A handy way to clean up after Santa.

• Position: What's New? - Brief article

For quick cleanups, we've always relied on a handvac, which is great for minor spills and crumbs, but it really doesn't have much versatility. New from Black & Decker, Towson, Md., is the Flex Mini Canister Vac ($69.99), the first ultra-compact cordless vac with a four-foot flexible hose.

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Like the Dustbuster, it's rechargeable and lightweight, so it's very portable, but the difference comes from its flexible hose with attachments. The long reach lets us tackle high shelves, ceiling fans, and light fixtures, and its small size allows us to clean the stairs, window blinds, and even the car quickly. With the accessories, we can get in tight spots such as inside couch crevices and around appliances.

The high-rev motor provides more suction power to deal with big and small messes, and the cyclonic action...