Black & Decker Lithium Pivot Dustbuster
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A great little portable vacuum. BUT – It really could be a great little vacuum. Perfect for camping & caravans. If only the could make a battery pack that lasted, seems like the docking station is likely cooking them. Odd that you can't buy spares from B&D. I give one star due to the built in battery obsolescence otherwise it would be 5. Show details
A good handheld unit that could be better – Excellent suction, easy to use, fantastic when it works. But... the plastic hinge on the dust collector is not robust, the ability to disassemble to clean is hampered by not being able to fully break down the filter/dust collector, and battery life is an issue. The exhaust stream can be managed by working from right to left so you don't blow the… Read more
dust away before you get to it. The charger cradle is oriented such that you have to muck about to get the vacuum lined up with the charge points. The latter is a first world problem of course, but what could be an excellent product is not because of a few design issues that, remedied, would make this the best thing on the market. If you are careful with it you will get good service from it until the battery goes, but even that is abysmal given it then goes into the waste stream when it shouldn't. Could be a great product (and I like it despite the shortcomings above) but don't want to buy a replacement only to have it fail again. Off to another brand I guess, and probably with the same sort of issues. <sigh>
Battery Issue – My first Dustbuster vacuum cleaner worked very well to the end of the warranty, then the battery started to play up and stops after 30 seconds! So, I bought the newer model Dustbuster, after the end of the new cleaner's warranty, The battery started… Read more
to play up, just like the old one, and last's just 10 - 15 second of vacuuming and then it stops working. Too bad Black & Decker could not fix the battery issue in all those years.!!!
Follow-up · My Dustbuster vacuum cleaner is now sitting in my garage rarely used. I leave it on the charger overnight, but after charging, it can only be used for less than a minute before it turns off. When I turn it back on, it runs for just a few more seconds. In total, the battery doesn’t last more than two minutes. That said, it does pick up dirt very… Read more
In-depth reviews
How to fix it when it stops sucking – A good little sucker for the car until it stopped sucking. Why? Checked the battery - fine. Emptied the dust bowl. Still not sucking. Took out the filter, shook it, then washed it. Still not sucking. So it had power, did not have a dirty filter, but could just not suck up anything. What this means is that there was a blockage in the… Read more
nozzle.
I then shoved a ruler down the nozzle, but that didn't clear it.
The next thing to do is unscrew the three small screws beneath the nozzle when it joins the main unit. That allows removal of the rubber flap.
The problem was that hair and other matter was being caught in the rubber flap and couldn't get into the dust bowl. This is obviously a design fault in the unit.
After removing the flap it was easy to remove the obstruction and the unit now sucks as good as ever.
I choose not to screw the flap back in so as to prevent future obstructions. Maybe a design improvement.
It works fine now, if not better.
The vac is back! – While I am not sure if this is the exact same model I had before, am I sure that this is as good as before! I was also tempted by the Black & Decker Flexi Dustbuster with its 1.5m integrated hose, but on closer inspection, the long hose seemed to flop around and it wasn't worth the extra price.This vacuum does all the things you need it do and… Read more
does it so well. In fact, it always surprises me that there are so many vacuums on the market that fail in that first principle and don't suck properly (surely the manufacturers actually test them?)This little gem, however, sucks really well and it's nozzle is nimble enough to get into small places that are difficult to reach and clean, such as the inside and bottom of the fridge! It is also very easy to clean, however, larger objects like leaves can get stuck in the nozzle so you have to watch that. It is also easily stored on the kitchen bench (it folds up like a snail) so it's super handy too. I also have a handheld Dyson stick vacuum, which is heavier, so I use this one much more often as it's easier and does a better job.
Impressive performance – Purchased this product after carefully reading reviews & watching videos of all similar products. I had a need for a good cordless car vacuum cleaner and this little beauty fitted the bill perfectly. It has the best suction for a cordless product I have ever experienced but the trade off for that performance is that it can only be provided for… Read more · 2
around 10 minutes before recharging is required. That is a balance manufacturers have to juggle when designing a compact motorised product of this type. Accepting that, it is a beautiful little machine for vacuuming a car, doing all the skirtings around the house or vacuuming a lounge or mattress. The onboard foldout brush and extending nozzle does away with having to store accessories somewhere and the nozzle body can be set to multiple angles allowing you a comfortable hand grip at all times. Emptying and cleaning the DustBuster is a breeze and parts can also be easily removed from the main body to be flushed clean under a tap
An added feature is the inbuilt warning lights which tells you the condition of the battery and if the machine is running a bit too warm.
All in all this a very good product of it's type and in it's price range.
