Black & Decker Dustbuster auto

Black & Decker Dustbuster auto
RRP 29.99
Best of the web 19.99 at argos.co.uk

Overall

Performance

The cleaner is lightweight, despite being rugged, making it easy to manoeuvre into awkward corners. Suction is good on loose dirt, but it struggles with lifting hairs and any muck that has been ground into the carpet. A detachable brush helps here, but it's too flimsy for anything but light work.

Ease of operation

A five-metre cord attaches between the car's cigarette lighter and the cleaner, which is more than long enough to reach every extremity of all but the biggest car. Operation couldn't be simpler there is a single on/off switch, and a button to release the dirt holder and access the filter.

Buying

The Dustbuster auto's no-nonsense design is matched by a no-nonsense price that the canny buyer will be able to push down by shopping around. You get what you pay for, though, so if you want top-notch performance, you'd best look elsewhere.

Quality

The cleaner is made from simple, cheap-looking plastic. This means you can push it round the car's nooks and crannies without worrying about marking it, but you might want to hide it if the neighbours walk by. The cord doesn't detach, meaning it dangles untidily when the cleaner's not in use.

Special features

Simplicity is the key to this cleaner. The brush attachment sits neatly under the cleaner, meaning it shouldn't get lost, while a single button pops the dust collection box off when it's time to empty it. It comes with a two-year guarantee.