As a college student, it is very important that an item is both effective and affordable. I had purchased a few models of vacuums before this one that were less expensive than this, however they were not as effective in cleaning nor did they have the longevity that this model has. It was definitely worth it to pay a little more for this model, as I've had it for a little over two years, and it still works great. I have a large floor carpet and a dog that sheds, which is not exactly the best combination for keeping the floor clean. However, this vacuum has made this a minimal problem! The high speed (it has a switch that allows you to switch between the fast speed and a slower speed) picks up small things quickly, such as food crumbs, dog hair, dust, dirt, and even other undetectable items. It works best for light cleaning, and is such an asset in cleaning hard to reach areas such as corners or shelves. I have even used it on my couch to get crumbs, on my windowsill, in my car, and even on my clothes when I have dog hair on me! The suction on this vacuum is very powerful and I have used this alone in my apartment without a larger hand-held vacuum and have not had problems. It holds charge pretty well (the greatest I've used it is about 45 minutes), but I always keep it charged as to not deplete the battery. It is easily transported and I can easily take it from room to room. Most importantly for me, this vacuum is clean and easy to keep clean! It does not leave any dust residue after it vacuums and the filter is easy to keep clean. After taking the time to clean, you don't want to spend an excessive amount of time cleaning your vacuum. At the same time, it's crucial for the longevity of the vacuum to makes sure that it is cleaned and not let the dirt accumulate. The suction does not work as effectively if there is build up. But the ease of cleaning this vacuum makes cleaning an effortless task! It is very easy to take apart (it is made up of the filter, the nozzle, and the holder). I make sure to check the filter after each use, and if the vacuum needs to be cleaned, I simply take off the nozzle (it has a button on the front part that you can press), empty the large contents that are contained within the nozzle into the garbage, and then twist the filter out. I tap on the filter and rotate it in order to unclog any debris that is contained in there or clinging to the filter, and then I clean the actual filter. It is worth the time that it takes to clean it (even though it really is not that time consuming at all), because the payoff is large. It retains the high suction power so that you can continue to use your vacuum. Additionally, it comes with a long nozzle that you can use as well as a supplement to this vacuum, but I've never used it. It reaches corners just as well without it, but I can see how it would be useful! This vacuum comes with a cradle that you place the vacuum into the charge. There is a little light that shines to designate that the vacuum is charging. I use the vacuum to almost its full capacity, and then I connect it when the battery is almost depleted. This way, I don't overcharge or undercharge the battery. The manual that comes with the vacuum states that you should have twelve to fifteen minutes of use depending on whatever setting you use. I usually use the high setting for heavier particles such as dog hair or any dirt on carpets, but the low setting is just as effective in picking up small items on less porous surfaces. It is lightweight and easy to transfer. The design is also optimal for usability, and avoids the problems of vacuums with a cord. It is also really easy to store and does not take up space at all. I am very satisfied with this vacuum overall; it has made my life a lot easier (and cleaner!)

mm1392

USA

I somehow like the Black & Decker products since they run less pricey as compared to other leading brands but works well. I bought this Black & Decker 14.4-Volt Cyclonic DustBuster Vacuum about three years back over Craigslist. I did not mind it purchasing over Craigslist since I needed it mostly to take the mess off the two area rugs I had. Since, the vacuum was already used for over a year by the previous owner, I did not expect it to really do any wonders or work as powerful as it should, but I was so very wrong. This little machine works as a cyclone, I underestimated it's power and strength. It is a cordless vacuum that charges while hung on the plug, which is actually a con. The battery over charges in the process and really affects the machine in the long run. Though I got it just to clean the rugs, I was so habitual of this little cyclonic vacuum that I used it everywhere around the house, under the bed, the oven, to clean the stairs and many more difficult to reach in places, and it worked well every time. It is so easy to clean and handle.

anjali12

USA

The Black & Decker Cyclonic DustBuster 1400 Vacuum served me well over the years. This vacuum is very powerful for its size. When I first used this vacuum I underestimated its sucking power and ended up clogging the vacuum with a lot of small heavy objects. I was able to deep clean my stairs on numerous occasions with this vacuum. This vacuum did an excellent job of removing dog hair from my carpet and my clothes. I will say that I wasn't too fond of the snub nose design of this vacuum, but it really worked in my favor when I needed to reach odd places to clean in my garage. I was able to clean my car, the stairs, and laundry room on a single charge. I did have to empty the debris container several times during this process. Sadly this vacuum died on me after 5 years of use. I would definitely recommend the Black & Decker Cyclonic DustBuster 1400 Vacuum to anyone looking for an extremely powerful machine at a decent price.

kingoftheink

Westchester, IL

I honestly am not sure why I thought buying this dust buster was a good move on my part. I actually believe I convinced myself that my kids would think it was fun to use, and may even pitch in with the cleaning occasionally. I could not have been more wrong! I think we have used this vacuum maybe three times in the five years that we have owned it! Maneuverability The dust Buster is light and easy enough to operate but that is about the only positive thing I can say about it! Ease of Maintenance It appears to be easy enough to clean and the head of the vacuum does pop off which presumably allows for easy cleaning. However the bag inside is extremely difficult to clean and the vacuum clogs quickly with dust! Suction Performance The suction power starts out strong but lasts for less than a minute before it quickly begins to lose power! I seriously found myself recharging this thing after only several minutes of use. Versatility Initially I had hoped to use this vacuum for hard to reach places to clean, like between couch cushions or in crevices that a traditional vacuum would not reach.This was not very functional for those purposes because the vacuum is poorly designed and does not fit into small places. Durability I guess you could say the dust buster is durable in that I use it so infrequently that I am quite sure it will last forever as it sits on top of my closet wasting valuable space!

