Thursday 27 December 2012

How to clean those difficult nooks - Black & Decker India


This interesting article about problem areas that we might not even notice while cleaning our homes, made me think twice. This is probably true of most of our houses, that we don’t notice a lot of stuff just by virtue of seeing things everyday and taking them for granted. Here’s a list of ways in which we can make those difficult to notice and reach places cleaned more easily:

Vacuum nozzle: Though most of us have vacuum cleaners at home, we might not really have explored all the attachments well. So many places like channels of windows and gaps in the sofas can be cleaned using the nozzle attachment that helps to reach the gaps very easily.

Toothbrushes: From crevices in vessels that may have food stuck in them, to joints between tiles, the trusty old toothbrush comes to the rescue. It is a very handy thing to have around, and since toothbrushes are always replaced every few months, there will always be a couple of old ones around without going to much effort.

Baking soda: To keep chimney grills clean, you can just sprinkle them with baking soda, and pour some hot water over them which causes most of the oily residue to come out easily. For the remaining dirt, toothbrushes can be used to get them sparkling clean again.

Steam or hot water: Most stains can be cleaned using just boiling hot water or steam, without the addition of any chemicals at all. If at all the stain proves stubborn, easy kitchen items like baking soda or vinegar are enough to clean nearly all of them. This is why the steam mop is a very effective appliance for keeping floors clean.

Ear-buds: For areas like switchboards where you might need delicate cleaning, you can use soap solution or a thinner/nail polish remover in extreme cases along with an ear-bud for a controlled cleaning operation. Watch out though as thinner can erase any markings on the switches too.

Hope some of these tips are useful for your holiday cleaning to make your home ready to receive friends and family in the new year. Do check out our page for more appliances that can help make your cleaning tasks easier:
http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Monday 24 December 2012

5 Cleaning Activities your Kids can help with - Black & Decker India


Most parents know how tough it is to keep our homes clean with young children around. The best way to resolve this might be by encouraging them to help at small chores that help to make our cleaning activities easier. This will also make them more responsible and works better than any punishment to make them think twice about making a mess. Here are some that you can try:

Making their beds: From the time they are about 6 years old, kids are coordinated enough to try doing this activity. Initially it might need a bit of secret redoing from your side, but try to make it a habit from a young age that they make their beds as soon as they get out of them.

Putting things away: I was very impressed by the Montessori method where kids learn to take one activity at a time, and put it away on open shelves when they are done with it, and before taking the next one. Of course this is easier said than done at home, but with a lot of positive encouragement from your end, you will find kids learn to appreciate having a clear space to play in their room.

Dusting: Those were to do with clearing up after themselves, but as they grow a bit older you can try giving them small chores like dusting, usually just in their own rooms. Make sure that your child doesn't suffer from any dust allergies before trying out this chore.

Using the Washing Machine or Dryer: Kids love to help with small tasks such as loading washing powder in the washing machine, or helping to segregate coloured clothes and emptying the dryer. Keep young kids away from electrical outlets, but encourage them to help with tasks appropriate for their age level.
                                                                                                                    
Folding laundry: This can often seem like a huge task on days when you have a lot of things to do. If kids have a bit of free time, it can be fun for them to separate which piece belongs to whom, and try a bit of folding too for older kids.

Vacuuming: If you have a light device that is easy to use, you can ask your teens for a bit of occasional help. They will feel much wiser to see the dust bunnies that can form under the bed, and will definitely be more aware about crumbs falling on the floor the next time they eat something.

Hope these small tips help at your place during the festive season and the coming new year. Do check out our website for details of appliances that could help:


Friday 21 December 2012

Home Cleaning Resolutions for 2013 - Black & Decker


Each of us may have a different picture of what a clean home means. Usually it is related to a specific area or problem, for example in my case it is when my home is dust free. As one year comes to a close, and another begins, it’s resolution time again. Here are some home cleaning resolutions to help make our home a space for everyone to be comfortable in:

Set a schedule: It is very easy for tasks to build up, and finally leave us at a stage when we are wondering where to begin. The best way to deal with this is to have a schedule in place to clean one part of the house intensively each day. Another example is to do one load of laundry a day. Before you know it, your home will be spotless and your everyday cleaning need will only be some light dusting.

