Black & Decker Cordless handheld vacuum (8V)

Why I reached for this handheld

I keep a small vacuum within arm’s reach for the everyday messes—coffee grounds near the grinder, cat litter scatter, crumbs on car mats. This Black+Decker handheld fits that niche: light, simple, and always on its wall cradle by the back door. After several weeks of use, it’s clear what it does well and where it runs into the limits of its compact size and 7.2-volt motor.

Design and ergonomics

At 2.3 pounds, the Dustbuster is genuinely easy to grab with one hand and maneuver. The center of mass sits close to the wrist, so it doesn’t feel tip-heavy even when the 384 ml (about 1.3 cups) dirt bowl fills up. The body is compact (roughly 17 by 5.6 by 4.5 inches), and the translucent, bagless bowl makes it easy to see when it’s time to empty.

The power control is a push-and-hold trigger rather than a toggle. That has pros and cons. On the plus side, it’s impossible to set down running, and quick on/off bursts make sense for spot cleaning. On the downside, holding the button for the full cleaning session can fatigue a finger if you’re working for several minutes straight.

I appreciate the integrated crevice extension at the nose—it slides out about two inches for edging along baseboards and between car seats—and the included upholstery brush is handy on fabric. One small caution: retracting the extension can take a firm push and then it snaps back quickly, so keep fingers clear of the seam.

Build quality is serviceable for the price and weight. The plastics are thin but not brittle, the bowl latch clicks positively, and the base fits the tool securely. It doesn’t feel premium, and the nozzle area is a narrow channel that can trap longer debris, but nothing in the design suggests fragility with normal use.

Power and pick-up

For an 8-volt class handheld, suction is respectable but clearly tuned for hard surfaces and small debris. Here’s how it fared in my tests:

• Hard floors and countertops: It handled rice, oats, sugar, and coffee grounds in single passes. Cat litter and dry soil were no problem, though the bowl fills fast when you’re chasing scattered granules.
• Low-pile rugs: Surface crumbs and grit came up, but embedded sand and hair required slower passes and sometimes a second go. Expect it to freshen, not deep-clean.
• Upholstery: With the brush attached, it did well on pet hair on a car seat and couch arms. Short strokes and a couple of passes worked best.
• Car mats: Loose dirt and crumbs lifted easily; packed-in sand took patience and still left some specks behind.

The nozzle design deserves a special note. Because the opening is narrow and necks down, longer fibers or hay-like bits can lodge near the inlet instead of traveling into the bowl. It’s not a clog per se, but you may need to tap the nose or pull out a strand or two with a finger. That’s a trade-off of a slim nose profile.

Noise is average for a small handheld—audible but not shrill. It’s fine for quick jobs without waking the house.

Battery and charging

This model uses a built-in lithium-ion pack, and the runtime I measured matched the spec: roughly 9 to 11 minutes of continuous use from a full charge. That’s enough for a small kitchen sweep, a quick car tidy, or a staircase. It’s not meant for whole-room cleanups.

Charging is via a wall-mountable base with a simple plug-in adapter. The indicator is on the plug itself; it glows red while charging and switches off when full. I typically park the vac on the cradle between uses so it’s topped up. From empty, it was ready again later the same day in my use; I treat it as a “charge between tasks” tool rather than timing exact hours.

There’s no battery gauge on the unit. You’ll feel performance taper a bit before it stops. The pack is not user-replaceable, which is typical at this price, but worth noting.

Filtration and maintenance

The airflow is a straightforward single-stage system with a washable filter (HNVCF10) and a washable bowl. Emptying is as easy as popping the release and tipping contents into a trash bin. For best performance, I found a quick filter tap-out every couple of uses prevents suction drop-off, and a proper rinse of the filter and bowl every week or two keeps the motor breathing well. Let the filter dry fully before reinstalling; overnight is a safe bet.

There’s no HEPA filtration here, and very fine dust can put a light plume back into the air if the filter is overburdened. If allergies are a concern, use it for coarse debris, not drywall dust or ash.

Replacement filters are inexpensive and easy to find by part number. Keeping a spare on hand is smart so you can wash one and use the other.

Usability details that matter

• Storage and footprint: The wall-mount base is small, includes hardware, and keeps the tool ready to go. On a counter, it sits securely without hogging space.
• Cord and outlet friendliness: The charging plug is slim enough that it doesn’t block a neighboring outlet.
• Capacity: The 384 ml bowl is adequate for small jobs. If you’re chasing cat litter around a box, expect to empty once mid-task. The translucent bowl helps you time it before airflow drops.
• Surfaces: Safe on hard floors, furniture, and auto interiors. As with any handheld, avoid large shards or liquids.
• Controls and comfort: The push-to-run button is responsive; a rubbery grip would have been welcome, but the handle shape is comfortable for small to medium hands.

What it’s best at

This is a “grab-and-go” vac that excels at fast, frequent tidying. If you’re the person who hates dragging out a full-size vacuum for minor messes, it’s ideal. It lives happily on a kitchen wall, in a mudroom, or near a litter box. It’s also a good companion to keep in the garage for quick car touch-ups.

Where it struggles is exactly where most compact handhelds do: deep debris in carpet, long strings and fibers in the narrow nozzle, and sustained cleaning beyond the 10-minute mark. If you need stronger pull or longer runtime, you’ll want a higher-voltage handheld or a stick vac.

Pros and cons

Pros:
- Lightweight and balanced; genuinely easy one-handed use
- Integrated crevice extension and included upholstery brush cover most small tasks
- Washable bowl and filter, with readily available replacements (HNVCF10)
- Wall-mount base keeps it charged and accessible
- Transparent bin makes maintenance straightforward
- Two-year limited warranty for some peace of mind

Cons:
- Short runtime (about 10 minutes) limits larger tasks
- Narrow nozzle can trap longer debris near the inlet
- Push-and-hold power button may fatigue a finger over long sessions
- No battery gauge; performance simply tapers off
- Filtration is basic; not ideal for fine dust or allergy-sensitive users

The bottom line

I like this Dustbuster for what it is: a compact, no-fuss helper that handles day-to-day crumbs, cat litter, and car-seat grit without ceremony. The combination of light weight, simple attachments, and a small wall cradle means I actually use it, which counts more than spec sheet bravado. Its limitations—short runtime, modest suction on embedded debris, and a nozzle that can snag longer strands—are real, but predictable at this size and voltage.

Recommendation: I recommend it as an affordable, convenient spot-cleaning tool for hard surfaces, upholstery, and quick car tidy-ups. If your expectations match its strengths—fast grabs, small messes, frequent top-offs—you’ll get good value and low-friction cleaning. If you need deeper carpet performance or longer sessions, step up to a higher-voltage handheld or a stick vac instead.