This Foldable Vacuum Is a Must-Have for Tiny Kitchens, and It’s on Sale (It Has Over 18,000 5-Star Amazon Reviews)
I recently had the pleasure of cleaning up an entire pound of spilled coffee grounds in my freezer. A metal bracket on my (non-functioning) ice maker ripped open the bag, and when I tried to remove the bag, I covered everything below it in a dazzling shower of finely ground debris. Of course, as I pulled out frozen boxes and bags to dust them off in the sink, the grounds only spread farther, compounding a localized accident into a widespread coffee-tastrophe across my kitchen. It was then that I realized: I should invest in a handheld vacuum.
Not all handheld vacuums are worth their price tags. Some aren’t strong enough to keep dust and dirt from falling out of the front, and others stop holding a charge after a while. So, when you find one that avoids both of those pitfalls, isn’t overly expensive, and has a smarter-than-average design, you feel like you’ve struck gold. That’s the case with this handheld vacuum from BLACK+DECKER, which has definitely earned its more than 18,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
The one feature of the 20V Max Handheld Vacuum that won over the most Amazon reviewers is its suction power. It picks up crumbs, superfine dust, and hair — and it refuses to let them out of the dirt compartment until you’re ready to empty it. That makes it an ideal tool for cleaning up flour, powdered sugar, or even little mountains of coffee grounds and the thin layers of coffee dust that each one of them leaves behind.
One user tested the Max Handheld on an already-vacuumed rug and found that it sucked up more dirt — including stuff embedded deep in the fibers — than their other vacuum (which they sent into early retirement). Other reviewers boasted about using it non-stop for over 12 minutes on a fully-charged battery. That number may not seem big, but keep in mind that handheld vacuums are meant for tackling small jobs and are not trying to replace your primary vacuum.
The thing that intrigues me most about this little powerhouse is its swiveling head. One of the reasons I got rid of my old handheld vacuum years ago is that I didn’t like how its rigid design prevented it from cleaning hard-to-reach spots. If I wanted to clean under my coffee table, I had to move the table to accommodate the vacuum (!), which wouldn’t let its head lie flat on the ground. But by putting the front of their device on a swivel, BLACK+DECKER made something that adjusts to its surroundings. You can reach into sofa crevices, dead spaces under coffee tables, and even a coffee-ground covered ice maker without straining your wrist (or giving up in frustration).
When you’re done making your little (or big) mess disappear, this handheld vac folds in half and stays out of the way on a 7-inch-wide dock that doesn’t take up much floor space. And, because the flip-style brush attachment is built onto the head, there are no extra parts to keep track of. A cleaning tool that keeps itself neat and tidy: What more could you ask for?
Buy: BLACK+DECKER 20V Max Handheld Vacuum, $57.98 (normally $89.99)