One of the most significant limitations of hand vacuums is the reach.
It’s a great tool to use as a quick spot cleaning tool. However, one significant limitation of a handheld would be its inability to clean floors.
The new BDH2020FLFL solves this issue by adding a floor vacuum extension to the package so that you won’t need to get down on all fours to clean floors.
Will this effectively replace a stick vacuum?
Black & Decker BDH2020FLFH Review
The addition of this tool provides users an option to clean dirt on hard floors. However, it’s useless on the carpet because it doesn’t have a motorized brush for agitation. Some have called this the best portable vacuum, even better than the higher-rated BDH2000FL because it has the floor tool, which makes it even more versatile. I like the flexible hose and onboard tools since it provides it more reach. One thing I don’t like is the battery, which is built into the unit, so if it breaks, you’ll have to purchase another handheld vacuum.
A quick look at the features
- Uses a 20-volt lithium-ion battery
- Lightweight – weighs less than 4 pounds
- Equipped with a 4-foot flexible hose
- Extension wand attachment makes it usable on floors
- Other tools include pet hair brush tool, crevice tool, 2-in-1 nozzle/brush tool
- Filter is washable
- It’s a bagless vacuum
- Cyclonic filtration keeps dirt away from the filter thus maintaining performance as the bin gets full
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to carry around
- Has several attachments to clean different types of dirt like dust, pet hair and larger debris like cheerios
- Floor attachment allows you to clean floors without bending over
- Decent suction at 25 air watts (only three less than a Dyson DC59 at normal mode)
- Charges in around 4 hours
- Great for stairs
Cons
- Lacks agitation to clean carpet (strictly a bare floor cleaner)
- Small dirt capacity
- Only for spot clean-ups nothing more
- You will need to wash the filter often
- Hair or any statically charged dirt tends to stick on the inner walls of the dust bin
- Noisy – sounds like a lawnmower according to some reviews
What can you expect from the Black & Decker BDH2020FLFH?
Feature-wise, this is similar to the BDH2000FL I’ve reviewed in the past. The main difference is that this new model has an extension wand plus a floor attachment that transforms this from a hand vacuum to a stick.
The floor tool, however, does not have a motorized brush, which makes this very limited on carpets.
And oh, it has a little bit more suction compared to the previous version.
This one packs 25 air watts of suction power while the BDH2000FL has 22 air watts.
Attachments and accessories
It comes with four attachments – crevice, 2-in-1 nozzle/brush, pet hair tool, and the floor nozzle.
You can attach all the tools on the extension wand, so this extends reach.
Charging time
Black and Decker did not specify official charge times, but based on consumer reviews, it will take between 4 to 6 hours to charge fully.
In a review done by The Sweet Home, they reported a 4 hour charge time.
Filter clean up
Emptying the dirt canister is easy; all you need to do is pull a latch then open the door. But it can be messy to empty, especially when there is some moisture as dirt tends to clump up.
Statically charged dirt also will tend to stick on the inner walls. So you may need to use your filters to empty or take out the whole bowl and wash it in a sink.
The good thing with the cyclonic filtration is the filter does not clog as fast.
Again in the review by TheSweetHome, they had to wash it after every two charge cycles.
But judging by what they clean, I would consider it the worst-case scenario. It would all depend on the type of debris you are cleaning and how often you’ll use it.
Yes, the filter is washable, so the running cost won’t be high.
Run time
The average run time, again based on reviews, is around 15 minutes. The guys at the sweet home got 16 minutes in a full charge, so expect it to be at a 15-minute range.
Warranty
It comes with a 2-year warranty, one year shorter than the Black & Decker BDH2000FL.
Bare floor performance
Even with the floor tool, this handheld vacuum is, at its core, a spot cleaning tool. But it is an excellent addition because it allows it to clean floors.
Take note, however, that if you are using the floor tool, that suction will decrease slightly based on some consumer reviews.
If you are using the other attachments, suction is strong enough to pick up even larger bits of dirt like cheerios or pet liter.
Carpet performance
This variant does not have a motorized brush, so it won’t be able to clean carpets.
It will only be good enough to clean up loose surface dirt.
All of the tools that come with this are only usable for cleaning surface dirt.
Pet hair removal
To clean up pet hair, the BDH2020FLFL uses a round-shaped and textured tool that has a hole in the middle.
It is made from rubber. So it will follow the contours of the surface you want to clean.
It is excellent to use on upholstery like sofas or chairs and even pillows.
Unfortunately, the floor tool does not have a motorized brush that will pick up pet hair off carpets.
It relies purely on suction to pick up dirt, so you cannot use this to clean pet hair on carpets.
Product Specifications
| Model | Black + Decker BDH2020FLFH |
|---|---|
| Attachments | 2-in-1 nozzle /brush tool Long crevice tool Pet hair tool Stick vac floor head |
| Battery | 20 volt Lithium Ion (integrated) |
| Charger | Charging base |
| Charging time | 4 hours |
| Battery life | 15 minutes |
| Net weight (with battery) | N/A |
| Shipping weight | 6.9 pounds |
| Overall length | 14.4" (without the floor tool) |
| Battery indicator | No |
| Filter type | 2 stage filter: 1 - plastic mesh 1 - cloth (both are washable) |
| Dirt capacity | 17 oz |
| Air Watts | 25 |
| Voltage | 110v |
| Manufactured in | China |
| Warranty | 2 year limited on vacuum, battery and charger |
Customer Reviews
People love the power of this handheld, saying that it is more than enough for spot clean-ups though they noticed that the power dropped when you put on the extension wand and floor tool.
Also, the floor tool did not have any brush roll, which makes this virtually useless on carpets. But it is still usable on hard surfaces.
One consumer even mentioned that it was impossible to move this back and forth on carpets.
Pet owners will find this one useful because even without the pet hair attachment, it still has enough power to pick up pet hair using the crevice or combo tool.
The pet hair brush would be most useful on upholstery as the contoured rubber tool will adapt to the contours of any sofa or chair.
As with all electronic tools, there are some complaints of lemon units as a few consumers complained about the lack of suction.
Noise is also another issue as several people complained that it sounded like a lawnmower.
There were several complaints about the manual not easy to read. Black & Decker should improve this in the future.
Overall, consumers loved the portability and versatility that this product brings in the table.
It may not have the most potent suction, but it’s decent. It will hold its own even against pricier handhelds like the Dyson.
Though don’t expect too much from the floor tool because it does not have any motorized brush and the long extension wand saps some of the power.
Where can I buy this handheld?
You can buy this versatile handheld from stores like Amazon and Walmart. Please check the links below for more information about the latest price.
Disclaimer: I will earn a commission if you purchase through any of the links above, but at no extra cost to you, so it’s a win-win for both of us.
The Verdict: Great Handheld With Some Ability to Clean Floors
This product is excellent for people looking for a hand vacuum light enough to carry around but has an attachment to clean floors without the need to bend down.
It would be great for people like me who have some back issues. This is an upgraded version of the BDH2000FL that has slightly more suction and a floor tool to clean up floors and even stairs.
This is a great little tool to have for small messes, especially if you have toddlers running around.
Take note that the floor tool does not have any motorized brush. So use this only to clean up surface dirt. You’ll still need a full-sized vacuum for deep cleaning.
If you don’t need the floor tool, then the BDH2000FL or the BDH2000FL would be more than adequate alternatives.
The extension wand is useful though to clean hard to reach areas like the ceiling and has enough suction to suck in cobwebs and dust bunnies of air vents, and you don’t even need a ladder to do so.
Overall this is a great lightweight vacuum for light messes where a full-sized vacuum would be too cumbersome to bring out.