The Makita XLC02R1B addresses one of the most significant issues that cordless vacuums have – charging time.
This lightweight vacuum takes around 25 minutes to recharge.
Just to give you the numbers, the Dyson DC59 Motorhead that uses a Nickel Cobalt Manganese battery will take around 3-1/2 hours to recharge, the Black & Decker Platinum BD2000FL takes even longer at 5 hours.
Both these vacuums are among the top sellers in Amazon’s bestseller list.
Being a Makita, you can expect rugged performance from this. You can use it inside your workshop as a shop vacuum, inside your home or vehicle.
On a side note, please check out my article on how to clean a shop vac filter by clicking on this link.
The XLC02R1B is the latest version, but functionality and feature remain similar to the previous versions. It does not have any motorized brush, so don’t expect too much from it in terms of cleaning carpet.
It will run for up to 15 minutes based on the spec sheet in Makita’s website.
One caveat is that this won’t be able to clean medium or plush carpet because it does not have a motorized brush.
Aside from that limitation, it can pick up anything as long as it fits the opening.
This model is the newer version of the Makita BCL180W that currently is out of stock in Amazon.
How is it different?
According to Makita, it has a new charger and battery and a redesigned floor nozzle that maneuvers better than the old one.
A quick look at the features
- A full charge will provide up to 15 minutes of continuous run time
- A 2-stage cloth filtration system
- Weighs just 2.7 pounds
- Body measures 18-3/4″ inches long, and if you add the floor and extension wand the total length would be 39-5/16″
- Uses Makita’s 18V Lithium-Ion 2.0 Ah battery (BL1820) that improves run time by 50% (from 10 minutes it goes up to 15 minutes)
- The charger has a built-in mechanism (Star Protection Computer Controls) that protect the batteries against overcharging, over-discharging and over-heating
- The charger has a fan to cool down the battery thus lengthening the lifespan
- Compatible with other Makita batteries that have a star symbol
- 3-year warranty on the tool and one year on the battery
Pros
- It takes only 25 minutes to recharge
- Strong suction that is capable of picking up large debris like bolts and nuts and finer ones like sawdust
- Compatible with other Makita batteries with a star symbol, so parts are abundant even if the battery breaks down
- “Star Protection Computer Controls” prevent the battery from overloading and overheating
- Great to use on workshop areas because it is robust enough to tackle small bits of dirt like sawdust
- You can use this to clean floors as well as upholstery, tables and other areas above the floor
Cons
- If you include the extension wand, it is still less than 40″ long, so if you’re close to 6 feet tall you may need to bend down to clean the floor
- No brush tool included in the package but you can purchase one separately for around $15
- Floor tool has no motorized brush, so you con’t use this to clean carpet
- Short 15 minute run time
What to expect from this fast charging Makita?
One of the great features of this cordless cleaner is the fast charger that will only take 25 minutes to recharge.
It has Makita’s patented “Star Protection Computer Controls” that protects the battery from overcharging and overheating.
So you don’t worry about leaving it on the charger longer than needed.
It also has a built-in fan that cools down the battery as it charges, so this feature helps extend the service life.
It has a 2-stage cloth filtration system that surprisingly performs even if it clean a lot of fine dust.
While other vacuums will struggle with cleaning sawdust, this will not.
Not for tall folks
The overall length of this vacuum is just a shade under 40″ if you include the extension wand.
This short compared to other stick vacuums, so if you’re over six feet tall, you will have to bend down to use this on floors.
Attachments and Accessories
It comes with a total of three attachments – (1) floor tool, (2) crevice tool, and (3) extension wand.
You can store the crevice tool on a clip attached to the wand (see photo above).
Charging Time
It will take roughly 25 minutes to fully charge the 18-volt lithium-ion battery, which is 10 minutes more than the previous model. Still, Makita says that this version has a system called the Star Protection Computer controls that protect against overloading and over-discharging.
Filter Clean up
Cleanup is easy.
First, remove the dirt cup by twisting then empty the dirt inside.
There are two parts to clean up here – the pre-filter and the cloth filter itself. To remove the pre-filter, just twist then pull it out. Gently tap it on the garbage bin to remove any dirt.
