A handheld vacuum cleaner including a handle by which the vacuum cleaner is supported during normal use and a cyclonic separating unit having a longitudinal axis and a dirt collector at one end of the cyclonic separating unit. The cyclonic separating unit includes an end portion having a closed configuration in which dirt is retained within the dirt collector and an open configuration for the removal of dirt from the dirt collector. The handle has a pistol grip configuration in which the handle is inclined with respect to the cyclonic separating unit to form an angle of not less than 85 degrees and not greater than 140 degrees between the handle and the longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separating unit.