BLACK+DECKER 20V Lithium Compact Hand VAC, BDH2000L

UPDATE: It is now 2019(!), and I have been using this vacuum for 6 years now. It still functions, and I am still using the original filter. Nothing has changed from my original review, there are still things I would like to change about this product (specifically the way the top locks - or doesnt lock - into place consistently) but the fact that I have gotten 6 years of use out of a handheld vacuum is unprecedented so far for me so I am happy to overlook that flaw. No broken parts, battery still holds a decent charge (I get about 20 minutes of uninterrupted vacuuming out of it at this point, which is more than enough for small cleanups), and the vacuum basically functions as it did when I purchased it. This appears to be a solid product with a reasonable price point and proven durability, so it still gets 5 stars from me. ______________________________________ Original review below: ______________________________________ After several negative experiences with other vacuums, I wanted to wait to do a long-term review of this product because, for me, how a vacuum cleaner holds up to prolonged use is more important than my first impressions. I have now been using this vacuum for 2 years, so I feel pretty confident in giving this product 5 stars (i.e. I love it, with a few minor nitpicks). Why I bought this vacuum: I wanted something to quickly pick up small amounts of debris without having to haul out the much heavier and more cumbersome upright vacuum. I keep it plugged into its dock in the main living area, so I can quickly grab it whenever needed. Things I love: After buying this vacuum, I got golden retriever puppy, so its safe to say that about 90% of what Im vacuuming up nowadays has some amount of dog hair in it. Even though I didnt buy this for handling pet hair, this vacuum handles it flawlessly. In fact, I frequently use it to grab up the stray tumbleweeds of dog hair that often migrate into the various corners of the house (pet people youve probably dealt with this before). Youll need something much more powerful to get the pet hair out of carpets and furniture, but for hardwood floors, tile and other hard surfaces, it works great. For those who dont have pets, theres still plenty of uses for this thing. I use it to grab stray crumbs on the kitchen floor in between deep cleanings. Its great at picking up small leaves and dirt that get tracked in near the doorways. During the Christmas season, this vacuum is my go-to for picking up the Christmas tree needles which inevitably end up scattered everywhere (much like the dog hair!) So, in summary, Id say that the vacuum is absolutely great for cleaning small to moderate amounts of debris off of pretty much any type of hard surface. I wouldnt recommend using it to clean pet hair or debris out of carpets or upholstery, although it can do so, provided its not embedded very deeply. Cleaning: The vacuum is bagless and can be disassembled into 5 pieces for cleaning which you can see in the photo. Its a pretty straightforward process since most of the pieces are plastic. Theres a cloth filter which can also be cleaned or replaced, as needed. The filter pops out and can be emptied into a trash bin, the full disassembly is only required if you want to clean all the parts (I tend to do this after 2-3 times of just emptying the cartridge). After cleaning, I like to put a couple of drops of essential oils (peppermint, etc) on the filter, which gives the room a nice smell while vacuuming. So far the filter and all internal parts have held up well with only cosmetic damage from scuffs, etc. Cons: Theres not much to mention here, but a couple small things worth noting: 1. The top of the vacuum cleaner is one solid piece that has to be clipped into the rest of the body of the vacuum. It can sometimes seem like it is locked in but, if you do not do this correctly, the end will fall off during vacuuming. This can be annoying, as you have to stop and re-attach it again. Id recommend future models include a better locking mechanism, or at least something that holds together a bit better. 2. Battery life is good; however after 2 years of moderate to heavy use, I get about 10 minutes of solid vacuuming before the battery dies out. Id say this represents an overall degradation of about 50%, given that, when new, the vacuum could handle about 20 minutes before needing a recharge. This is, of course, a rough estimation, and I havent compared performance to other vacuum models, just something to be aware of. It doesnt bother me much given that I only use it for small amounts of debris and not for vacuuming the entire house at once. Who would I recommend this for? -Anyone who has hard floors or surfaces they want to clean, without the hassle of a full-size vacuum. -Dorm use -Studio apartments -People with pets who want a quick way to get hair out of their (non-carpeted) surfaces

Bought it for the car, however it great for spiders and insects that you can catch and release outside

Its very handy, I wish the charged battery life last longer....

This small vac was just what I wanted to pick up hair etc. and works great to suck bugs out of the window. It is rather noisy but you dont use it that long. It does not hang up to charge , sets on the floor, but charges fast and lasts plenty long for me to scoop up my bugs. It sure is easier than getting my big vac out and plugging it in.

