Black & Decker AdvancedClean+ Cordless Hand Vacuum

Why I reached for this handheld

I like having a small, grab-and-go vacuum for the stuff my full-size machine is overkill for: crumbs under the highchair, grit in car door pockets, pet hair on the stairs. The AdvancedClean+ hand vac from Black+Decker hits that sweet spot on paper—cordless, light, with a boost button when you need more bite—so I put it to work around the house and in the car for a few weeks.

Design, build, and everyday handling

At 3.3 lb, it’s light enough for one-handed use but hefty enough to feel solid. The balance sits a bit forward (as with most handhelds), yet the handle design keeps the wrist angle comfortable. It’s not the most compact handheld I’ve used, but the built-in, extendable crevice tool means there’s no loose accessory to track, which I appreciate. The extension reaches into window tracks, between car seats, and alongside baseboards without fuss, and retracts neatly back into the body.

Controls are simple: a slide switch for two speeds and a momentary Powerboost button for stubborn spots. There’s a state-of-charge indicator that helps estimate what you can tackle before plugging back in. It charges via a jack plug—basic and effective—but there’s no docking base, so you’ll want a shelf or a hook nearby to store it.

The dustbin is on the larger side for a handheld at 750 ml. The one-touch empty mechanism flips the door open cleanly, and the bin detaches if you want a thorough rinse. The filter and pre-filter are washable, which keeps consumable costs down; replacements use the VLPF10 part if you like to keep a spare set on hand.

Suction and real-world performance

The two-speed setup makes sense. On standard speed, it’s fine for light debris: coffee grounds on the counter, crumbs on upholstery, dust on blinds. Powerboost is the difference-maker for embedded dirt. On low-pile rugs and car mats, a couple of passes with boost lifted sand and pet hair that standard speed left behind. It’s not a deep-clean carpet tool, but for spot cleaning, it gets the job done.

Pet hair performance was better than I expected for a 12V unit. On fabric chairs and stairs, boost pulled hair without clogging the intake, and the extra-long crevice tool helped break static cling along seams and edges. For longer hair or heavily shed areas, I found short, overlapping passes worked best, with quick taps to knock hair off the filter if you notice pickup dwindling.

Hard surfaces are its comfort zone. Kitchen crumbs, dry cereal, litter scatter, and dirt around entry mats are all easy wins. The nozzle opening handles small gravel without rattling itself jammed, but like any handheld, it’s not meant for big chunks or anything wet.

Battery life and charging

The published runtime is up to 25 minutes, which lined up with my experience on standard speed for typical spot cleaning. I could do the car interior or a couple of rooms’ worth of touch-ups without draining it. Powerboost will pull that down; using boost in bursts (5–10 seconds at a time) gave me the best balance of pickup and battery longevity. For a full-car deep spruce-up, I used a rotation of standard speed for general dust and boost for mats and seams.

Charge time is reasonable for same-day use. I didn’t find myself waiting long between tasks; topping up over an afternoon break was enough for another spin around the house. The indicator light is accurate enough that you’re not surprised mid-clean.

Dustbin and filtration

The XL bin is a real quality-of-life improvement. If you have pets or kids, not having to stop every couple minutes to empty is a big plus. The one-touch door opens wide, so debris drops out cleanly; I didn’t have to fish around with my fingers for stuck clumps unless I’d vacuumed a mix of hair and lightweight, fluffy debris. The filter basket snaps in securely and rinses clear under a tap. My routine became: empty after each session, tap the filter against the bin to knock off dust, and rinse the filter every few weeks. Let it dry fully before reinstalling—overnight is safest—to keep suction consistent.

Noise and comfort

On standard speed, noise is perfectly tolerable for quick touch-ups; you can still carry on a conversation nearby. Boost is noticeably louder, but not shrill, and because you’re typically using it in short bursts, it didn’t bother me. Vibration through the handle is minimal. The intake doesn’t whistle unless you partially block the crevice tool opening.

Usability touches that matter

• The extendable crevice tool is the star. Built-in means it’s always there, and the extra length genuinely reaches the places you expect it to.
• The trigger-free power switch is nice for longer runs; no finger fatigue from holding a trigger.
• The jack plug charger is simple and compact, easy to tuck in a drawer.
• The clear bin lets you see when it’s close to full and when the filter is dusted over.

Trade-offs and limitations

• Suction is very good for a 12V handheld, but it won’t replace a stick or upright for dense, deep-in carpet debris. Think spot-cleaner, not whole-home vac.
• Boost drains the battery faster and is louder. That’s the nature of the feature; plan on using it surgically rather than continuously if you want longer sessions.
• There’s no motorized brush attachment. For heavy pet hair on upholstery, a powered mini brush would outperform this setup, though the crevice tool and boost combo gets most jobs done.
• With a jack plug system, there’s no wall cradle. If you like a visible “home” for your handheld, you may need to improvise storage.
• As with all handhelds that use a filter screen, fine dust can cake the filter and reduce suction over time. A quick tap clean brings it back, and periodic rinsing keeps performance consistent.

Durability and maintenance

Materials feel sturdy—no creaks in the handle or latches after a few weeks of regular use. The bin hinge and release button are robust and stayed positive. Maintenance is straightforward: empty after use, tap the filter, and rinse the filter set as needed. Keeping a spare VLPF10 filter on hand lets you swap a dry filter in while the washed one dries. With a 2-year limited warranty, it’s on par with others in this category for coverage.

Where it fits

If your needs are everyday messes—kitchen counters, stairs, the car, window tracks, litter around the box, and ubiquitous pet hair tumbleweeds—the AdvancedClean+ hand vac hits a practical balance of power, ease of use, and bin capacity. It’s especially handy in homes where quick cleanups happen often and you don’t want to wrangle a full-size machine each time. For larger deep cleans or heavily soiled carpets, you’ll still want a primary vacuum.

The bottom line

The AdvancedClean+ hand vac is the kind of small tool that earns its keep by simply being easy: easy to grab, easy to use, easy to empty, easy to keep clean. The extendable crevice tool and the honest two-speed design make it better than the average handheld at reaching and removing the debris that actually annoys you day to day. It’s not a carpet deep-cleaner, and it doesn’t ship with a powered brush, but for spot cleaning across hard surfaces, upholstery, and light rugs, it’s reliably capable.

Recommendation: I recommend this handheld for anyone who wants a straightforward, low-maintenance spot-cleaning vacuum with solid pickup and a big dustbin. It’s a particularly good fit for pet owners and car cleanups, thanks to the Powerboost mode and built-in crevice reach. If you need a motorized brush for heavy upholstery work or you expect to run a handheld on boost for extended sessions, consider a higher-voltage unit with specialized tools; otherwise, this one covers the everyday jobs with minimal fuss.