Black & Decker Hand Vacuum (Deep Ocean Blue with Base Charger and SMARTECH)

A practical handheld for everyday messes

I keep a handheld vac mounted by the back door for daily crumbs and pet tumbleweeds, and this Black+Decker hand vac has lived there for several weeks now. It’s a compact, lithium-powered dustbuster with two power levels, washable filters, and a wall-mountable base. It’s built for quick hits, not whole-house cleaning—and judged on that brief, it gets a lot right with a couple of quirks you should know about.

Setup, charging, and that quirky base

Out of the box, setup is quick: mount the bracket, route the cord, and you’re ready. The base keeps the vac parked securely, but it’s not a true “drop-in” charger. You still plug a barrel connector into the nose of the vacuum to charge. The bracket has a tidy channel to hide most of the cord, yet the plug ends up visible at the front. Functionally, no problem; aesthetically, it’s a bit inelegant. Plan your mounting so the outlet is close and the cord run is short.

The LED Battery Sense indicator on the top is simple and accurate in my use. It gives you a rough idea of remaining charge and flashes while charging. There’s also a Filter Sense icon that nudges you to clean the filter when suction drops—handy, because lightweight handhelds are sensitive to airflow restrictions.

Cleaning performance: impressive for a grab-and-go

For a small, 3.6-pound cordless vac, the suction is solid. On low power, it handles crumbs, tracked litter, and the usual kitchen grit. Switch to high and it pulls embedded debris from door mats and car floor mats better than I expected at this price.

Pet owners will appreciate its ability to grab short dog hair off hard floors and chair cushions. On area rugs, high power helps, but don’t expect upright-vac results; it’s still a handheld. The pull-out crevice tool is narrow enough to get between seat rails and under appliances, and the flip-up brush does well on baseboards, vents, and fabric. I like that both tools are built in, so I’m not chasing loose attachments around the house.

One thing to note: the exhaust vents are on the back, and the airflow is noticeable. It’s not unpleasant—actually cool to the touch—but if you’re chasing a line of dust bunnies on a hard floor, the exhaust can waft lighter debris. Angle the vac so the exhaust isn’t pointed at what you’re trying to pick up, and you’ll be fine.

Battery life and power modes

There are two cleaning modes: low for general pickup and high for heavier debris. In my testing, I got around 9–12 minutes on high and roughly 15–18 minutes on low. That tracks with its compact 1.5 Ah battery. It’s enough for a few spot-cleaning runs or a quick car tidy, but it’s not a marathon machine. If you routinely do long sessions—say, stairs, car, and couches in one go—you’ll want to pace yourself or look for a larger battery handheld.

I appreciate that the vac doesn’t sag as the battery depletes; suction remains fairly consistent until the end. The top-mounted power toggle is easy to hit with your thumb, and the mode switch is a single button press—no confusing sequences.

Ergonomics and noise

At 3.6 pounds, it’s light and well-balanced. Most of the weight sits near the hand, which reduces wrist strain when you’re reaching overhead or running the crevice tool along baseboards. The handle has a comfortable shape with good grip.

Noise is the trade-off. On high, it has a higher-pitched whine typical of compact, high-speed motors. It’s not painfully loud, but it’s shrill enough that I prefer to keep sessions short around skittish pets. On low, the tone drops and is easier on the ears.

Dust bowl and filtration

The translucent dirt bowl makes it straightforward to see when you’re full. The bowl and both filters—the plastic pre-filter and the VBF10 bag-style filter—are washable. The twist-off bowl mechanism is secure and easy to operate one-handed. I recommend knocking out the filter after every few uses and giving it a rinse weekly if you’re picking up fine dust; it helps maintain suction and keeps the Filter Sense light from nagging.

Because the filters are washable, ongoing costs are low. If you let the filter load up, suction falls off quickly, which is normal for small handhelds. Stay on top of maintenance and performance stays snappy.

Reach and attachments

• Pull-out crevice tool: Extends enough to reach between car seats and along window tracks without adding separate pieces. It’s not super long, but it’s always there and ready.
• Flip-up brush: Good for vents, blinds, and upholstery; soft enough to avoid scuffing finishes.
• Nose opening: Wider than a typical crevice tip, which means you capture more with each pass on countertops and floors, but you’ll still use the crevice for tight gaps.

There are no extra detachable tools in the box, and frankly, I don’t miss them. Fewer bits means fewer things to misplace, and the integrated pair covers 90% of the small jobs I do.

Everyday fit: where it shines and where it doesn’t

This handheld excels at:
- Kitchen crumbs, cereal spills, coffee grounds
- Quick passes on entry mats and hard floors
- Car interiors—cup holders, seat seams, floor mats
- Pet hair on hard surfaces and upholstery
- Dusting with the brush on blinds, vents, and shelves

It’s not ideal for:
- Long cleaning sessions—the battery is sized for short bursts
- Deep cleaning thick rugs or heavy debris fields
- Anyone seeking a perfectly tidy, cord-free docking look—because the charging plug sits at the nose

Build quality and warranty

The build is solid for a compact unit. The latch mechanisms feel sturdy, the articulating tools don’t wobble, and the base holds the vac securely on the wall. The 2-year limited warranty is reassuring, and replaceable filters are easy to source if you ever want spares. Keep in mind that lithium batteries are happiest when topped off regularly; treating it like an always-on-dock tool works well here.

Usability tips

• Mount near an outlet to keep the cord run short; use the base’s cord channel for a cleaner look.
• Rinse the pre-filter and bag filter regularly. Dry them completely before reassembling.
• Use low power for dust and crumbs; save high for mats, car floors, and pet hair to stretch runtime.
• Angle the rear exhaust away from light debris to avoid blowing dust.
• If noise-sensitive pets are in the house, start on low and introduce the sound gradually.

The bottom line

The simplified design, integrated tools, and genuinely useful two-speed motor make this handheld easy to live with. Suction is strong for its size, the battery indicator removes guesswork, and washable filters keep costs in check. The compromises are straightforward: a short, task-focused runtime and a charging setup that’s functional but not the cleanest-looking.

Recommendation: I recommend this hand vac for everyday, quick cleanup duty around the house and car, especially if you value light weight, strong pickup for its size, and simple maintenance. If you expect 25–30 minutes of runtime or want a truly drop-in charging dock with a hidden cord, you’ll be happier with a larger-capacity model. For fast, frequent spot cleaning, though, this one earns its place on the wall.