Reduce dependencies: We are all used to our maids so much, that we feel really helpless on days that they are not around. If we can reduce dependency on them by using appliances that make our job easier, then even the occasional absence will leave us with only a little work to catch up on.


Educate your kids early: Teach your kids to help with small chores starting with putting away their things after coming back from school or after play, and you will find your task becoming much simpler. We sometimes get so used to dealing with “end of the day” messes that we don’t think of changing the situation.

De-clutter regularly: Do you have stuff stored up in the hope that you would be using it “some day”? Assess the things in your cupboards and lofts and give away or sell things that you don’t see yourself using for the next few years. This frees up space in your cupboards and in your homes, and also makes us think twice before buying new items.

Use the right tools: Whether for dusting or cleaning the floor, using the right tool or appliance is very important. Using something inappropriate only makes your job longer. Try out some new appliance once in a while and it might just surprise you.

At Black & Decker, we provide you a range of useful appliances to make your home cleaning needs easier. Do check out more details on our website:







Tuesday 18 December 2012

Gifting Ideas for the Festive Season - Black & Decker

We are nearly at the end of the year, and this is the time when a lot of festivities come and go. Sometimes, it can be really difficult when wondering what to gift somebody. Clothes or jewelry can get very repetitive, and it is also tough to assess the person’s likes and dislikes. This festive season, why not go a different route and check out these useful gifting ideas:


Cordless Screwdriver: Even for the small tasks at home, a screwdriver is something you always need to keep handy. Now there are a lot of powered versions available, which make your job much easier. Check out the A7073 Cordless Screwdriver Kit for an example - it runs on alkaline batteries and is ergonomically designed so that it is easy for anyone to use.
                                                                                                                           
Cordless Vacuums: For those small cleaning tasks, it can really be daunting to take out the large corded vacuum cleaner. At such times, it is great to have a smaller one around, which is also useful for cleaning in areas like cars, and sofa cushion edges. Especially for those sudden spills that always seem to happen when there are kids in the house, a handy model like the NV3603 Cordless Vacuum Dustbuster will get you a lot of good wishes.


Drill Kits: If you have friends or family who are interested in doing some small DIY tasks around the house, buy them a drill kit and they will hardly need any more tools to get started up. A model like the KRP12 Hammer Drill Kit includes a hammer drill, wrench, pliers and multiple drill bits and can prove invaluable to whomever you gift it to.

Steam mop: This revolutionary product can be a great way to provide that young family maker some freedom from her maid. We all know how difficult it can be when the maid does not turn up, and we need to do all the swabbing tasks by ourselves. With the steam mop, you will be gifting an easy way to get those sparkling floors, and it even gets rid of most of the bacteria using just steam.

Try it out this season, gift a useful appliance, and you might set a new trend among your family and friends. Do check out our website for more appliances and details:

Friday 14 December 2012

Introducing some lesser known tools - Black & Decker


Other than the usual set of tools and appliances that are usually quite well known, such as the vacuum or the drill kit, there are also a few less known ones that we do not hear of too much. You would be surprised once you hear of them, as they can be very useful for tasks around the house. Here’s a short look at some of them:

Pressure Washer: When it comes to cleaning your car or your garden area, nothing can beat the pressure washer. If you are concerned about the loss of water, it can actually conserve water compared to using a hose, as the mechanism allows you to control and spray only what is necessary. The force of the water also makes the cleaning more efficient so you will need less water in that way too. Black & Decker brings you a range of pressure washers, and you can choose the one that would suit your requirement.


Paint Roller: Try one of these to paint your wall the next time you need a repaint and you will never call any painters home again. The innovative RapidRoller from Black & Decker is even more efficient than using a standard roller with tray, as the paint is stored directly in the device and makes the entire process less messy and quicker.