Positive reviews
Best dust buster – I purchased 4 of these items from Amazon for 70 dollars each they are the best,great suction ,my family and friends love ❤️ them and wow wow hold charge for ages easy to use highly recommend this dust buster,do window sills,spills on the floor you won't be disappointed I'm going to purchase there stick vac Show details · 1
Powerful and reliable – We bought this unit from Harvey Norman a couple of years back and it's never missed a beat. It is the most powerful and reliable dustbuster we've ever had, easy to empty and clean. Show details
Nifty Vacuum – I bought the Dustbuster a day before the flood this year hit that retailers store. It was an impulsive purchase, not influenced by any sales person or where it was placed strategically in the store. It simply looked like something handy for cleaning up dust mess in hard to reach places, or a quick spot clean vacuum. I just love how nifty this little vacuum is, easy to use and lightweight. Show details
Negative reviews
Four years of bad reviews and B+D won't fit a better battery??? – I was reading about planned obsolescence fifty years ago. This product is a living- -working-dying example. When the battery of my Dustbuster died after two years I determinedly found a company who would replace the battery with a 'superior' one. It managed 20 months having cost me nearly as much as a new unit. I've had a B+D drill with a… Read more
Lithium-Ion battery that's lasted more than a decade. BLACK+DECKER PLEASE READ REVIEWS AND IMPROVE YOUR PRODUCT! When the Dustbuster works it is a very smart and capable design. Lousy battery drags it down to one star. This time I'm taking a gamble on another brand.
GREAT! Until the battery dies in about 2 years – This was a fantastic handheld vacuum cleaner for 2 years or so. Then it started cutting out after 15 seconds of work. After a dig around I found that this is quite common - the battery is on its way out and cannot be replaced. This is such a shame in today's world where we need to think about conservation. Unfortunately the Ryobi, etc., alternatives just don't suck as well! Show details
Great vacuum cleaner...Terrible battery life..! – As a vacuum cleaner, this unit works very well...until the warranty runs out. Then the battery starts misbehaving: It'll run for a few minutes, then cuts out. Restarting will give a few more seconds before cutting out again. No replacement battery option makes this a pretty poor offering from a maker that should be more customer-focused. Show details
Recent reviews
Good until after 2 years battery is dead – We love the Dustbuster so much that we recommended it to my brother-in-law. After 3 years, both machines have a faulty battery pretty much simultaneously. It's terrible that we have to throw away the whole thing because there's no option to replace the battery. Show details
Find out how Black & Decker Lithium Pivot Dustbuster compares to other Handheld Vacuum Cleaners
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Battery is bad – I got this B&D 18V Lithium from a Sydney retailer for about 2 years. Reasonably powerful and easy to clean. However, after more than a year, the battery went bad, running for a 10 seconds and stopping. Turn off and on again will give a few seconds more but can only do so for a few times. Did not use a lot and always put it back into the charging cradle as instructed. Could not find a replacement battery so the whole machine is useless. Show details
Minor detail – As a vacuum, this thing does the job. It’s fast and has good suction. The issue with it is the door to the compartment that collects the dust. The latch on it may as well not be there; frequently you’ll be vacuuming, almost finished cleaning, to have the Dustbuster suddenly dump all its contents back all over the floor. Awesome. Given how much this was, you’d think maybe a functional door lock wouldn’t be too much to ask? Show details
Worst buy ever – I swept up a full dustpan of hair and "bits" after using this. Chased one piece of grass all around the house and it was still there. Never again ever. Show details
Great to have for pet hair – Having 3 shedding dogs this is great for fur removal from my couch and under stools at my island bench. It is also very handy for skirting boards and places that are difficult for my day to day vacuum to access. For it's size it has a very good sized collection barrel which is extremely easy to open/empty and close without any residual dust or dirt escaping. Show details
Very poor battery life of Black and Decker Dust Buster Pivot Lithium 18V – We have now purchased two Black and Decker Dust Buster Pivot Lithium 18V hand held vacuum cleaners. The first, I assumed, had a poor battery, just bad luck. And so purchased another as performance was good until the battery expired. Internet suggested they would last 6-8 years. Both of ours lasted just under 4 years. Given that they are at the… Read more
expensive end of the market I expected more. We have followed all recommended recharging, maintenance etc. It still works but only for a minute at a time before needing a recharge. Useless!
We took one apart, hoping to replace the batteries but they are an obscure type. Not possible to replace at home. Battery supply company would charge approximately $100 with no guarantee.
We will not buy another Black and Decker Dust Buster Pivot Lithium 18V!
It should be easy to use batteries that perform for longer. Come on Black and Decker. Lift your game!
NOISY ... battery doesn't last - NO option to replace - EXPENSIVE! – A vacuum cleaner should NOT be DISPOSABLE!!! It works well enough, for a hand-held vacuum but the battery life is abysmal with no option to replace it ... so essentially, you have to fork out more money every year for another one!!! EVERYONE complains about the same thing. Why are they not fixing this flaw??? Show details
Works fine but very noisy – I've used it for two years with occasional usage and it functions as expected except that it is really noisy. The lifetime of the battery in my unit seems ok (has not died yet) and the sucking power is also acceptable. Show details
Only lasts a year – Machine works perfectly, unfortunately only lasts 12months then power unit fails and cannot be replaced, this has happened on two units, they seem to give up just after expiry of the warranty period (very handy) Show details
Love the Dust Buster! – This hand held dust buster is super useful. Its battery charge lasts about 15 minutes which is enough to tidy up before guest arrive without having to lug out the vacuum cleaner. It helps tidy up after messy jobs like grinding coffee and cleaning up the coffee grinder. The dust buster sits on it's charger when not in use and doesn't take up much space. Easy to operate and doesn't take long to charge. Don't know how I lived without one! Show details
Find out how Black & Decker Lithium Pivot Dustbuster compares to other Handheld Vacuum Cleaners
Know better, choose better.
