Handheld vacuum cleaners Black & Decker Dustbuster Pivot
Black & Decker Dustbuster Pivot 18V
Black & Decker has introduced a new range of Dustbuster handheld vacuum cleaners, with nozzles able to pivot 200 degrees in order to vacuum hard-to-reach corners.
There are four versions of the cordless Dustbuster in the range, the 9.6v PV9625N-GB, 12v PV1225NB-GB, 14.4v PV1425N-GB and 18v PV1825N-GB. We’ve given the 18v version (£89.99) a trial run to see whether it lives up to its promises.
Dustbuster Pivot PV1825N-GB
Black & Decker says the Dustbusters are smaller and more compact than previous Dustbuster handheld models but have a 40% larger capacity for collecting dust and dirt.
We didn’t find many practical applications for the pivoting nozzle during everyday vacuuming – the vac’s small size means it can get into tight spots pretty easily anyway – though it might be useful for those with impaired mobility who need to avoid bending to get at hard-to-reach spaces.
The rotating nozzle is designed to make tackling fiddly jobs like cleaning overhead shelves and underneath cupboards and sofas easier, according to Black & Decker. The nozzle can also be folded away for easier storage but, disappointingly, when we pointed the vac’s nozzle downwards, the dust spilled back out of the nozzle.
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Design flaw
Our researcher was left covered in dust after falling victim to dust spillage when the nozzle was pointed towards the floor. On closer inspection we found that a plastic flap inside the vacuum cleaner, which is supposed to prevent dust and dirt from falling back down the nozzle, doesn't always fall shut.
As a result, dust frequently tipped back onto the floor, especially when you fold the Dustbuster Pivot into its stow away/charging position.
We gave our findings to Black & Decker, which told us: 'Black & Decker is aware of the issue and are making a modification to the unit that will resolve the problem identified by Which?.
'We would like to thank Which? for its continued focus on product testing and commitment to establishing consumer awareness of best in class products.'
Black & Decker said that only a small number of vacs are affected by the fault. If your Dustbuster is one of the affected models, contact Black & Decker customer services on 01753 511234 for a replacement or refund.
Vacuuming with the Dustbuster Pivot
Aside from dust leakage, we were generally impressed with how well the Dustbuster Pivot sucked up dust from carpets, wood and skirting boards. The dust container seemed able to hold quite a lot of dust considering its small size.
The vac is quite heavy and vibrates a lot in your hand, which could make it uncomfortable to use for long periods of time. Even worse is the sound it makes, which seems as loud as most full-size vacuum cleaners but higher pitched.
Which? verdict on the Dustbuster Pivot
While we found the Dustbuster Pivot easy to use, we got only 10 minutes’ vacuuming out of it before its battery started to run down - despite charging it for 24 hours before its first use, as recommended in the manual. It was still reasonably effective after that point, but lasted only thirteen minutes in total before the battery ran out completely.
The Dustbuster comes with a docking station that you stand it on for charging and storage. A blue light indicates when it’s charging – though there’s no indication given when the vac is fully charged up.
The Black & Decker Dustbuster Pivot will be available from August in Argos and Currys.
Pros: Sucks up dust well, relatively large dustbin, nozzle can be folded away
Cons: Dust spills back out of the vac when the nozzle is directed downwards, takes a long time to charge, short battery life, noisy, heavy