Blower: A blower comes with different settings for different tasks, which makes it very versatile. It can be used for cleaning delicate devices like computer CPUs and also for clearing dry leaves from your garden. The B & D blower comes with a vacuum attachment too.

Car Polisher: If you thought that the car service centre was the only place you could go to for a polishing job, you will be pleasantly surprized to try the car polisher and see how easy it makes your job. It can be used to polish the car as well as other metal or painted surfaces with great results.

I hope this short introduction of the above tools was interesting enough to make you want to go and check them out at our stores. Please do see our website for more details of these products, as well as for a map with our store locations in India.






Thursday 13 December 2012

4 Handy Tools to Keep Around the House - Black & Decker


While we are still getting used to the idea of DIY for larger projects such as making our own furniture or painting a room, there are a lot of small jobs around the house that can be made easier by having the right tools. Did you ever feel when confronted by a simple task, that if only you had the right implement in hand, you could have easily done it yourself. This list will give you an idea on the 5 handy tools to keep around the house:

1.    Screwdriver: From the kitchen where those screws holding your saucepan handles keep getting mysteriously looser to the draw that looses a screw or nail once in a while, the screwdriver is the most necessary tool, and you cannot do without this one around the house. Black and Decker has a range of screwdrivers to meet your needs.

2.    Drill Kit: When you need to put up that small shelf, or even just a new portrait on the wall, a home drill kit is an amazing set to have around. You will feel very empowered to not need to wait on the carpenter for every small task, and once you start doing this, you might start attempting those tougher looking DIY ideas too.
      
3.     Mop: We are not referring to the usual plain old mop that requires you to bend and stretch a bit too much, not to mention makes it really hard to reach those under-the-bed places. Once you check out a product like our intelligent steam mop, you will never want to use anything else. It uses just water to clean up your floors of dirt and bacteria, and even has settings for different types of floors.

4.     Vacuum cleaner: For those corners that no dust cloth can reach, as well as areas like blinds that are otherwise very difficult to clean, having a vacuum cleaner will make your task much faster and easier. There is a range of vacuum cleaners available and you can choose the one best suited for your needs.

Please do visit us and check out the products yourself before making up your mind. Our personnel will be happy to assist you – here’s a map of where you can find our stores in India. For further details, please visit our website at: http://india.stanleyblackanddecker.com



Friday 7 December 2012

5 Useful Gardening Tips for Winter - Black & Decker, India


If you have a kitchen garden, you might already know that winter in India can be a great time for gardening, if you are not subject to extreme temperatures. In extreme cold, your only hope of growing something might be if you have an enclosed area like a greenhouse. In other places too, it can be an interesting experience to prepare your garden for the winter climate, and here are some tips:

1.     Grow according to the season: There are a lot of options for winter vegetables, starting from greens like lettuce and herbs, to a variety of vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli. All these do very well in limited sunlight and love the cool weather, so you should get very good results.

2.     Collect leaves for mulch: Autumn and winter is the time when leaves fall in plenty from the neighbourhood trees, and collecting these is a great way to make use of them for mulch later in summer. This way you are saving a lot of trash from the roads, not to mention using rich matter that nature has provided for you instead of it getting burnt and going waste.

3.     Establish a cleaning routine: All the falling leaves, including those falling from your own plants, can make a mess of your garden space very soon. Regular cleaning, at least once a week, is an absolute necessity at this time of the year. Make use of a strong vacuum cleaner for this task, and you won’t find it too difficult.
4.    Composting: From your kitchen waste, to all the dried leaves from your garden, all of it can be turned into rich organic material, going right back to enriching your soil. Start and promote composting as a practice in every home, and you will be amazed at the reduction in waste going out of your home.

5.    Pest control: This always has to be an ongoing routine in any garden, but winter can be a time for a lot of pests to get comfortable on your plants. Look out for aphids, especially at the bottom of the leaves, and use an organic pesticide like a neem spray regularly until you see a reduction in the problem.