Worked great for a while now keeps cutting out – My 18v Lithium Dustbuster keeps cutting out and after reading up on it so is a lot of other people with the same problem NO answers from anyone as to what the problem is or how to fix it Show details
Great Product for cleaning, Bad battery...only lasts around two years (2 year warranty) – I have had two of these. The first one was replaced after around 12 months under warranty as the battery was failing. I have been using the second one for 12- 18 months and the battery is now also failing...as demonstrated by it not holding a charge, so you can only use it for a few seconds or so. I was very happy with it's cleaning performance,… Read more
but very unhappy about the battery situation. If you have to buy a new one every two years (when it's just out of warranty!!) then it makes it a very expensive cleaner
A useful item to have in the home – As looking for something compact rather than taking out the vacuum cleaner. For a quick clean in tight spots, this is perfect. It has a great suction and easy to use. The agility of the suction head allows for free movement. Many of the vacs are moulded as one, here you can move the suction head to a 45 degree angle. Added is the telescopic wand… Read more
which is attached to the head, simply extend and push back in. It is designed to cater one’s needs. To date, have been happy and would recommend.
Happy with the performance when it's working, but the battery will die after 2 years – So I purchased PV1820L-XE in Mar 2017, I was quite happy with the performance, but after 2 years the vacuum's battery can only last 15 seconds after a full charge and the light will start flashing and eventually goes off and it will stop working. I tried to contact their customer care, but I was told it's out of the 2 years warranty which it's… Read more
understandable, but I was only given an option to buy a new one, they can't replace the battery or fix it for me (even on my cost), this is really frustrating as it only lasts 2 years even if you buy a new one. So to sum up, this is an expensive hand vacuum and it does the job...for roughly 2 years, if you are looking for an hand vacuum that lasts longer, then you better look elsewhere as after 2 years you are getting zero support once the battery is no longer working as it supposed to, the only option is to buy a new one.
Great for light and heavy duty work – this model has a pretty heavy duty suction especially compared to my older black and decker dust buster, powerful enough to clean things that i would normally require a vacuum. The charger is easy to attach and filter super easy to clean. Overall a great handy tool to have in the house and garage, especially like the extending nozzle to reach awkward spaces like in the lounge room, under the lounge or when cleaning the car. Show details
Used regularly – This vacuum cleaner is great. Easy to store and simple to recharge. It is there when you need it for quick and easy use. It works well and gets the job done. It isn't as powerful as a normal vacuum cleaner and the battery doesn't last too long, but for the small areas it is used for it doesn't need a big battery life. Show details
IT WORKS 2 SECONDS – even if it is fully charged .. each time you turn it on it works 2 second and stops..then you turn it on again and it stops again......it was working fine till last week...then problem started..i checked the batteries they are fine.. probably manufacturing fault as they don't continue with the model... but they are still sell them...very disappointed.. Show details
Great for a while, wouldn't recommend – A great unit for my car and caravan. There is obviously a problem with the chargers as I have had three units and all have worked great, lasting about the 15 minutes until the charger won't charge enough. Two replaced under warranty and the third out of warranty. Wouldn't buy again unless the chargers have improved. Show details
Great Portable Vacuum – This is way better than the Dyson for us. We looked at both and concluded that this is the one to get and its 1/8 of the price. Its powerfull - really powerful and the battery has a good long run time. It gets into all the nooks and crannies like the side folds of the couch and behind the fridge. Emptying dust is easy and you can see it because the bin is clear.Charging is easy too. Its the best 'dustbuster' type vacuum I have used. Show details
This item is perfect for car internal cleaning – I did some research online before purchasing it. I have to say it is really as good as the commendation on the online review. Powerful for all dirt in car, operation length with a full charge is enough for a full cleaning in car. The best part is the rotatable angle, it is really easy to access any corner you want. RECOMMEND IT Show details
One of the best hand-held vacuums – Only complaint is that it's a little loud, but that doesn't bother me when it picks up all the dust and is easy to move into all the nooks and crannies of the house. Battery life is also quite good, lasts pretty long. Amazing at picking up those dog hairs from carpet and couches. Show details
We would not be without our DustBuster PV1820L – We would not be without our DustBuster PV1820L - much better battery life and & suction power compared to the 14V. model we had previously. Use it all the time on the carpet and hard floors at home for little clean up jobs that do not warrant getting out out the large vacumme cleaner . We also take it when we go on vacation in our caravan to… Read more
clean up dirt & dust from both carpet & hard floor - being battery powered means we can use it while travelling or free-camping
Best hand-held dust buster – I am very happy with the performance of the the vac. It is super powerful and I astonished by the suction power of the vac. Its not that quiet thought. Very easy to maneuver and super simple to empty the bin. Battery last for 10 minutes and retain the suction power until it runs out juice. Show details
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