Black & Decker Pivot Handheld Review

While having a full-sized vac is essential to keep your house clean, it’s not always the most convenient solution. If you have children, pets, or you often make a small mess; you might want to consider getting a handheld vac.

The Black & Decker Pivot is among the most popular handheld vacuums. It’s small, compact and straightforward to use on most floor surfaces and at any time. Because it’s so convenient and comfortable to use, the vacuum is ideal for pretty much all households, workshops, and it is also one of the best car handheld vacuums.

Take a moment to read the article below as we discuss its performance, features, maneuverability, and much more.

This Vacuum is For You:

  • If you have pets – if you’re dealing with kibble, litter, and pet fur regularly, you should consider the Pivot handheld. It’s easy to use on such small problems thanks to its movement and onboard tools.
  • If you need an easy-to-use vac – regular vacuums are often much more powerful but also larger and not as convenient, especially on small, messy piles.
  • If you struggle with storage space – this Black and Decker model is compact and small enough to fit in tightest areas and smallest storage drawers.

This Vacuum isn’t For You:

  • If you’re cleaning large debris – things like cereal are nearly impossible to clean with the Pivot handheld vac. Other similar stuff that’s about as big will probably give you as much trouble.
  • If you’re allergy-prone – this one is small, so its filters require more frequent cleaning. On top of that, the cleaning process isn’t the safest for people who are sensitive to dust.
  • If you need long battery life – this Black and Decker vacuum offers no more than ten minutes of battery life. In most cases, that’s enough, but some people think a few minutes more would be useful.

Features

This handheld vacuum has a high-performance motor offering stronger suction. It comes with a supreme filtration system that ensures everything trapped inside remains there until you empty the vac.

Plus, its pivoting nozzle makes all the difference when it comes to maneuverability. It makes the unit easier to maneuver in especially tight areas.

Another thing worth mentioning is the Lithium Technology offering fade-free power that’s especially important in battery-operated units.

Design

Right at first glance, you’ll notice its modern looks and attractive design. However, there’s more to this Black and Decker model than just looks since such a design has a special role.

As its name implies, it’s pivoting which makes it much easier to use than most other handheld vacs. It allows you to set it up in different ways depending on what you’re cleaning. Overall, it’s designed to be compact and simple yet useful and efficient.

Size & Dimensions

This one is about as small as all handhelds, which makes it easy to use and store away. Since it has a pivoting nozzle, you can even say it’s foldable.

The unit measures 18×6.88×6.75 inches in total while weighing no more than 3.7 pounds. Such compact size allows versatile use in your home, office, workshop, and garage. It’s also ideal for cleaning car interiors.

Suction

This handheld is known for superior suction power. Its 20V, cyclonic suction system, and fade-free battery work together to deliver enough power for your everyday needs.

The cyclonic action spins the dust particles away from the filter, and as a result, prevents loss of power. It’s powerful enough to tackle hair, fur, dust, sand, and other lightweight particles. It doesn’t do as well on larger pieces, but that largely depends on the surface you’re cleaning.

Accessories & Parts

Black & Decker built this vacuum with onboard accessories. For this reason, you won’t be able to add any extra hoses or attachments of your choice.

This one comes with a crevice tool and dusting brush both built into the body of the unit. Some think this is quite useful since it keeps the tools at hand and makes storage easier. Others, however, would like a bit more versatility.

Warranty

This handheld vacuum comes with a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer. Though this is much more than what most manufacturers offer for handheld vacs, keep in mind that the actual deal is quite limited.

It covers damage caused by faulty materials and manufacturing but doesn’t include misuse, neglect, and normal wear and tear.

Flooring

This one is suitable for all types of floors and above-floor surfaces. Because it’s made for spot-cleaning, you can concentrate on one area regardless of the actual floor type.

Of course, it might be trickier to use on high-pile carpets, but everything else is quite simple to clean with this Black and Decker handheld.

Carpet

This one is efficient on low-pile carpets and area rugs. It’s ideal for carpeted stairs and pretty much any area that has a thin carpet.