At Black & Decker, we offer you a range of gardening tools, from grass trimmers and cutters, to lawn movers. Check out more details on our website: http://www.india.stanleyblackanddecker.com


Tuesday 4 December 2012

5 Easy Ways to Brighten up your Living Space - Black & Decker


There comes a time when you look around you, and wonder why your living space is looking so boring and drab. Well, that means it’s time for a makeover, and there are simple ways to do this without needing to spend a fortune on it. Here’s a short list to get you started:

Paint a wall: The easiest way to brighten up a space is to paint one of the walls in an accent colour, such as a bright orange or red. Choose a wall that receives some light else it might darken your space, and see the difference. With the right tools such as a good roller, you can even do this yourself within the space of a single day.

Hang a piece of art: You can use a piece of art, or even a family portrait to draw focus to one part of the room that also helps to brighten up the space. Another way to go about it would be to use a lot of smaller photos for a photo wall, instead of one large frame.
Bring in the plants: Indoor plants are a great way to add a splash of colour to the room, along with purifying the air inside your home as well. Do some research to check which plants would do well in the amount of light you receive, and most of these will flourish with minimal care.

Dash of colour: Instead of one complete wall, you could decided to add smaller splashes of colour by using décor pieces such as throw cushions, or a colourful vase. Even a differently coloured stool or table will do the trick equally well.

Add some space: If your space is crowded up with furniture, it will look cluttered and drab. Try to keep only what is necessary with a few foldable or light pieces that can be taken out of storage when additional seating may be required. You can also add a large mirror on one of the walls which helps in the perception of space.

All that is needed for most of these simple ideas, is a little bit of imagination, and a good set of tools. Do check out our paint roller and drill kits from Black & Decker, which will make your job much easier. More details at our website:




Friday 30 November 2012

5 DIY ideas for Christmas - Black & Decker


Christmas is less than a month away, and this is the time when we are feverishly looking around for gifts to give our friends and family. Not just in the gifting aspect, but in many other ways, DIY can make our festive occasions more budget friendly as well as more personalized. Here are some great ideas for Christmas that you can do yourselves:

Christmas Tree: Pinterest has some lovely ideas for DIY trees for this Christmas. From smaller crochet ones to bigger ones made of cardboard, you can try them in whichever size you like. Even your kids will love contributing to this project, and you can plan Christmas tree based décor pieces throughout your home in this season. I also especially love this one made from books.

Make your own gifts and tree ornaments: Do you remember when you were looking for that special something for a friend or relative, and just couldn’t find what you want in any store? You can try out whatever you are comfortable with, like home baked goodies, or lovey handcrafted items such as monogrammed tableware. This is another DIY project the kids will love to take part in.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovemaegan/6440154073/ 
Fresh produce: If you have a kitchen garden, plant in such a way that you can harvest a lot of stuff around the festive season. Can you imagine the reaction of a dear friend when he receives an organic homegrown pasta ingredients basket? You can get very creative with this, from choosing the right basket to planning the list of ingredients that are easy to grow.

Family cards: This is one idea that many of us might have already tried out, but just in case you haven’t thought of it yet, this is a great way for family especially grandparents to keep a record of how kids have grown up over the years. You can print them out yourself if you have a photo printer, or else use a nearby store just for that last step.

DIY kindnesses: If you have any elderly relatives who don’t have help around the house, the best gift you can give them would be to go over before the holidays and help them with their pending tasks like hanging up a favourite photo or just assist in the cleaning chores. Take along your gadgets and appliances for the task, and it can be a breeze!

Hope this list gives you some good ideas, and one or two of them ignite a spark in your minds. Happy DIYing!

