BLACK+DECKER dustbuster Wet/Dry Handheld Vacuum

No, it needs close contact. The HNVC215BW52 is fine for crumbs, cat litter, kibble and fur when the nozzle is right on the mess, but it pulls little from even a short distance. Suction can also fade a bit during longer cleanups, so it suits quick jobs best.

For small messes, yes. The dustbuster picks up damp coffee grounds and minor spills with its wet/dry nozzle. It's not for anything bigger, and at least one person skips liquids altogether after hearing of trouble with them. Empty and rinse the bowl right after any wet pickup.

Very easy. The bowl on the HNVC215BW52 empties in a few seconds, and the foam filter pulls out and rinses clean under the tap. Replacement filters are cheap, so swapping in a fresh one when the old one wears out isn't a big expense.

For spot cleaning, yes. The dustbuster's charge covers the short jobs it's built for, like a spill on the counter or crumbs under a high chair. A full recharge takes a while, though, so leave it on the wall charger between uses.

It's mixed. One person uses the HNVC215BW52 to skip trips to the car wash, but two others found it not strong enough for car interiors. For a quick crumb pickup on the seats it works. For ground-in dirt in carpeted footwells, it falls short.

On its wall-mount charger, which needs two screws to install. At 1.4 lb the dustbuster is small and light enough to reach under bookcases and fit in a cupboard, so it's easy to keep close to where messes happen.