Black & Decker 12V MAX dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Hand Vacuum with Powered Pet Head

I keep a small vac within arm’s reach in the shop and at home, and I’ve cycled through plenty that promise “pet-ready” performance and quick cleanups. This Black+Decker dustbuster stands out because it pairs a motorized pet head with a legitimately large dustbin and a sensible two-speed setup. It’s still a handheld, so expectations should be realistic, but for stairs, upholstery, car mats, and kitchen debris, it’s a capable, easy-to-live-with tool.

Setup and what’s in the box

My unit came as a straightforward kit: the handheld, the powered pet head, an extending crevice tool built into the nozzle, a washable filter and pre-filter, and a wall charger with a jack plug. There’s no bulky dock—just plug it in. I prefer that for a utility drawer or a garage shelf, though a wall cradle would tidy things up for some users.

The design is familiar dustbuster territory: trigger handle, translucent XL bin, and a flip-out crevice tool. Fit and finish are solid for the price point, and at about 4 pounds, it’s not featherweight, but it’s balanced enough to use one-handed for extended sessions.

Suction and cleaning performance

Suction is split between two modes: a standard setting for everyday crumbs and grit, and a BOOST setting for stubborn messes. I found myself running standard power for 70–80% of jobs—kibble, cereal, sawdust, and dirt off the truck floor—and saving BOOST for the edges of stair treads and embedded pet hair on upholstery. The boost does make a noticeable difference; it’s not a gimmick, and you can hear and feel the step up.

The motorized pet head is the star. Instead of bristles, it uses rubber fins that are less prone to hair wrapping. On the couch and car seats, it lifted dog hair that traditional non-powered handhelds simply smear around. On low-pile rugs, the roller’s agitation helps yank hair and lint free without stalling. It won’t deep-clean carpet (no handheld does), but for maintenance passes and spot cleanup, it works well. If you have pets that shed, you’ll use this head a lot.

The extra-long crevice tool extends right from the nose, so there’s no accessory to lose. It reaches along baseboards, between car seats, and into window tracks. For me, that built-in reach matters more than raw suction numbers—actually getting the nozzle into the mess is half the battle with handhelds.

Dustbin capacity and emptying

The 750 mL bin is a quiet advantage. With many handhelds, you’re emptying after a couple of chair cushions. Here, I could do the stairs, a couch, and a round in the car before needing to dump the bin. The one-touch empty door is convenient; hold it over the trash, pop the latch, and most of the debris drops free. Long hair will still nest around the pre-filter, but the rubber roller keeps wrap to a minimum compared to bristle brushes, so I was clearing out less gunk than on other pet-focused handhelds.

A quick tip: empty the bin before it gets completely full. As the filter loads up, airflow drops, and you’ll notice reduced pickup on fine dust.

Battery life, charging, and indicator

Runtime is quoted at up to 25 minutes, and my results were in the same ballpark on standard mode—enough for several spot-cleaning jobs or a thorough session in the car. As with any handheld, BOOST shortens that window. I treated boost like a “burst” for a minute or two at a time and never ran out mid-task.

Charging with the jack-plug wall charger is straightforward. The battery indicator is helpful; it’s easy to know whether you’ve got enough in the tank for a stair run or a quick sweep of the entryway. I appreciate that the indicator gives feedback while charging and during use—no more guessing if you’ll make it through the car’s rear mats.

One consideration: the battery isn’t removable, so when it’s charging, you’re done until it’s topped up. For most households, that’s a fair tradeoff for a simpler, lighter design.

Filtration and maintenance

The filter and pre-filter are washable. Rinse them under running water, let them dry fully (overnight is safest), and you’re back in business. I noticed airflow and suction improve immediately after each wash, so don’t neglect this step. If you tackle a lot of fine dust (think drywall), you’ll need to clean it more often.

There’s no HEPA claim or sealed system here. For general debris and pet hair, that’s perfectly fine. If you’re dealing with allergies and want to trap the finest dust, a full-size vacuum with sealed HEPA is still the right tool; this hand vac is for quick hits and targeted tidy-ups.

Ergonomics and noise

At 4 pounds, it’s comfortable for stairs and car cleaning. The handle angle is natural, and the center of gravity sits close to the hand, so it doesn’t feel nose-heavy with the pet head attached. The trigger is a simple on/off switch, not a deadman-style squeeze, which I prefer for longer use.

Noise is moderate in standard mode and ramps up in BOOST. It’s not obnoxious, and the tone is less whiny than some compact handhelds, but if you’re cleaning around skittish pets, stick to standard power until you’re ready to hit the hairy spots.

Build quality and durability

The powered pet head’s rubber fins have held up well for me and resist tangling better than bristles. The extending crevice tool locks positively and doesn’t collapse under pressure—important when you’re scraping into tight seams. The bin latch feels sturdy, and the hinge has enough tension to avoid accidental dumps. Overall, it’s what I expect from Black+Decker: practical plastics, smart design choices, nothing overly fancy, and nothing fragile.

The 2-year limited warranty is competitive for a handheld in this class.

Where it fits—and where it doesn’t

This dustbuster excels at:
- Pet hair on upholstery, stairs, and car interiors (use the powered head)
- Everyday kitchen debris, litter scatter, and entryway grit
- Tight spots with the built-in crevice tool
- Larger spot jobs thanks to the XL bin and two-speed control

It’s less ideal for:
- Deep cleaning carpet (reach for a corded or full-size cordless)
- Allergy-grade fine dust capture (no sealed HEPA system)
- Continuous, multi-room cleaning sessions (non-removable battery and handheld form factor)

Practical tips for best results

• Use standard mode for most tasks; kick in BOOST only for stubborn patches to preserve runtime.
• Empty the bin before it’s packed full to keep airflow high.
• Rinse the filter and pre-filter regularly and let them dry completely before reinstalling.
• On upholstery, move the pet head slowly and overlap passes; the agitation does the work.
• For edges and car seats, extend the crevice tool and run it along seams to lift embedded grit.

The bottom line

Handheld vacuums live or die on convenience and focused performance. This one nails both. The combination of a motorized pet head, a genuinely useful extending crevice tool, and a big bin makes it a reliable grab-and-go cleaner. Suction is appropriate for its 12V class, and BOOST provides meaningful extra pull without turning the tool into a battery hog. Maintenance is simple, charging is straightforward, and the battery indicator removes uncertainty.

Could it be better? A docking station option and a quieter BOOST would be nice, and allergy-focused users will want something with a sealed HEPA system for whole-home dust. But those are reasonable tradeoffs given the price and purpose.

Recommendation: I recommend this Black+Decker dustbuster for pet owners and anyone who wants a dependable handheld for daily messes. It’s effective on hair, thoughtfully designed for real-world use, and the larger bin and two-speed setup make it more versatile than many compact competitors. If your needs are deep carpet cleaning or HEPA-level filtration, look elsewhere; for quick, frequent cleanups, this is the right tool.