Do check out our tools and appliances that can help make your work easier around the house in the festive season. Our website is:


Tuesday 27 November 2012

5 Easy DIY Decor ideas - Black & Decker


There are a lot of things that we can do by ourselves around the house, that we usually do not attempt to, just because we are not used to it. It is time to stop being at the mercy of the carpenter or painter, and find out how interesting it is to attempt such projects. Here are 5 easy DIY ideas to help with the décor of your home:

Wall accent: A great way to bring a room alive is to paint one wall, ideally one that light falls on during the day, in a vibrant colour, or with some textures on it. The paint is easily available in any hardware store, and the techniques are not at all difficult to learn. If you feel hesitant, start with a simple painting technique and move to textures later. 

Photo wall: Introduce a conversation piece along with celebrating your memories – by taking up an entire wall or a part of it for photos of you with your family and friends. You can put individual photos onto a larger frame and hang it up as 1 or 2 large pieces, or you can hang the pieces individually. It is very easy to do all the carpentry work required by just using a home toolkit.


Use those glass bottles: Your old glass bottles can be a great way to add a pop of colour to your rooms. Fill them with different coloured beads or stones, or even swirl a bit of glass paint around to make them look completely different – there are many tutorials you can find online such as this one.

Be seasonal: Diwali and Christmas are just two of the many festivals we celebrate and just these two can give rise to so many décor ideas. From decorated diyas to DIY Christmas ornaments, there is a lot you can try, and you can always have a seasonal corner or nook in your living room to celebrate the festival.

Upcycle a piece of furniture: The newest term is to upcycle, not just recycle. This means you can take a drab looking but basically sound piece of furniture, and with a fresh coat of paint make it look completely different and worth being the focal point of the room.

These are just some ideas for home décor - try it yourself, it’s strangely addictive. Using a trustworthy toolkit like the ones from Black & Decker can be all you need to increase your confidence. Check out our products at:






Friday 23 November 2012

Things around the house that you might have never tried to DIY - Black & Decker


DIY may sound very difficult to approach for those of us who have not tried it before. An article like this one gives some easy DIY ideas that even beginners can try out to increase our confidence. I am sure some of them such as clearing out the kitchen pantry are things we might have done at our homes, but anything like replacing a glass ourselves feels too forbidding. Here are some more ideas that might help:

 1.    If you have an old grater lying around, you can put it to good use as an earring stand. All it needs is a fresh coat of paint and it can look stunning! See this image for an example.

 2.    Before setting out to buy a new blackboard or writing board for your kids, look in your local paint shop for blackboard paint. This can turn any surface into a blackboard, so all you need to do is find a portion of the wall in your child’s room and make it a fun writing area. It can even be painted on a kitchen cupboard to turn it into your memo pad. See this link for a detailed “how to”.

 3.    One of the best ways to give a space a makeover is to use paint. It could be your front doors, or just a cabinet that’s looking worn out; a fresh coat of paint can liven up the space. This is a very easy thing to do yourself, just walk over to your local hardware store and select a shade and try it out in a small space first and you’ll see.


 4.    This one from Pinterest really got my attention – a very simple yet brilliant way to use those    large mouthed pots and vases that are always stored up because of the trouble of arranging anything in them.

 5.    The next time your dining chair or footstool upholstery gets worn out, try changing it yourself. All you’ll need is some fabric, scissors, small nails or pins and a hammer, and you are sure to be surprised at how simple it is.

Hope some the above helps you embark on your first DIY around the house, do let us know how it turned out. Whether looking for a great hammer, drill or even a paint edger, Black & Decker has one in store for you. Do check out our products at our webpage:


Wednesday 21 November 2012

How to keep your floors clean when you have a crawling baby - Black & Decker


One of the big concerns for parents of young babies is when their child starts crawling around on the floor. Suddenly the floor or carpet that was never a worry begins to look as though it’s teeming with dust and bacteria! Here are some easy ways in which you can make sure your floor is clean enough for your baby:

Put things away immediately: When something falls on to the floor, try to clean it up or put it away at once. The longer something lies around, the higher the possibility of it being forgotten, and this could lead to sharp or inappropriate objects lying within reach of the baby.

Keep pets in a separate space: If you have pets in the house, especially a breed of dogs that shed a lot, try to keep your baby in a different area from them as much as possible. This helps to keep allergens away from your child especially at a young and susceptible age, but as they grow older they will grow more resistant.