However, it might not be as suitable for high-pile carpeting. In most cases, even the best handheld tends to get stuck to thick carpets and long fibers. Also, such carpets might shred and clog your vacuum.

Hardwood

Hardwood and other bare floors are quite easy to clean with this vacuum. Its onboard accessories and strong suction allow you to clean nearly any type of dry mess.

If you have children and pets, you probably have different pieces and particles all over your hardwood. This is where this Black & Decker handheld vacuum comes into play because it’s so practical and powerful at the same time.

Maneuverability

Maneuverability is a big part of this vacuum. Black and Decker came up with this unique and useful design which makes the unit maneuverable and easy to use.

The pivoting nozzle rotates over 100° meaning you can fit it into tighter spaces that were otherwise tricky to reach.

On top of that, the unit weighs less than 4 pounds, which makes the overall experience more comfortable.

Maintenance

This one isn’t much different than other handhelds on the market. Because it’s so small and compact, it requires frequent emptying regardless of the type of dirt you’re cleaning.

It’s best if you empty its dust cup after each use so that the vac is always ready for use. Another thing worth mentioning is its filter. In most cases, you’ll have to wash it every six to nine months, depending on how frequently you use the vac.

Noise

Vacuum Noise Level

This one makes a significant level of noise, much like all handheld models. In most cases, it’s due to the powerful motor placed into such a small housing.

Its noise levels are 78 decibels at 3’ away, which is quite reasonable for such a model. However, it might be a bit too noisy in small areas such as car interiors.

Battery (Charge Time)

This is a battery-operated vacuum offering some ten minutes of runtime. Unfortunately, we don’t have any official information on exactly how long the battery runs.

It comes with an Eco Smart charger that takes approximately four hours to recharge the battery. For this reason, it’s recommended you recharge after each use, so it’s always ready.

Cordless or Cord?

The unit is battery-operated, so you won’t have to struggle using a cord with such a small vacuum. Though there’s no cable or need for power sockets, you’ll have to keep in mind its runtime.

This one cannot run for longer than ten minutes. Though it sounds like too little, it’s usually enough for most small piles of dirt, messy car interiors, and other such situations.

Bag or Bagless?

It has a dust bin that’s quite small and requires frequent emptying. In most cases, you should empty it after each use because its capacity is only 0.4L.

Most people think it’s easy to empty, which adds to the overall convenience and efficiency of the unit. The dust bin is transparent so that you can see when it’s full.

Filter

The vac has one filter that’s washable and reusable. It’s located near the dust bin which you have to remove in order to reach the filter. One thing you have to remember is that the filter requires some maintenance. You probably won’t ever have to replace it, but you should remember to wash it every six months.

Pets

The Pivot handheld is among the best models to clean small, daily messes your pet tends to make. Because it’s so lightweight and easy to use, the unit is ideal for dealing with kibble, litter, dirt, sand, and pet hair.

Kitty Litter

Kitty litter is usually made up of larger particles, which could be a bit tricky to pick up. If you have a cat, make sure to place its litter box on a bare floor since those are easier to clean.

While most litter pieces shouldn’t be a problem, larger ones might stay behind. Also, make sure the litter isn’t wet because this one is only made for dry cleaning.

Pet Hair

Pet hair is no match for this Black & Decker regardless of whether it’s long or short. It has powerful suction that’s strong enough to suck in even the most persistent hairs stuck to your furniture, stairs, carpets and other such surfaces.

Personally, we feel that the Black & Decker is one of the better handheld vacuums for pet hair.

Is The Black & Decker Pivot Handheld For You?

This one is ideal if you have children, pets, or you tend to make a mess now and then. It works much like all handheld vacuums, but its revolutionary design makes it that much more convenient and efficient.

Thanks to its size, power, and onboard accessories such as the crevice tool, this one is ideal for spot-cleaning in your home, office, garage, or workshop, and it is also one of the best car handheld vacuums.

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I’ve been a dedicated writer for Clean That Floor for approximately 3 years. I’ve written about various topics, mostly focusing on cleaning products, vacuum cleaners, mops, and simple cleaning solutions for homeowners. I enjoy testing tips and tricks on house maintenance, reviewing both the process and results.

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