Battery Life
According to Makita, the run time has increased by 50%, so from 10 minutes, it has risen to 15 minutes when used continuously.
Like the Dyson cordless vacuum, you’ll need to push the power button for this to run. It isn’t the most comfortable to use, but it designed to maximize run time.
Warranty
Makita gives consumers a 3-year warranty on the tool and a 1-year warranty on the battery.
Bare Floor Performance
The verdict is almost unanimous, on bare floor surfaces like tile or hardwood, this cordless will perform its best.
The strong suction is enough to pick up various types of debris like dust and even pet hair on this surface.
Underneath the primary floor tool is a rubber squeegee that funnels dirt toward the suction chamber.
It also comes with a crevice tools just in case you need to clean larger pieces of debris like bolts or nuts.
If with cheerios, the crevice tool can pick these items up.
Carpet Performance
It does not have any motorized brush, which limits this to cleaning surface dirt on a low pile carpet. If you have a lot of carpet at home, then avoid this. You’ll be better off with a Dyson DC59 or a Hoover Air Cordless 3.0 or the Linx Stick.
Pet Hair Removal
The lack of a motorized brush also limits the effectiveness of this on cleaning pet hair. It will do well pick up pet hair on bare floors, but on the carpet, it won’t be able to pick up embedded pet hair in a medium pile to a shaggy rug.
If you want to clean pet hair on upholstery, you can try using the crevice tool, but it won’t be efficient as a pet hair tool.
Upholstery Performance
The crevice tool will work just fine in cleaning up loose dirt and larger debris on upholstery (as long as it fits in the opening of the crevice tool). But it lacks a dusting brush that could have helped cleaning vents and keyboards.
Product Specifications
| Attachments | Crevice tool Extension wand Floor tool |
| Brush roll on/off | Not equipped with a brush roll |
| Battery | 18V Compact Lithium-Ion 2.0Ah Battery (BL1820) |
| Charger | 18V Lithium-Ion Rapid Optimum Charger (DC18RC) |
| Charging time | 25 minutes |
| Battery life | 15 minutes (continuous use) |
| Net weight (with battery) | 2.7 pounds |
| Shipping weight | 6.1 pounds |
| Overall Length | 39-5/16" (with the extension wand and floor tool) |
| Battery indicator | No |
| Filter type | 2 stage filter: 1 - plastic mesh 1 - cloth (both are washable) |
| Dust capacity | 20.8 oz |
| Watt hours | 27 |
| Noise | 71 dB |
| Voltage | 110v |
| Manufactured in | Japan |
| Warranty | 3 years on vacuum 1 year on battery and charger |
What do consumers say?
Even though this is a relatively new product, all of the consumers who’ve used it loved how it performed on bare floor surfaces.
Strong points were its being lightweight and the strong suction. The best part is they didn’t have to wait for hours to charge fully.
While Makita said, it would take up to 25 minutes to charge fully. Some consumers reported that it only took them as little as 15 minutes.
One consumer mentioned removing the rubble squeegee underneath the floor tool, which made it easier for him to use it on the carpet.
He said that cleaning performance didn’t suffer even if he removed it and that it is possible to install it again because it has a recessed grove.
Other consumers purchased this because they owned other Makita products that used similar batteries.
Some said that it did not work well on carpets because it did not have any motorized brush.
Where can I buy this?
You can buy this cordless shop vac on Amazon, and it’ll come with their free 2-day shipping if you join Prime.
Please note that if you purchase through the link above, I will earn a commission, but at no additional cost to you, so it’s a win-win for both of us.
To Wrap Up
This lightweight cordless cleaner would be great on small to medium-sized homes with mostly bare floors like hardwood or tile.
It has excellent suction and robust enough to allow it to clean dust and other types of debris small and large.
It will work great on home workshops for DIY enthusiasts because it will not struggle with cleaning stuff like sawdust and the likes that other vacuums will struggle with.
It will not work great though on carpets because it does not have any motorized beater bar, but other than that, it has a few limitations.
Run time is just 15 minutes, but it will only take 25 minutes to charge, so that negates it.
