BLACK+DECKER dustbuster PIVOT VAC

Long enough for quick jobs, short for anything bigger. The Pivot Vac is rated at 10 minutes, and one timed run came in at about 10 to 11 minutes per charge. That covers crumbs, a car seat or a flight of stairs, but doing the whole car in one go will likely mean a recharge.

Yes, for a cordless handheld. The Dustbuster Pivot handles pet hair, crumbs, sand and cereal spills well. The first impression can be a bit underwhelming, but on real messes it does the job, and the flip-up brush helps work hair out of upholstery.

Corners, car seats and the gap behind furniture. The snout on the BDH2000PL angles so you can reach in without twisting your wrist, the crevice extension pulls out for narrow slots, and the flip-up brush works on upholstery. All of it is built in, so there's nothing to lose in a drawer.

Emptying is easy, cleaning the filter less so. The bowl on the Pivot Vac comes off quickly and the filter is washable, but fine dust lodges in the filter folds and takes some effort to get out. With heavy use the 0.47-liter bowl fills fast, so plan on emptying it after most jobs.

It's mixed. The Dustbuster Pivot weighs 3 lb and is often called light and easy to handle. It has a fairly bulky body, though, and if you're used to a slim handheld it can feel heavy, especially when you're reaching up to shelves or curtains.