Black & Decker Handheld Vacuum, Cordless, Cobalt

Why I reached for this handheld vac

A countertop crumb pile. Kitty litter kicked out of the box. Potting soil that somehow made it onto the car floor mat. Those are the quick messes I want to erase without dragging out a full‑size vacuum. That’s exactly where this Black+Decker handheld earns its place: small, light, always charged, and ready to do honest work—within its limits.

Design and build

This is a compact, no‑nonsense hand vac built around a 3.6V lithium‑ion battery. The casing is lightweight plastic, and at roughly a pound and a third it feels almost airy in the hand. The translucent dirt bowl is genuinely useful—being able to see the fill level at a glance keeps you from overstuffing it, and it’s easy to pop off for emptying and rinsing.

There’s no elaborate accessory ecosystem here and no flashy styling. The nozzle is a simple, slightly tapered snout that fits into tight-ish spaces and works well along baseboards. The overall footprint is slim enough that it doesn’t look out of place on a wall cradle in a pantry or mudroom.

Setup and charging

The wall‑mountable charging base is the unsung hero. I mounted mine near the back door with two screws, ran the cord to a nearby outlet, and forgot about it—exactly what you want with a grab‑and‑go tool. The vac slides onto the cradle and begins charging immediately. This is a trickle‑charge system, not a fast charger, so think “park it and top off between quick jobs” rather than “rapid turnaround.” On the upside, lithium‑ion chemistry means it holds a charge on the shelf much better than the old Ni‑Cad dustbusters.

The internal battery is sealed and not user‑replaceable, which keeps the package simple and light but does make the vac essentially a consumable over the long term. That’s the tradeoff at this price and voltage.

In use: suction, run time, and noise

Suction is modest but steady. At 3.6 volts, it’s not competing with high‑end handhelds; it’s built for light duty. In my testing, it handled:

• Kitchen crumbs and cereal on hard surfaces
• Dust bunnies along baseboards and on window sills
• Dry messes on upholstery (think lint and snack debris)
• Surface grit on car mats and seats

Where it struggles is embedded debris. Sand pressed into car mat fibers, stubborn pet hair woven into a couch, or anything that requires agitation won’t budge easily. If you need to “groom” fabric or lift heavy grit from carpet pile, you’ll want a handheld with a motorized brush or higher voltage.

Run time per charge for me averaged around 10–12 minutes of continuous use, which translates to several quick cleanups between charges. The motor doesn’t surge or sag mid‑run; suction stays essentially consistent until the battery is near empty. Noise is on the quieter side for a handheld—a firm whirr rather than a roar—which makes it less intrusive for quick touch‑ups.

Ergonomics and control

At just over a pound, this vac is easy to use one‑handed and simple for kids to handle with supervision. The on/off is a push button rather than a trigger you have to keep squeezed, which I prefer for small, repetitive jobs. Balance is neutral enough that your wrist doesn’t tire, even when reaching up to shelves or down to baseboards.

One ergonomic caveat: with no pivoting nozzle or hose, you’re always pointing the whole vac where you need to clean. That’s fine for open areas, shelves, and car seats, but it’s less nimble under low furniture or in very tight crevices.

Filtration and maintenance

The translucent, bagless dirt bowl pops off with a thumb press. Inside is a washable filter element. Tap it clean over a bin or give it a rinse in the sink; just make sure it’s fully dry before you reinstall it to avoid damp dust cakes. Replacement filters are inexpensive and easy to find, and keeping one spare on hand is smart if you plan to wash and air‑dry between uses.

Because suction isn’t extreme, fine dust tends to stay contained in the bowl rather than packing into the filter instantly—which helps maintain airflow for the length of a typical spot‑clean session.

Build quality and durability

This is lightweight plastic, not a premium tank. The fit and finish are tidy, the bowl locks with a positive click, and the base feels stable on the wall. I wouldn’t toss it from a ladder, but nothing about it feels brittle. After regular use, the bowl still seats securely and the button action remains crisp. Like any compact handheld, its long‑term life will hinge on the sealed battery; treat it like a ready‑to‑go tool for small jobs, not something to run to exhaustion daily.

Where it excels

• Grab‑and‑go spot cleaning on hard floors and countertops
• Quick touch‑ups on upholstery and stairs
• Keeping a car’s interior tidy between deeper cleans
• Homes where a lightweight, easy‑to‑store vac gets used often

It’s particularly good as the “second vacuum” you actually use every day, while your full‑size machine does the heavy lifting weekly.

Where it falls short

• Embedded dirt in carpets and mats
• Heavy pet hair on fabric
• Wet spills (this is dry pickup only)
• Extended cleans; the slow charge and modest run time reward short sessions

If your expectations are aligned—fast tidying, not deep cleaning—you’ll be happy. If you want to vacuum half a room or pull sand out of auto carpet, this isn’t the right tool.

Small notes that matter

• Storage matters. Mounting the base where you see it ensures you’ll use it; out of sight tends to mean out of mind.
• The narrow snout is useful along edges, but you don’t get a motorized brush or hose attachment. Plan your cleaning strategy accordingly.
• Lithium‑ion likes shallow cycles. Frequent top‑ups on the base suit this battery type well and reduce the chance you hit the “dead when needed” problem common to older handhelds.

What I like

• Extremely lightweight and easy to handle
• Always‑ready wall cradle encourages frequent use
• Clear, washable dirt bowl keeps maintenance simple
• Consistent suction for crumbs, dust, and light debris
• Quiet enough for quick, anytime cleanups

What I’d change

• More voltage or a powered brush option would expand its usefulness
• A faster charger would reduce the “overnight top‑off” feeling
• A crevice insert or flip‑out brush would help with tight spaces

Who it’s for

• Apartments, dorms, or small homes where storage is tight
• Households that want a no‑fuss spot cleaner for daily crumbs and dust
• Parents who appreciate a lightweight vac kids can safely help with
• Car owners who want to keep interiors tidy between full details

If you regularly battle pet hair or need to dig debris out of carpet pile, step up to a higher‑voltage handheld with a mini motorized head. If your messes are lightweight and frequent, this hits the mark.

Recommendation

I recommend this handheld vac as an affordable, always‑ready spot cleaner for light, everyday messes. It excels at quick pickups on hard surfaces and upholstery, is genuinely easy to live with thanks to the wall‑mount charger and washable bowl, and its featherweight build makes it the tool you’ll actually reach for. Just keep expectations realistic: it’s not built for deep cleaning or heavy pet hair, and the trickle charger favors short sessions over marathon runs. Used within its sweet spot, it’s a practical, low‑maintenance helper that earns its space on the wall.