Best Reviewed
Handheld Vacuums
- Best cordless handheld vacuum Black & Decker 18V Pivot Vac PHV1810 *Est. $55
- Best corded handheld vacuum Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Hand Vacuum *Est. $30
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Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac
- Cleaning power
- Two speeds
- Pivoting nozzle
- Reusable, dishwasher-safe filter
- Energy Star-qualified battery charger
- Two-year warranty
- Expensive
- Noisy
- Bulky
Owners and experts are almost unanimously glowing about the cordless Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac. In comparison tests, it has excellent results on carpet, bare floors and along baseboards. Owners agree it's easy to use and the battery lasts long enough to clean up most messes. Key features include two speeds, a 10-position pivoting nozzle, an integrated extension nozzle, a dishwasher-safe filter, an upholstery brush, a crevice tool and a wall-mountable charging base that's Energy-Star certified. Black & Decker backs this vacuum with a two-year warranty. If you want to spend less on a cordless vacuum, the Dirt Devil Extreme Power Hand Vac (*Est. $45) doesn't have as many features, but it's powerful and lightweight.
ConsumerReports.org includes the Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac in its thorough comparison testing of 12 small vacuums. Australia's Choice magazine and New Zealand's Consumer magazine also include the Dustbuster 18V in their testing. It is also one of the models in a Popular Mechanics video review that tests three vacuum models. We also read two older reviews at The Wall Street Journal and ConsumerGuide.com. Amazon.com is the best source for user reviews of the Dustbuster 18V, but Epinions.com also has some user reviews.
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org compares 12 hand vacuums, including the Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac. Editors recommend four models after conducting tests on carpet, hard floors and along baseboards. Individual ratings are also given for ease of use, run time, recharge time, emissions and noise level.
Review: Small Vacuum Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, March 2009
2. Choice magazineDetails/Subscribe
This Australian counterpart of ConsumerReports.org rates consumer products based on rigorous independent testing. Their 10-vacuum roundup includes the Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac, which earns the top rating. Editors evaluate vacuums on their ability to suck up cornflakes and flour from a hard surface as well as potting mix, sand and pet hair from carpet. Unfortunately, most of the other models included in this review are not sold in the U.S. or have been discontinued.
Review: Handheld Vacuums Review and Compare, Editors of Choice magazine, Feb. 2009
This New Zealand publication conducts testing of the Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac and six other models of hand vacs at Choice magazine's lab, which may explain the similar model selection as that publication's handheld-vacuum review. The Dustbuster 18V receives the top rating, with excellent results on both carpet and hard flooring. Testers say the tools that store with the docking station and pivoting nozzle make this vacuum easy to use. A few downsides noted are its heavy weight and noisiness.
Review: Hand-Held Vacuum Cleaners, Editors of Consumer magazine, March 2009
4. PopularMechanics.comDetails/Subscribe
This short video shows the Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac excelling at picking up both sifted flour and wet kitty litter. Testers call this handheld vac a "powerhouse," saying it "leaves behind a nearly spotless carpet." It outperforms the other two handheld vacs tested.
Review: Video Abusive Lab Test: Handheld Vacuums, Editors of Popular Mechanics, Dec. 2006
This review compares five models of handheld vacuums, but the top pick and two other models are now discontinued. Testing consists of spreading a "holiday dirt mix" of potato-chip crumbs, wrapping-paper bits and other debris onto carpet, tile and a car interior and then vacuuming it up. The Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac is powerful, but testers prefer the inexpensive Shark Cordless Hand Vac SV736 (now discontinued) because they say the Black & Decker's heavy backend makes the vacuum difficult to hold.
Review: No Crumbs for Christmas, Charles Passy, Nov. 23, 2007
6. Amazon.com
The Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac is a favorite at Amazon.com, where it has accumulated more than 550 owner-written reviews in two separate listings. The majority of reviewers give it a perfect 5 stars. Top-rated features include the pivoting nozzle, the good suction relative to other cordless hand vacs and a two-year warranty.
Review: Black & Decker 18-Volt Pivoting-Nose Cordless Handheld Vacuum, Contributors to Amazon.com
The Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac is one of five hand vacuums to be named a best buy. Although this review goes into a reasonable amount of detail about the features, there's no indication that any independent testing was done.
Review: Black & Decker PHV1800 Pivot Cordless Hand Vacuum, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Jan. 2007
8. Epinions.com
There aren't many reviews of the Black & Decker Dustbuster 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac at Epinions.com, but owners who have posted go into enough detail to make a stop here worthwhile. As at Amazon.com, reviews of the Dustbuster 18V are glowing and emphasize its power and versatility. Negatives include a high noise level and the fact that this hand vac is a bit larger and heavier than other handheld vacs.
Review: Black & Decker PHV1800 Bagless Handheld Cyclonic Vacuum, Contributors to Epinions.com
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