Leave shoes outside: Try to avoid shoes bringing outside dirt and germs coming into the space where babies are going to be crawling. This may not be possible in your main living space always, but keep a couple of rooms shoe-free so you don’t have to worry about cleaning the floor every time your baby starts moving around.

Vacuum and mop regularly: Most of the above steps will help in keeping your floors clean, but the best way to ensure this is by having a regular cleaning regimen. You would definitely not want to use any strong smelling or skin unfriendly chemicals when your baby’s going to be so close to the floor for a few months. Using the vacuum or a product like the steam mop are an efficient way to keep your floor free from dirt and germs in an eco-friendly way. Other products like lime and vinegar can also help even with stained floors.

Once you set some simple rules, you will be surprised by how simple it is to stop worrying about your baby crawling around and to instead enjoy this phase of her life.

Do check out our webpage for our eco-friendly cleaning products such as the steam mop to help keep your home clean and your floors baby friendly.


Friday 16 November 2012

Why you would need a pressure cooker in your kitchen? - Black & Decker

A pressure cooker is the most versatile and handy cookware in the kitchen. So, if you have been putting off buying one because you don’t know the advantages of having one, you might consider revising your decision after going through the following.

Cooks in less time: Most traditional methods of cooking consume a lot of time and by the time the dish is cooked, a lot of energy and time are lost. A pressure cooker uses just about 1/3 rd of the normal cooking time, hence is an effective tool to minimize the use of cooking gas and our time. It is a great aid when cooking quick, one-pot family meals.

Using pressure cooker


Healthier way of cooking: Since a pressure cooker uses less water and cooks in the steamed water, the vital nutrients are not lost which happens in the other methods of cooking. It retains the flavor and works well for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Safe to use: Pressure cooker these days come with high and multiple safety features which makes them very safe to use. There is no danger of the steam causing the lid to blow off due to safety valves and locks. You also have a lot of sleek and lovely designs to choose from.

Economical and green option: Using a pressure cooker saves up on the natural resources and money. The newer models are multi-faceted and can be used on all kinds of cooking stoves including induction ones. Since the direct effect is lesser consumption of energy, it is a way to go-green.

 Easy to use: A pressure cooker is totally a no-fuss-equipment that can be used with minimum instructions and is also easy very to clean.

We, at Black and Decker, offer a wide range of kitchen appliances to make cooking stylish and easy for you. Do check out our products at http://www.blackanddeckerappliances.com/


Thursday 15 November 2012

How to inculcate a sense of good hygiene in kids - Black & Decker


Teaching little ones about hygiene is a tricky yet important job. Proper and good sense of hygiene comes with practice and the best way is to start as early as possible. Children love routine; hence a consistent and clockwork routine of healthy practices should be made a part of their daily schedule.

What needs to be covered under hygiene?

Washing of feet and hands: Kids must be put into the habit of washing their hands and feet each time they come home from outside to get rid of the grime and dust.

Potty-hygiene: Once the kids are potty trained, they need to understand and follow the hygiene ritual of cleaning up and washing the hands with soap and water. Showing them repeatedly how to do it and then supervising them until they get habituated is vital.

Brushing of teeth: Doctors advise cleaning of the gums from infancy and the use of soft bristled toothbrush as soon as the child begins teething for good oral hygiene. Brushing twice a day must be made compulsory and as the child gets older, the technique of correct brushing needs to be taught.

Child brushing his teeth


Personal hygiene: Children should be discouraged to share their water bottles, napkins or towels with anyone else.  Covering mouth while sneezing and discouraging touching the mouth or nose are other good practices that need to be inculcated early on.

How to make the above activities fun and a no-struggle one?

Take the help of story books: story books that teach good habits as a moral of the story are a good way to get the child interested and used to the concept.

Sing a song: Have a favourite song for each activity and sing them together your child to make it a happy and fun moment rather than a drab chore to get over with.

