My Black and Decker handheld vacuums are a life saver. I'd rather have one in the kitchen and in the laundry than a broom and dustpan. MUCH easier to use. These filters are essential. They are reusable, but after a while they become so clogged with dust (even after cleaning several times) that they need to be replaced. If they didn't get dirty, they wouldn't be doing their job. But after a while, tiny particles get stuck in the tissue, and if the airflow is blocked, the vacuum no longer works…