Black and Decker Lithium Compact Pivot Vacuum, 18v

An odd looking handheld vacuum, this Black and Decker Lithium Compact Pivot Vacuumis an exercise is design gone mad. But, actually, it’s quite good. The cornerstone of the Lithium Compact Pivot Vacuum is its unique, patented nozzle that is manoeuvrable in itself. This makes it highly adept and getting into all those hard-to-reach places like the top of high shelves, lampshades, sofa creases, car areas and other tough spots.

Although it looks like small animal, this Black and Decker hasn’t compromised on power and suction to create this lightweight, cordless model. In fact, the suction is actually very good for the size. The pivoting nozzle folds neatly down for storage, creating a compact machine that’s easy to whip out at a moment’s notice when something is spilled.

The dust hatch is opened without your hands getting dirty and you can empty it quickly and wash or shake out the removable filter. With 35 Air Watts, this is also a pretty powerful machine and the suction is excellent for the price. Well designed and thoroughly eye-catching, this is probably Black and Decker’s best handheld and a true rival to the Dyson empire. See all the reviews here

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Key Points:

• Runtime: 10 minutes
• Charge time: 4 hours
• 18v
• 200° nozzle for hard to reach areas
• Ecosmart function shuts off charger after vacuum is fully charged

The overall design of this Black and Decker Lithium Compact Pivot 18v Vacuum cleaner is really interesting and very practical. A one-handed design, this is more efficient and easier to use than the Black and Decker Flexi model and the 200° pivot nozzle allows you to get into, on top of and under any awkward object.

Lightweight and comfortable to use

The usability of this machine is further increased by the lightweight and comfortable design. Balanced perfectly as to not strain or tire your arm, this light machine uses a lithium ion battery to reduce the weight more. Because the nozzle pivots, you don’t need to more your arm into awkward positions to get to the dirt and dust and this means that it’s a great tool for everyone, including the elderly.

Designed for small to medium light jobs, this is great for loose pet hair, crumbs and dry spills but doesn’t have the power for embedded hair or tough dirt in carpets. It makes a good car vacuum cleaner for the times you need a quick tidy up before your mother-in-law is a passenger and is ideal for those last minute clean ups before guests arrive at home.

The translucent dust collector enables you to see when to empty it and with a 0.44 litre capacity, that’s not necessarily every time you use it. For hygienic emptying, simply open the side door and tip the contents into the bin. The filter is removable and washable and if cleaned regularly, this should last a long time.

Included Tools and Attachments

An integrated crevice tools means nooks and corners aren’t off limits to this Black and Decker pivot vacuum cleaner and it can easily get down the creases of sofas and car seats. Without a brush attachment, delicate areas like full shelves aren’t going to be easy to vacuum but this is really a tool for soft furnishings and cars.

The charger is very useful with an auto shutoff feature that turns itself off after the vacuum is fully charged. Charging takes around four hours and the machine has about a 10 minute run time. This is fairly typical for this type of handheld but it’s still short compared to the new Dyson DC58 which runs for 20 minutes and has greater power and suction.

The Black and Decker Pivot Vac is a mid-range handheld that’s designed for small, loose spills and quick clean ups. It charges fairly fast and folds up neatly. For those who don’t want to spend too much on a handheld, this Black and Decker is one of the best in the range and it looks pretty cool too.

See all the reviews here