Keep this handy little vacuum in the garage and use it frequently to clean the interior of our vehicles. Good suction,convenient charging station and seems to be good quality. Does the job

If you dont want to read, heres the summary : It was an excellent vacuum for the first month, although there were some issues with the way the vacuum was designed. After about 2 months, the battery started going. Now, after having the vacuum for 3 months, it lasts for about half as long as it used to, the crevice tool is broken, and the vacuums suction is only strong for about 10 minutes. Three months ago when I bought this, it was a great vacuum. Here were the perks : - Excellent suction - Doesnt blow dust out of the back - Easy to empty - Lightweight - Built-in crevice tool means you dont lose it, and its easy to use (and clean). Great for getting underneath stuff Initial drawbacks : - The vents in the dust cup get clogged with dust immediately and are difficult to clean - The connection the vacuum makes with the charging station is precarious. You have to be careful to make sure it turns on and that it doesnt get jostled while charging. - The vacuum doesnt seem to last as long as it should (maybe about 30 minutes). When it starts to lose power, it takes about 5-10 minutes to fully die, but during that time it becomes increasingly useless, depositing anything larger than dust if you tilt it slightly while cleaning. Other vacuums Ive had in the past remained powerful for a longer period of time before completely dying. - This vacuum doesnt have quite as much suction as the best handheld Ive had, but it also doesnt blow half of the dirt and dust it collects out of the back of the vacuum while youre using it. It WILL, however, blow some dust out of the back, so dont put your face behind it. - Like every other handheld vacuum Ive found, the crevice tool and nozzle will easily scratch a lot of soft surfaces like the top of large plastic bins and soft wood floors, desks, and countertops. You have to be careful with what you use it on. How I used this vacuum for the past 3 months : - Vacuum was used, on average, probably about once every week and a half to two weeks - When used, vacuum would sometimes be used for two sessions in one day, with about 3-5 hours of charging in-between. - Emptied vacuum when 1/2 to 3/4ths full - Tapped out dust cap each time - Scraped dust out of clogged vents in dust cap - About half the time, I allowed the vacuum to die fully before charging it fully. - Vacuum was constantly kept on the charger and usually plugged in. - Vacuum was used for light pickup - dust, dirt, flour, crumbs, small amounts of pet hair on upholstery, mouse poo...you get the point Heres my review after 3 months : - The crevice tool started to not click into place and the problem got progressively worse. Now it barely clicks, comes loose, and starts to slide into the vacuum during use. It seems to happen as a result of the crevice tool bumping into things. The connection just isnt very strong to begin with. The crevice tool only works well if you hold it so its nearly flat against the surface. Otherwise, there isnt enough suction. - The amount of time the vacuum can be used for has decreased from about 30 minutes to about 15 minutes - The is only at its highest suction for maybe 10 minutes How this vacuum compares to handhelds Ive used in the past : Whats better : - Suction was almost as good as the best handheld Ive had - Blew out far less dust than most, including the best handheld Ive had - Easier to use than most - Better at getting into nooks and under things - Easier to tell when the vacuum is full - The curvature of the design makes the vacuum more maneuverable - The crevice tool makes the vacuum incredibly versatile - The vacuum is effective on upholstery and mattresses, unlike many Whats worse : - The suction stayed powerful for a much shorter period of time, with a longer stretch of sub par vacuuming ability - The battery seemed less and less effective starting at two months, and now appears to be half as effective as it was when I purchased the vacuum - The vents on the dust cup clog almost immediately, causing unnecessary stress on the unit - The charging port does not make as firm of a connection with the device as other handhelds do - If the vacuum is bumped or jostled slightly while charging it will misalign with the connection. Youll come back hours later and it will still be dead. - The click into place aspect of the crevice tool wears down very quickly when the crevice tool bumps against things, and will eventually stop working - The hard plastic crevice tool scratches soft surfaces easily, and the brush attachment does very little. Its also very easy to accidentally angle the vacuum wrong when using the brush attachment, causing the bottom of the crevice tool to scrape against the surface. - The crevice tool does not have much suction or power, so you need to hold it almost flat against the surface youre vacuuming to get it to have suction, which makes it far less versatile. - After 3 months, this vacuum is no longer appropriate for cleaning upholstery Changes I would like to see : - Better connection with the charging station - Flexible rubber crevice tool OR a removable rubber cover for the top of the crevice tool - Multi-layered venting system for dust cup that can be easily disassembled for cleaning - UV light for inside of dust cup to kill dust mites and dust mite eggs - Removable and replaceable dust-filter attachment specifically designed for vacuuming dust. - Ability to use corded, or cordless - Longer-lasting battery - Suction that has more staying power (can probably be achieved by redesigning dust cup) - Free, cheap, or DIY battery replacement If youre anything like me, you wouldnt mind paying more for at least ONE handheld that had the POTENTIAL for some of these features, even if it doesnt necessarily come with them. I dont mind paying extra for my toppings, as long as toppings are possible. This could be a great product that really sets itself apart.

Very portable and compact. Well built and gets the job done in my truck and my furniture after my Shepherd lounges around during the day while I am at work.

I have an older one and really love it. Needed another one for my downstairs area. It has good suction and easy to clean. I really like how it sits on the charging station base. I keep my old one near the toilet area and it also serves as a night light in the dark room.