New Delhi, Dec. 29 -- Before I switched it on, I had one simple question in mind. Will the Portronics MopCop 4 actually get used, or will it end up like most handheld vacuums that feel exciting for a week and then quietly disappear into a cupboard? I have seen enough portable cleaners that look fine in a quick demo, then start feeling out of place the moment you try real spots like sofa seams, car mats, window tracks, and those dusty corners you notice only when sunlight hits them.

So I didn't treat this like a gentle test. I used it the way cleaning actually happens at home. A quick run when I spot bits of dirt on the sofa, a few minutes in the car when the footwell starts looking rough, and those small corners I keep ignoring until the...