Black & Decker dustbuster QuickClean Cordless Wet/Dry Handheld Vacuum, Turquoise

Why I picked up this dustbuster

I wanted a no-fuss handheld that could live on the wall and be ready for spilled cereal, car crumbs, and the occasional splash of coffee. This dustbuster is a simple 7.2‑volt, lithium‑ion unit with a wall‑mountable base and a push‑in squeegee for liquids—nothing fancy, just quick cleanups. After several weeks of use around the kitchen and in the car, I have a good feel for where it shines and where it falls short.

Design and build

The vac weighs 2.4 lb and measures 17.1 x 4.5 x 5.4 in. It’s compact enough to stash on a laundry room wall without being an eyesore, and the translucent, bagless dirt bowl makes it easy to see when it’s time to empty. The fit and finish are straightforward plastic, but the shell feels solid enough for everyday handling.

There’s a single on/off button, a removable washable filter, and a twist‑off dirt bowl. The push‑in squeegee stores separately and slides onto the nozzle when you need it for wet pickup. Note that you don’t get a crevice tool or upholstery brush with this model—just the squeegee—so your reach into tight gaps is only as good as the bare nozzle.

Setup and charging

Mounting the charging base is simple: two screws into a stud or anchor, click the vac into place, and it trickle‑charges between uses. Because the contacts are fairly small, I found it’s worth making sure the vac seats squarely in the base; if you plop it on at an angle, it may not engage. Once you get used to the motion, it becomes second nature.

Lithium‑ion chemistry means it holds a charge well and is always ready for a quick grab. The battery is built in (1.5 Ah), so there’s no hot‑swapping; you’re working with the capacity on board.

Performance on dry debris

On hard surfaces, the dustbuster does well with the kind of light‑to‑moderate debris it’s designed for: crumbs, rice, dried mud flakes, coffee grounds, and loose dirt. It’s especially handy for tabletop sweeps and catching what falls around the toaster. On low‑pile rugs and car mats, it will lift surface grit, but don’t expect it to pull embedded sand or fine dust as deeply as higher‑voltage handhelds.

Two things to manage:

• Airflow exhaust: The unit vents out both sides. On very light material (e.g., flour‑fine dust or pet hair that sits on the surface), the exhaust can scatter debris if you approach from too far away. I had better results keeping the nozzle low and coming in at a shallow angle, so suction captures the material before the exhaust reaches it.
• Filter loading: Fine dust accumulates quickly on the foam filter, which reduces suction. A quick tap‑out mid‑session restores performance, but plan on frequent filter maintenance if you vacuum a lot of fine material.

For pet hair, performance is mixed. It picks up short hair on hard surfaces easily. On fabric or low‑pile carpet, it will grab some, but hair strands build up on the filter fast, which shortens effective runtime unless you stop to clear it. Without an upholstery brush or motorized tool, this model isn’t the best fit for heavy pet‑hair jobs.

Wet pickup with the squeegee

The push‑in squeegee is a thoughtful inclusion. It’s effective on small spills—think a splash of water, a few ice cubes that melted, or diluted coffee. The squeegee helps corral liquid so the vacuum can lift it without just smearing the mess. Technique matters: keep the nozzle tipped slightly so the squeegee edges lead, and go slowly to avoid overwhelming the intake.

A few important caveats:
- Stick to small volumes. This isn’t for big spills or viscous liquids like syrup.
- Empty and rinse the bowl and filter right after wet use, then let them dry fully before the next dry pickup. That keeps odors at bay and prevents gunk from hardening on the filter.

Battery life and power

With a 7.2‑volt motor and a 1.5 Ah battery, I consistently got about 9–11 minutes of real‑world use per charge. That’s fine for spot cleaning or a quick car tidy, but it’s not a deep‑clean session. The tradeoff for the smaller battery is weight and cost; it’s light in the hand and relatively affordable, but you need to be realistic about run time.

Suction power is on the lighter side of the handheld spectrum. It’s adequate for its intended tasks; it’s not a substitute for a corded vac or a higher‑voltage handheld when you’re dealing with heavy debris, deeply embedded grit, or lots of pet hair.

Ergonomics and noise

The handle shape is comfortable, and the balance feels neutral until the bowl is nearly full, at which point it becomes a bit front‑heavy. At 2.4 lb, most people will find it easy to maneuver one‑handed, even overhead or at odd angles in the car. If you have limited hand strength, the combination of length and forward weight might feel a bit cumbersome over time.

Noise is typical for a small handheld—more of a high‑pitched whine than a roar. It’s not whisper‑quiet, but it’s fine for daytime use without bothering the household.

Dustbin and filtration

The dirt bowl is small (about 384 ml), and you’ll fill it quickly if you’re tackling anything more than crumbs. Emptying requires twisting off the bowl and lifting out the foam filter. There’s no trapdoor dump, so yes, you’ll get closer to the debris than with pricier models that let you eject without touching the filter. The upside is that both the bowl and the filter are washable, and replacements (HNVCWF10) are inexpensive.

A few maintenance tips to keep suction up:
- Tap the filter clear mid‑clean if you notice performance drop.
- Rinse the bowl and filter periodically and let them dry fully before reassembling.
- Make sure the filter seats squarely; if it’s not aligned, debris can bypass and you’ll see dust in places it shouldn’t be.

Where it fits best

• Kitchens and dining areas for everyday crumb patrol
• Entryways where small dirt piles accumulate
• Cars for quick seat and floor mat touch‑ups
• Households that want a leave‑it‑on‑the‑wall solution that’s ready to grab

Where it’s less ideal:
- Heavy pet‑hair households, especially on fabric surfaces
- Long cleaning sessions that exceed the ~10‑minute runtime
- Fine dust on hard surfaces where side exhaust can scatter debris
- Tight crevices that benefit from a dedicated crevice tool (not included here)

Reliability and warranty

I didn’t encounter any defects in use, but because the base relies on contact pins, take a second to confirm it’s seated when you dock it. The two‑year limited warranty is a plus at this price point and offers some peace of mind about early battery or charger issues.

What I’d change

• Add a basic crevice tool. The lack of one limits reach and makes car detail work harder than it needs to be.
• A dump‑door bin would reduce how often you touch the filter when emptying.
• A slightly larger bowl would cut down on trips to the trash mid‑clean.
• Diffuse or redirect the side exhaust to reduce scattering of very light debris.

The bottom line

The dustbuster is a straightforward, budget‑friendly handheld built for quick wins: spilled cereal, countertop crumbs, light dirt tracked inside, and small liquid mishaps. It’s lightweight, hangs on the wall, and stays ready thanks to its lithium‑ion battery. In those everyday tasks, it’s exactly the kind of grab‑and‑go tool I like having near the kitchen.

Its limitations are just as clear: short runtime, modest suction, a small bin, and no crevice tool. The side exhaust requires a bit of technique on fine debris, and maintenance is hands‑on since you have to remove the filter to dump the bowl. If your messes skew heavy—deeply embedded grit, lots of pet hair on upholstery—or you want longer cleaning sessions, you’ll be happier stepping up to a more powerful handheld with better accessories.

Recommendation: I recommend this dustbuster for anyone who wants an inexpensive, always‑ready spot cleaner for light household and car tasks, values a washable bowl and filter, and appreciates the option to pick up small wet spills. I wouldn’t recommend it if you regularly tackle pet hair on fabric, need more than ~10 minutes of runtime at a go, or prefer cleaner bin emptying and a full accessory kit.