Jntmerz

USA

The Black and Decker Cyclonic Dustbuster vacuum is the perfect vacuum for quick tidy ups, stairs and cars. I love to use it to spot clean the animal fur on my wood floor. It is so easy to carry around and it is so maneuverable. I can also take it out to my car. It will fit under the seats and in the corners and cracks. This is a wonderful vacuum. It is not very big, so you don't want to be vacuuming large floors at one time. It also doesn't carry very much dirt so you have to empty it quite often. However, when I need to clean up quickly before company comes over or anything like that, I can easily whip out the DustBuster and make my house look great. Suction Performance It is pretty good. It is easy to tell when it is getting really full because the suction decreases drastically. Versatility It can be used for a lot as I mentioned above, but it definitely has it's limitations. Durability I've owned mine for a while with no problems. I think that its durability is great.

Scottie8384

USA

I bought this to use on my furniture and it works beautifully! Even though I do not allow the dog on the furniture, he gets other ideas in mind when no one is looking. I hate having dog fur on my clothes, much less my furnishings and this product truly takes care of the dog hair with very little effort! I also started using it on my stairs because it is so light weight and portable it works wonderfully for jobs like that which are virtually impossible to do with a traditional vacuum. Maneuverability It will go anywhere you need to go. Truly black and decker has lived up to their reputation and created another stellar product! Ease of Maintenance Very easy to maintain and empty Suction Performance Works very well! It gets the dog hair up off of my stairs and furnishings! Versatility I love that I can use this to get any places that a standard vacuum cannot. Design It is incredibly lightweight and durable. I love it! It also has a sharp look to it. Dare I call a vacuum pretty? Durability very durable.

caelan20

Undisclosed

I had mine for only a month and it stopped working. I gave it a higher rating though because my grandma had one for 15 years and never gave out on her. I am rough with my small appliances so I'm giving it the benefit of a doubt. Maneuverability It is extremely easy to move around. It is light and not to heavy. It's cordless so you don't have to worry about getting snagged on anything. Ease of Maintenance I had a hard time cleaning it out at first. I don't like reading instruction manuals so I tried figuring it out on my own. After cleaning it the first time you wont have any problems afterwards. Suction Performance I was impressed by how much power that little vacuum had. It works very well for small messes. I used it after I swept to get any spots I might have missed in the places that are hard to get to. Versatility I think it is great. Design Very compact and handy for when you need it. Durability I dropped mine a few times but it worked fine afterwards. I have to wonder if it was the charger that gave out on mine.

CassieMorrison

USA

Commercials often show the Black and Decker Dustbuster products picking up heavy objects like nuts and bolts. They will do that, but that isn't the purpose of the Dustbuster. It's great for cleaning up chunky material dropped on the floor like dropped dry cereal that kids snack on. It's also great for a quick stair cleaning or cleaning under sofa cushions. Maneuverability The Black and Decker Dustbuster no matter which model is made for portability. That's why you see so many in cars. They are battery operated or rechargeable making them ideal for maneuverability. As far as getting around tight spaces, if it fits in the space (say under a sofa) great. Like anything it does need some room even for it's compact size. Ease of Maintenance All you have to do is loosen the bin and poor the contents into your garbage. If it's too messy, I'm sure a damp rag will do the job fine. Suction Performance I don't think I'd want to replace my vacuum cleaner with the Dustbuster. It's not great at getting the deep fine dirt. I Versatility The Dustbuster works great in just about any room, vehicle, or workshop. I'm sure it works anywhere a whisk broom would be used. Design If there is a way to make the nose a little longer and thinner to get into the deep places under furniture or behind my dryer, it would go way up in my score. Durability I think this depends on how hard and how much it is used. It's going to work longer doing light clean up in a house than it will cleaning up sawdust and small nails in a workshop. If you use it everyday or several times a day, it's go to wear out a little fast than if you use it less frequently, again depending on what you are using it for.

GlendaKFralin

USA

I just got this vacuum and I can say I totally love it. I have dogs and they shed a lot but now i have no worries because I can clean my couch with no problems. Also I love about this vacuum is the suction is strong and will not leave any dust or particles in my couch and I can also use it in my car.

MichaelCasa

USA

I got the Black & Decker 14.4-Volt Cyclonic DustBuster Vacuum CHV1400 as a gift and I really like it. As my title says, this product really sucks, I mean it has GREAT suction power for a product of its size. I like to keep a neat house and I can never have enough cleaning equipments/products in my house. Although I have another hand held vacuum from a different brand but I like this one too. It has two speeds, I wasn't so sure if that would be as useful but it actually is. Even at the low speed setting, this has optimal suction power. This sucked up all the pet hair nicely. I read somewhere that if you remove the plastic screen, you can see a lot of lint between the screen and the conical filter. I decided to try that and I was very surprised to see that the accumlated lint was even larger than the little holes in the plastic screen. Lesson learnt was that even if you see the cup is empty, that doesn't mean you shouldn't pull the screen off and check for lint.

RICHAKAUL

Undisclosed