Black & Decker dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum AdvancedClean

A slim hand vac that actually earns its spot on the counter

A compact handheld vacuum lives or dies by convenience: If I can grab it, clear the mess, and dock it without thinking, it stays in my rotation. After several weeks using Black & Decker’s slim Dustbuster (model HLVC315B01), I’ve found it checks that “always ready” box while delivering solid pickup for everyday crumbs and grit. It’s not a deep cleaner and it has some capacity and opening-size limitations, but for quick jobs around the kitchen, living room, and car, it’s an easy tool to like.

Design and build

This Dustbuster is small, light (about 3 lb), and nicely balanced. The tapered body and center-mounted grip make it comfortable for either hand, and I could run it one-handed without wrist fatigue. The footprint is tidy—roughly 17.8 x 6.9 x 4.3 inches—so it doesn’t dominate a counter or shelf. The plastics are typical for the category: not premium, but the fit is consistent and nothing rattles or flexes under normal use.

The charging base is the unsung hero here. Because it stands and charges in one motion, I actually keep the vac accessible. It docks reliably, and leaving it on the base means it’s topped up for quick tasks. There’s no fancy cable management or accessory storage on the base, but its small size makes placement painless.

Setup and maintenance

Out of the box you get the hand vac, base charger, a washable filter (HLVCF10), and two attachments: a crevice tool and a brush. Setup is plug-and-go. I like that the dustbin twists off with a quarter-turn—no fiddly latches—and the filter pops out for a rinse. The washable filter is a genuine advantage in a tool you use for dusty spills; a quick tap and a rinse keep suction consistent.

A couple of maintenance tips from daily use:
- Empty the bin promptly after larger messes. With a 499 ml capacity (about half a liter), it fills faster than you might expect.
- If suction dips, check the filter first. A lightly clogged filter is the most common culprit, and a 30-second rinse brings performance back.

Replacement filters are easy to source (HLVCF10), and the 2-year limited warranty is reassuring for a small appliance you’ll grab daily.

Suction and real-world performance

Black & Decker calls the motor “high-performance,” and for a 12V cordless handheld, the suction is indeed respectable. On hard surfaces, it handles the usual suspects—coffee grounds, sugar, crumbs, bits of cereal—without fuss. On upholstery and car mats, it lifts surface sand and pet hair better than I expected from a compact unit, especially with the brush attached.

The extra-wide nozzle helps when you’re chasing scattered debris on a countertop or hardwood. That said, the intake throat behind the opening isn’t huge. Larger, rigid bits (think dry pasta or clumped cereal) can catch at the neck if you hit them head-on; angling the nose or using the crevice tool to “lead in” the piece solves it, but the limitation is there. For truly bulky litter or heavy, embedded dirt, a larger handheld or a full-size vacuum will be easier.

On low-pile rugs and mats, quick passes gather loose debris well. It’s not a deep cleaner, and I wouldn’t expect it to pull embedded grit from dense carpet, but that’s outside its brief. Used as a spot cleaner, it saves me from hauling out the big vac half the time.

Noise is typical for a handheld—noticeable but not shrill—and conversation-level use is fine in short bursts.

Battery life and charging

Black & Decker rates the runtime at up to 11 minutes from the 12V, 2.5 Ah battery. In practical, mixed use—some countertop work, a bit of car seat cleaning, then a quick pass along baseboards—I routinely got around 9–11 minutes before performance tapered. That’s in the expected range for a slim unit. Importantly, this is a “single-job” runtime: enough for spot cleanups and a quick sweep of stairs, not a whole-room vacuum.

The base charger encourages “top-up” behavior. I leave the vac docked between uses and haven’t run it flat mid-task unless I forgot to charge after a longer session. If your day-to-day is a couple of 60–90 second jobs, it’s effectively always ready.

Attachments and versatility

• Crevice tool: Slim enough for window tracks, under appliance lips, and between couch cushions. It concentrates suction for targeted pickup and helps with the occasional larger crumb that wants to wedge at the main intake.
• Brush: Handy on vents, lampshades, keyboards, and car interiors. It agitates light dust without marring surfaces.

Neither attachment is exotic, but both are useful and quick to swap. There’s no on-tool storage, so plan a place to keep them near the charging base.

Emptying and filtration

The twist-off dustbin is straightforward. I recommend emptying over a trash can outdoors after very fine messes like flour or ash—any small handheld can give off a puff on emptying. The washable filter means ongoing costs are low, and washing it weekly (or tapping it out every few uses) keeps airflow strong. The bin’s volume is fine for everyday jobs, but frequent bakers, pet owners tackling litter scatter, or parents chasing snack-zone messes should expect more frequent emptying.

Ergonomics and usability

• Weight and balance: At 3 lb, it’s easy to maneuver, even when reaching up for shelves or down for baseboards.
• Controls: Simple, single-button operation with a separate release for the bin. No mode switching to fuss with.
• Reach: The nose is long enough to get under cabinet overhangs and around appliances with the crevice tool attached.

It’s a “grab-and-go” experience in the best sense—no cord, no setup, and no thought required beyond docking it after.

Where this Dustbuster shines

• Kitchens: Daily crumb patrol, coffee grounds, and dry spills around the toaster or prep area.
• Upholstery and cars: Seat seams, floor mats, trunk edges, and child-seat zones where grit accumulates.
• Hard floors and stairs: Quick touch-ups that don’t justify hauling a full-size vacuum.

It’s the kind of tool that eliminates excuses to leave a mess “for later.”

Limitations and trade-offs

• Runtime ceiling: About 10 minutes of real-world use. Fine for tasks it’s built for; too short for whole-room cleaning.
• Intake geometry: Despite the wide mouth, the internal throat limits truly bulky debris. Angle your approach or use the crevice tool to avoid jams.
• Capacity: The 499 ml bin fills quickly if you tackle larger messes. Frequent emptying isn’t arduous, but it’s part of the routine.
• No deep-clean capability: On dense carpets or embedded pet hair, a larger, more powerful machine will outperform it.

None of these are dealbreakers for a compact handheld, but they define the use case.

Reliability and support

Black & Decker has a long history with handhelds, and this model feels consistent with that lineage. The 2-year limited warranty is above the bare minimum for the category. The standardized filter (HLVCF10) is widely available, and the base charger’s simplicity bodes well for long-term use—fewer moving parts mean fewer surprises.

The bottom line

This Dustbuster prioritizes convenience without skimping on the basics: useful suction for everyday debris, a genuinely compact form factor, a charger base that encourages use, and low-maintenance filtration. It won’t replace a floor vacuum, and it’s not ideal for bulky litter or deep cleaning, but it’s exactly what a handheld should be—fast, easy, and always ready.

Recommendation: I recommend this model for anyone who wants a dedicated spot-cleaning tool for kitchens, stairs, upholstery, and cars. If your needs center on quick, frequent touch-ups and you value a small footprint with grab-and-dock charging, it’s an excellent fit. If you routinely tackle large debris, long sessions, or embedded carpet dirt, consider a larger-capacity handheld or complement this unit with a full-size vacuum for deeper jobs.