Black & Decker dustbuster furbuster AdvanceClean Cordless Pet Handheld Vacuum

Why I reached for this pet hand vac

Between a sheddy dog, a fuzzy cat, and a car that seems to collect crumbs on principle, I need a grab‑and‑go solution for daily messes. The Black+Decker pet hand vac (I’ll call it the FurBuster) is built for exactly that: quick cleanups, especially on upholstery. After several weeks of using it around the house and in the car, I have a clear sense of where it excels and where it falls short.

Design, ergonomics, and build

The FurBuster is compact and easy to carry at 3.7 pounds. The handle angle is comfortable, and the center of gravity sits close enough to the hand that longer passes don’t feel fatiguing. The translucent, bagless dust bowl lets me see when it’s time to empty, and the one‑touch release is genuinely convenient—though the bowl can feel tight on reassembly until you get the hang of aligning the tabs.

Black+Decker includes an extendable crevice tool that slides out of the nozzle and a flip‑down brush; both are integrated, so they’re always at hand. The most important accessory here is the motorized pet head with rubber bristles. It’s not a full carpet tool, but for upholstery and car mats it matters more than raw suction in lifting hair that clings.

There’s a simple barrel‑jack wall charger and a small wall mount. You’re not getting a docking cradle; it’s a basic plug‑in setup with an indicator light.

Performance on hair and debris

• Upholstery and pet hair: This is the FurBuster’s wheelhouse. On sofas, chairs, pet beds, and car seats, the motorized head’s rubber bristles grab hair really effectively, then the vacuum pulls it into the bin. On a microfiber couch and a textured trunk liner, I could clear visible hair quickly without multiple passes. It also did a respectable job on stair treads when I stayed to the riser edge and used slow, overlapping strokes.

• Rugs and carpet: On low‑pile rugs, it can freshen surface lint and hair with the motorized head, but it’s not a deep‑clean tool. If you try to cover an entire area rug, the small head and modest airflow make it slow going. Think spot cleanups, not full‑room duty.

• Hard surfaces and crumbs: With the standard nozzle or the pull‑out crevice tool, it handles dry spills (pet kibble, litter scatter, cereal) well as long as the pieces aren’t oversized. The crevice tool shines along baseboards, window sills, and console seams in the car.

• Fine dust: Performance drops faster when you’re targeting fine, fluffy debris like lint or dryer dust. The filter loads up quickly, which reduces suction until you tap it clean.

Overall suction sits in the “handy” rather than “powerhouse” category; the motorized head compensates on fabric. If you rely on suction alone for embedded hair, you may be disappointed. Paired with the beater head, it’s efficient for the use‑cases it’s designed for.

Noise and airflow

It’s loud for its size. The pitch lands in that high, whiny register that pets dislike, and the side exhaust can puff air at your hand and sometimes along the surface you’re cleaning. That exhaust is typical of compact handhelds, but it can push fluff around if you’re working at certain angles. I found aiming the exhaust away from loose debris and working in shorter strokes mitigated it.

Battery life and charging

This vacuum runs off a built‑in lithium‑ion pack. There’s no power selector—just one speed—so your runtime is your runtime. In my use, I saw about 10–15 minutes on a full charge depending on how often I used the motorized head and how clogged the filter was. That’s enough to do a sofa, a few stairs, or a car’s front cabin, but not all three in a single session.

The bigger compromise is charging time. This is an old‑school, slow charge; think overnight. If you drain it during a deep seat cleanup, you won’t be back to full in an hour. The upside is lithium cells hold charge well on the wall, so it’s ready for quick tasks if you keep it plugged in between uses.

Dustbin and filtration

The 500 ml bin is generous for a handheld, and the one‑touch gate keeps things tidy when you empty. The filter and bowl are washable, which I appreciate for long‑term costs. Two notes from my experience:

• The filter clogs quickly with fine dust and pet dander, and suction drops when it does. A quick tap‑clean mid‑session brings performance back. I ended up knocking it out every other use and washing weekly; just make sure it’s completely dry before reassembling.

• Reassembly requires aligning the bowl and making sure the filter seats fully. If it’s not fitted correctly, you’ll feel air leak and see debris fallout on shutdown. Once the motion is familiar, it’s fine, but there’s a short learning curve.

Attachments in practice

• Motorized pet head: The star of the show for upholstery. Rubber bristles resisted tangles and didn’t chew fabric. It’s small enough for armrests and car bolsters.

• Extendable crevice tool: Excellent reach under car seats and between cushions. The built‑in nature is smart—no rummaging for accessories.

• Push‑in brush: Handy for vents, blinds, and dashboard dusting. On delicate fabrics, the soft brush helps avoid scuffs.

Ergonomics and usability details

• Weight and balance are good for one‑handed use, though the motorized head adds a bit of front heft.

• The trigger is a toggle, not a deadman switch, so you’re not squeezing constantly.

• The indicator light is basic—charge status rather than a percentage readout.

• The wall mount is minimal but functional if you have a convenient outlet nearby.

Durability and warranty

The plastics feel on par with what I expect at this price point: no creaks, no loose seams, and the hinge on the dust bowl has held up to frequent emptying and cleaning. The rubberized bristles look like they’ll outlast fabric brushes. With washable parts and a 2‑year limited warranty, long‑term ownership costs should be low if you maintain the filter.

Tips to get the best out of it

• Always use the motorized head on fabric; it multiplies effectiveness compared with the bare nozzle.

• Knock the filter clean whenever you notice suction dip. Don’t wait for the bin to hit full.

• Keep it on the charger so it’s topped up; plan longer jobs in segments due to the slow recharge.

• Work with the exhaust, not against it—angle the tool so the side airflow doesn’t scatter debris.

• Seat the filter and bowl carefully after washing. If you hear whistling or feel air on your face, reseat it.

Pros

• Genuinely effective on upholstery and car seats with the motorized head
• Lightweight with smart, integrated attachments
• Washable filter and bowl; decent 500 ml capacity
• Simple, clean one‑touch emptying
• Includes wall mount and charger; 2‑year limited warranty

Cons

• Loud for a handheld; exhaust can disturb loose debris
• Short runtime (about 10–15 minutes) with a very long recharge
• Suction alone is modest; relies on the powered brush for best results
• Filter loads quickly with fine dust and requires frequent maintenance
• Dust bowl reassembly can be finicky until you learn the alignment

The bottom line

The FurBuster is a specialist. If you need a fast, cordless way to lift pet hair from couches, car seats, stairs, and other fabric surfaces, the motorized pet head and lightweight body make short, frequent cleanups painless. If your expectations lean toward extended runtime, quiet operation, or heavy suction for deep carpet, you’ll bump into its limits fast.

Recommendation: I recommend this handheld for pet owners who want a dedicated upholstery and spot‑cleanup tool and are comfortable with short sessions and regular filter maintenance. It’s less compelling if you need long runtimes or if you plan to rely on suction without the motorized head. Keep it charged on the wall, use the pet brush on fabric, and it earns its place as a daily hair‑busting helper.