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Handheld vacuums have cleaning up in the bag

Portability, strong suction, quick charge key

By Lindsey M. Roberts, Special to The Washington Post
Published: October 11, 2017, 6:01am

For houses with kids or pets, a handheld vacuum is a near-necessity for crumbs or pet-hair pickup.

“This is what you’re going to reach for when your kids spill cereal in the morning or you spill coffee grounds,” says Allison Bean, editorial director of the home website The Spruce. For smaller houses, studios or condos, a handheld model can even serve as a primary vacuum.

What qualities make a good one? Experts say you want a cordless option with strong suction, a dirt collector that can be bagless, and a battery that charges quickly and has long life. Ease of operation earns extra points.

“Just the other day I was reading an article that was saying that people clean on average around one to two hours per day,” says Jason Roberts, the expert behind vacuumsguide.com. “Considering this, I believe every household should be equipped with a device that enhances this activity. A great vacuum cleaner makes boring activities, such as housecleaning, if not pleasant at least bearable.”

In her few apartments, Bean got by with just a handheld vacuum and a Swiffer. She likes Dyson’s handhelds, having owned an older model of the V7 Trigger ($199.99, amazon.com).

After 15 years of selling vacuums at Wal-Mart, Roberts became an undeniable vacuum authority and now shares this knowledge with a wider audience on his Vacuums Guide site. When it comes to handhelds, he likes those made by Black+Decker.

“Most of their products are light, three pounds or so, and sturdy,” he says. He suggests getting a product with a battery voltage of 20 or more, and recommends the BDH2000L lithium hand vacuum ($69.99, target.com).

“Everyone has a use for hand vacuums,” says Melissa Maker, author of “Clean My Space” and founder of a Toronto cleaning service. Her top choice is the Black+Decker Dustbuster compact lithium hand vacuum, model HNV220BCZ00 ($28.66, walmart.com).

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