Product Description

Do you want the ultimate in power and the convenience of cordless? Black and Decker is the first to bring Cyclonic Action to a Cordless Hand Held Vacuum! If you notice that your hand vac doesn't seem to pick up as much as it used to or it doesn't have as much power as you think it should, it's probably a clogged filter. With the new Cyclonic Action DustBuster, dirt and debris is circulated in the bowl and around the filter, allowing air to pass through the machine with no reduction in suction power. With the filtration system running so efficiently, the DustBuster has more power and more run time than any other cordless hand held vacuum in the marketplace. With the translucent bowl, you can actually see the dirt moving around the filter and you can tell when it's time to empty the collection bin.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6521 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: white and lilac
• Brand: Black & Decker
• Model: CHV9600
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 6.10" h x 7.50" w x 16.80" l, 4.50 pounds

Features

• Cyclonic Action maximizes filtration efficiency
• 9.6 volts, one-step easy empty
• Sleek design and neutral color
• Includes crevice tool, upholstery brush
• Measures 15-1/2 inches long,; one-year warranty

Amazon.com Review
Powerful suction and cordless mobility come together in the Black & Decker cyclonic DustBuster. An impressive 9.6 volts, the compact little vacuum makes quick work of dry spills around the house or cleanup in the car or woodshop. Like other DustBuster models, this one collects debris in a bagless pop-off container. In addition, it uses cyclonic suction to minimize clogging in the filter, in turn maximizing power and increasing run time. Easily controlled with one hand, the vacuum manages well and is relatively light for its power. A single sliding switch turns it on and off and a simple push button releases the dirt cup for emptying. Cleverly stored onboard, a crevice tool and a brush attachment help you target narrow spaces and upholstery. A charging base is also included and can be mounted to the wall for tidy storage and ongoing re-juicing. On a full charge, the machine runs up to 11 minutes at a stretch. Measuring approximately 15-1/2 inches long, it carries a full two-year warranty from Black & Decker. --Emily Bedard

Customer Reviews

This Dustbuster is one good sucker!
I was very leary about buying a Dustbuster due to previous issues I had, but I must say that after using this vac for the last week, I am in love with Dustbuster again.

This Dustbuster has great suction and power. I really put this vac to the test by using it on various surfaces from ceramic tile to carpet to furniture. I didn't have very high expectations for carpet or furniture, but this little vac really surprised me. I used it to clean my stairs and it did a better job than our regular vacuum or Shark cleaner ever had. And with the help of the brush attachment, it worked great at removing cat hair from the furniture which is not an easy task to complete (those with pets know exactly what I am talking about). I even cleaned my car and my daughter's car seat with the attachments and it sucked up every crumb!

The only things that I have not liked are the weight (it is a tad heavy for long cleaning periods) and the noise factor (it is fairly loud and scares my toddler). Also the machine is a little bulky, so it doesn't fit too well into tight spaces without the attachments. But this isn't too much of a problem since the attachments are located right under the vac itself, so it is hard to lose and very convenient to use them.

You can clean this vac in a snap. I love the cyclonic filter that traps more dirt than the traditional Dustbuster. Even washing the filter is easy, it just comes apart and washes in warm, soapy water. And with the clear container, you know exactly when to empty it.

If you are looking for a powerful little vac that is versitile enough to use anywhere in the house, then I would highly recommend this Dustbuster. It really makes cleaning easier!

***Update 11/05/06: Well after almost 2.5 years of owning this Dustbuster, I am sorry to report that it is on it's last leg. The battery will not hold a charge for more than 5 minutes, but it still has good suction while it works. We put this Dustbuster through the ringer with 2 little messy kids and a cat. It was abused at times when my toddler got a hold of it...she dropped it many times by trying to help but it still continuted to work. It was used virtually everyday and it held up better than I expected it to. I doubt anyone expects a Dustbuster to last forever, but I was happy with its performance over the past 2 years. I would still recommed this product, but just be aware that it's life span is only a couple years at best. Happy shopping!

It's important to know WHEN to charge...
Many reviews here complained about the battery/charger lifespan. It's unfortunate that most people don't understand rechargeable batteries well and the manufacturer fails to provide the info.

This handvac uses NiCd rechargeable batteries, which perform best if fully discharged periodically. It's due to the so called "memory effect", meaning the battery "remembers" the depth of the normal discharges and adjusts its capacity accordingly. So if you usually run your vac for half a minute before placing it back to its charging base, its capacity will go down to half minute soon.

The base can be wall mounted and tempts you to charge your vac after each use. I'd suggest you leave the base unplugged until the battery quits. Then unplug again after charging overnight. This should keep the battery in good condition for years.

Great initially... but once the battery fades it's useless - and you can't replace the battery
In the first few months of owning this DustBuster, you will probably think it is truly amazing and wonder why you didn't buy one before. We did. In fact, we liked it so much that we bought a second one so that we could have one in our basement and one easily available on our first floor. However, within the first year of ownership we watched the battery performance degrade to the point where they are now useless. When you turn one on you have maybe 20-30 seconds or so of sucking power and then you just listen to the motor wind down... and basically not be able to pick up anything.

This *might* be okay if there were some way to replace the battery, but sadly it is a sealed case and so it looks like we'll just have to junk these units, which is a complete shame and waste.

The convenience of the Dustbuster is great, but we'll now be looking for one that: a) uses Lithium-Ion batteries so that there is no memory issue; and/or b) has replaceable batteries in the event it really dies.

Like I said at the beginning, we found these units to be great vacuum cleaners... until the battery died. (I would note that some of the older reviews are reporting the same issue.)