Black & Decker PHV1800 Bagless Handheld Cyclonic Vacuum

Although I agree with the other reviewers on the features of power/good suction, I must respectfully disagree with the reviewers who gave this vac such high ratings, for the following reason. After using it only twice, I attempted to empty the dirt chamber and clean the filter, and found it such a hassle that I returned it to the Target store where I purchased it. Black and Decker changed the design of the filter assembly in a way that now makes it a very messy and time-consuming job to clean. The loose material and cat hair that was sucked up got all trapped in the pleated cone filter and when I opened the dirt chamber to empty it, I was greeted by a mess of debris and dust all tangled up in the filter so tightly that simply turning it over to empty it was impossible. Cleaning it meant going into every pleat of the filter with a brush or paper towel to try to remove the dirt....a bigger job than the original cleaning job itself! And this was after only using it twice.

I can't imagine what  B&D was thinking when it made this design change. I feel that I must advise AGAINST buying this item.