car seats and stairs came up easily with the brush. Long, clingy pet hair on woven throws required more passes and the dedicated upholstery brush to break the static hold. For heavier debris—sand tracked in from a trail run, potting soil, or gravel—the vac still picked up a fair amount, but it needed slower passes and occasionally left behind the heaviest bits. Here, higher-powered handhelds will win, but they’re usually bulkier.

The crevice tool concentrates airflow and is the unsung hero of this vac. I used it along baseboards, in window tracks, and in the car’s center console, and it pulled dust and grit efficiently. When suction seems to taper, it’s often a sign the filter needs a rinse or the pre-filter has caked over—keeping these clean makes a noticeable difference.

Runtime and battery

With an advertised runtime of about 11 minutes, this hand vac is meant for sprints, not marathons. In my use, that was enough to clean the front seats, footwells, and console of a small sedan, or to sweep the kitchen and a flight of stairs. You’ll need to prioritize if you’re tackling a whole car or multiple rooms. For larger jobs, I’ve learned to work in zones or grab a higher-voltage handheld.

There’s no boost mode to drain the battery faster, which keeps performance predictable. The flip side is you won’t get a power surge for stubborn messes—what you get at the start is what you have throughout the session.

Filtration, emptying, and maintenance

The dust bowl releases with a simple latch, and the tapered shape helps debris fall out cleanly. I like that I can see the fill level at a glance. The washable filter and pre-filter are a big plus; I rinsed them under the tap and let them dry overnight. If you skip maintenance, suction drops noticeably, so it’s worth the minute it takes to knock dust off the pre-filter after each use and to rinse both every few weeks. There’s no HEPA claim here, so I wouldn’t rely on it for fine allergen control, but for everyday dirt it’s more than adequate.

Tip: if you notice fine dust puffing from the exhaust or pickup falling off, check that the filter assembly is seated properly and that the pre-filter isn’t clogged—this restores performance quickly.

Ergonomics and noise

At 2.1 pounds, fatigue isn’t an issue. The handle angle is natural, the trigger is easy to hold down, and the long nozzle means less bending to reach floor-level debris. The vac is louder than its size suggests, and the exhaust stream is pronounced. That airflow can push lighter debris if you approach head-on on a smooth surface. I learned to angle the nozzle and keep the exhaust pointed away from what I was cleaning, especially on a counter.

Accessories and usability

• Flip-up brush: It’s built in, so you don’t lose it, and it’s perfect for dust on vents and textured mats.
• Crevice tool: Essential for tight spaces; it increases perceived suction by focusing airflow.
• Upholstery brush: Useful on fabric seats, stairs, and pet hair on cushions.

The simplicity of tool changes—push on, pull off—encourages actually using them. There’s no storage caddy, so I keep the attachments in a small bin next to where I hang the vac.

Sustainability and warranty

The Tritan Renew housing is a thoughtful touch—using 50% certified recycled content without sacrificing durability. Over time that matters, especially for tools people replace frequently. The 2-year limited warranty is standard for this class and offers a degree of confidence.

Where this hand vac fits

This is a great fit if you:
- Want a lightweight, grab-and-go vac for daily crumbs, light grit, and quick car touch-ups.
- Prefer washable filters and easy maintenance.
- Need to reach tight spaces with a long, slim nozzle.

It’s not ideal if you:
- Regularly deal with heavy debris like sand, gravel, or a lot of potting soil.
- Need longer runtimes for whole-car deep cleans or multiple rooms without recharging.
- Want whisper-quiet operation or a charging dock.

Tips to get the best performance

• Use the crevice tool to focus suction on dense or embedded debris.
• Flip down the brush on textured surfaces or for pet hair to agitate fibers.
• Empty the dust bowl before it hits the max line; a packed bowl reduces airflow.
• Knock dust off the pre-filter after each session and rinse both filters periodically.
• Angle the exhaust away from loose debris on smooth surfaces to avoid blowback.

Final thoughts

Black & Decker’s cordless hand vac walks the line between convenience and capability. It’s simple, light, and effective for the routine messes that appear daily, and its long nozzle and on-board brush make it more useful than many compact competitors. Its limitations—short runtime, modest suction ceiling, and a noticeable exhaust—are real, but predictable once you understand its scope.

Recommendation

I recommend this hand vac for anyone who wants an affordable, lightweight tool for quick cleanups in the kitchen, on stairs, and in the car. It delivers consistent pickup for everyday debris, the attachments are genuinely useful, and maintenance is easy thanks to the washable filter system. If you need deep-clean power, extended runtime, or a charging dock, you’ll be better served by a higher-voltage handheld. For fast, frequent touch-ups, though, this one earns a spot on the hook near the door.