The little thing is cool. I wasn't expecting much at this price point, but after two years of use (about twice a week, 5-10 minutes at a time) it's still holding a charge and sucking up kitty litter, bathroom floor hair and stains. - in clay mud. It also works great in the car - just as good or better than a rental car from the car wash. (However, my SUV has a durable plastic floor, not carpet, so I can't comment on its performance on carpet.) Sand and dirt from potted plants aren't a problem. Cleaning the vacuum itself is a different story. The filter is completely clogged with dust and other debris, and a few touches in the trash can create a cloud that's best not to be inhaled. This isn't a party picking out stuck hair. In a way, this is a good feature: it speaks to the suction power of the vacuum cleaner, and I'm always a little surprised that the device still sucks so well with the filter loaded. But I'd rather not go outside to vigorously shake the filter. Fortunately, the filter is washable and showed no holes or other signs of wear after a few rinses with detergent in the sink. Also: Yik.