Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsLong Term Review (6+ years) of B&D CHV1410L Cordless Vacuum
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2015
UPDATE: It is now 2019(!), and I have been using this vacuum for 6 years now. It still functions, and I am still using the original filter. Nothing has changed from my original review, there are still things I would like to change about this product (specifically the way the top locks - or doesn't lock - into place consistently) but the fact that I have gotten 6 years of use out of a handheld vacuum is unprecedented so far for me so I am happy to overlook that flaw.
No broken parts, battery still holds a decent charge (I get about 20 minutes of uninterrupted vacuuming out of it at this point, which is more than enough for small cleanups), and the vacuum basically functions as it did when I purchased it.
This appears to be a solid product with a reasonable price point and proven durability, so it still gets 5 stars from me.
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Original review below:
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After several negative experiences with other vacuums, I wanted to wait to do a long-term review of this product because, for me, how a vacuum cleaner holds up to prolonged use is more important than my first impressions. I have now been using this vacuum for 2 years, so I feel pretty confident in giving this product 5 stars (i.e. I love it, with a few minor nitpicks).
Why I bought this vacuum: I wanted something to quickly pick up small amounts of debris without having to haul out the much heavier and more cumbersome upright vacuum. I keep it plugged into its dock in the main living area, so I can quickly grab it whenever needed.
Things I love: After buying this vacuum, I got golden retriever puppy, so it's safe to say that about 90% of what I'm vacuuming up nowadays has some amount of dog hair in it. Even though I didn't buy this for handling pet hair, this vacuum handles it flawlessly. In fact, I frequently use it to grab up the stray tumbleweeds of dog hair that often migrate into the various corners of the house (pet people you've probably dealt with this before). You'll need something much more powerful to get the pet hair out of carpets and furniture, but for hardwood floors, tile and other hard surfaces, it works great.
For those who don't have pets, there's still plenty of uses for this thing. I use it to grab stray crumbs on the kitchen floor in between deep cleanings. It's great at picking up small leaves and dirt that get tracked in near the doorways. During the Christmas season, this vacuum is my go-to for picking up the Christmas tree needles which inevitably end up scattered everywhere (much like the dog hair!)
So, in summary, I'd say that the vacuum is absolutely great for cleaning small to moderate amounts of debris off of pretty much any type of hard surface. I wouldn't recommend using it to clean pet hair or debris out of carpets or upholstery, although it can do so, provided it's not embedded very deeply.
Cleaning: The vacuum is bagless and can be disassembled into 5 pieces for cleaning which you can see in the photo. It's a pretty straightforward process since most of the pieces are plastic. There's a cloth filter which can also be cleaned or replaced, as needed. The filter pops out and can be emptied into a trash bin, the full disassembly is only required if you want to clean all the parts (I tend to do this after 2-3 times of just emptying the cartridge). After cleaning, I like to put a couple of drops of essential oils (peppermint, etc) on the filter, which gives the room a nice smell while vacuuming. So far the filter and all internal parts have held up well with only cosmetic damage from scuffs, etc.
Cons: There's not much to mention here, but a couple small things worth noting:
1. The top of the vacuum cleaner is one solid piece that has to be clipped into the rest of the body of the vacuum. It can sometimes seem like it is locked in but, if you do not do this correctly, the end will fall off during vacuuming. This can be annoying, as you have to stop and re-attach it again. I'd recommend future models include a better locking mechanism, or at least something that holds together a bit better.
2. Battery life is good; however after 2 years of moderate to heavy use, I get about 10 minutes of solid vacuuming before the battery dies out. I'd say this represents an overall degradation of about 50%, given that, when new, the vacuum could handle about 20 minutes before needing a recharge. This is, of course, a rough estimation, and I haven't compared performance to other vacuum models, just something to be aware of. It doesn't bother me much given that I only use it for small amounts of debris and not for vacuuming the entire house at once.
Who would I recommend this for?
-Anyone who has hard floors or surfaces they want to clean, without the hassle of a full-size vacuum.
-Dorm use
-Studio apartments
-People with pets who want a quick way to get hair out of their (non-carpeted) surfaces