Award points: Rewarding every good behavior would reinforce it further. So, make sure you make appreciate the child each time he or she does a job well or does it without a struggle. Awarding reward points like a star also helps.

And last and not the least,

Be a role model yourself:  Children learn faster with observation, so make sure you practice the above yourself.

Keeping the house clean is an important part of hygiene. We help you keep your home environment clean and healthy. Choose your cleaning gadget from our range of products here: http://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com 


Friday 9 November 2012

Tips for a Green Diwali - Black & Decker


The festival of lights has been celebrated in a traditional manner for years, and we are all aware of how this has increased smog and allergen levels in our cities. Along with the dip in temperatures, there is a lot of concern about how this might aggravate allergies, as mentioned in this article. One way of doing our little bit towards reducing the pollution is to make an effort to celebrate a green, eco-friendly Diwali. Here are some simple things you can do to make it happen:

More lights, less crackers: While most families find it difficult to move away from the traditional cracker bursting, many have also adopted this rule with gusto. Remember that there are eco-friendly crackers available as an option, though more expensive than the traditional ones. Use these as a step towards a cracker-less Diwali if you feel that a complete ban would be difficult. Where lights are concerned, avoid excessive electric lighting, and use traditional lamps.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalyan02/5154932268/ 

Greener gifts: From healthy gifting options to gifting a plant in a lovely small terracotta pot, you have a lot of ideas to choose from for a gift for diwali. Rather than gifting crackers or unhealthy fried snacks, do encourage your family and friends to try the eco-friendly route. Setting up your own kitchen garden and gifting seedlings from your own plants is also a great way to do this.

Spread the message of giving: New clothes are an expected part of Diwali, but it is also a good time to introduce a sense of generosity in children by setting an example ourselves. Not just giving away old clothing, but making a gift of new clothing and toys to the less fortunate is a good way to do this.

Clean in the complete sense: Cleaning our homes is something that has always been done over the years at the time of this festival. This can be extended to include other green tips such as waste segregation, composting, avoiding plastics and other environment friendly activities, which will be our legacy to future generations of our family.

Even with us doing our bit, it will take a lot longer for this message to spread, and therefore cleaning after Diwali is a sure aftermath of this festival too. At such a time, check out our effective cleaning options at Black & Decker, to help keep your home dust, cracker residue and allergen free. Please visit our website for more details:
http://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com 

Tuesday 6 November 2012

How to keep your upholstery sparkling clean - Black & Decker


Did you ever look at the state of your upholstered furniture, and think to yourself “Well I have kids (or pets) in the house!”. I know just how that feels, but there are some ways in which you can keep your upholstery in great condition even with a few spills along the way. Here are some tips:

Use headrest and armrest covers: This is a great way to keep furniture protected from staining, and these can be rewashed very easily. Keep an extra set of covers handy, so that you don’t need to wait for your wash cycle to finish for changing the covers. You can also keep a special decorative set for when you are entertaining.

Clean and vacuum regularly: Don’t leave the vacuuming for the time your furniture starts looking dirty; instead have a regular schedule for couch cleaning. If you have pets, you must definitely use a soft brush to remove hair once a day – even if your pet does not sit on the couch, pet hair has a way of getting on things. If your furniture has removable cushions, it is a good idea to remove and clean under them, and turn the cushions over, once a week or so. Use a smaller handheld vacuum for making this activity easier.

                 

Regulate messy activities: Have a special area for activities that you think might create a mess, such as a special plastic mat or a corner of your kid’s room. In this way, children easily get used to the rule of not doing such things on the couch or sofa.

Handle stains immediately: It is difficult to regulate everything, and sometimes even your tea or coffee might spill on the upholstery. In such a case, have a spot cleaning method ready and perform a blotting/cleaning immediately. Leaving it for later will make it close to impossible once the stain has soaked in and dried up.

Using the right implements for cleaning is as important as maintaining a regular schedule. Do check out our range of cleaning products (both powered and non-powered) on our website:


Wednesday 31 October 2012

Top 5 essential house cleaning tools and gadgets - Black & Decker


The corporations of different cities like Bangalore and Delhi are trying to get the city cleaned up in time for the festival season. Diwali is nearly around the corner, and as we are all getting set to do an intensive spring cleaning of our homes in preparation, let’s stop and consider if we have all the essential cleaning tools that we would need. Here are some reasons, along with some useful cleaning tips:

Vacuum cleaner: This is one of the first cleaning gadgets you should invest in. Depending on the space you need to clean, you can decide on the type of vacuum cleaner you might need. There is a range of them available, from upright and heavy duty ones, to lighter and battery operated ones.

Steam mop: While a normal mop can also be quite efficient, there is nothing like a steam mop to clean the floors along with killing harmful bacteria. All this can be achieved with no harmful or strong smelling additives, and depending on the mop you will also get some intelligence built into it that helps you in making cleaning choices.

Dusting needs: Dusting can seem like an overwhelming task if you don’t have the right tools for it. With an efficient dusting cloth such as a microfiber one, as well as dusting mitts kept at convenient locations, you will find it a much easier task. This is one activity that needs to be scheduled regularly and not just for spring-cleaning times like this.

Wiping cloths: Surfaces like kitchen slabs or tabletops need stronger cleaning which is only achieved by good scrubbing pads. These also tend to start smelling very soon due to food waste cleaning, so make sure they are washed regularly an kept ready for whenever necessary.



 Multipurpose brushes: Cleaning tiles or the carpets, each needs a slightly different type of brush, so make sure to keep a set of them handy before entering into any elaborate cleaning exercise. Don’t forget to clean them after you’re done, and store them in an airy place once dry.

At Black & Decker, we try our best to anticipate all your cleaning needs and provide a range of gadgets and appliances for this task. Please see our website for more details:

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Why is DIY the way forward? - Black & Decker


While reading this article about some great DIY ideas for the weekend, it occurred to me how easy and approachable most of the mentioned ideas were. There was a point of time a few years ago, when figuring out and setting up something by ourselves was a forbidding idea, but in recent times DIY (Do It Yourself) has become a more common trend. Let’s have a short look as to why this is the case:

Learn new things: A DIY project can be a very interesting window into trying a lot of new things. From teaching kids to make their own bookmarks or calendars, to learning to fix that wobbly stool – there’s a wealth of stuff out there that we haven’t done ourselves just because we haven’t tried it yet.

Save cash: We all know how expensive it can be to get a plumber or service person home, and DIY makes it so much easier for us to save that amount so that we can spend it on something special that we really wanted. You might feel there is an initial investment when you need to buy those essential tools, but in the long run, you will still save on multiple service visits by the plumber or repairman.


Get stuff done early: Have you ever waited for days for that service person to land up to look at something – if so you know what I am talking about. This way your time is completely in your hands, and you can finish up that repair yourself as early as you want to.

Improves confidence: When you fix your first leaky faucet, your first thought is sure to be “Wow! Was it really that easy?”. No more procrastinating around the house because of an easy problem seeming to be so forbidding – and even if it comes to a point of calling someone over for complicated repairs, you’ll now exactly what’s in the inside of that pipe, which gives you so much more confidence.

Reduces dependence: You will feel so empowered once you start DIY tasks around the house, for the simple reason that you don’t need to wait on anybody else to take charge of your house.

In addition to the above great reasons, Black & Decker provides you a range of wonderful tools that makes DIY approachable for everyone. Do visit out website for more details:



Friday 26 October 2012

How to choose the right vacuum cleaner - Black & Decker


Have you seen the article about the gold-plated vacuum cleaner aimed at affluent people who still do their own cleaning? That’s definitely not a feasible choice for most of us, so when it comes to the question of which vacuum cleaner we need to buy for our needs, it needs a lot more thought and discussion. Here are some points you should keep in mind when going to choose your new vacuum cleaner:

Cleaning needs: If you have a larger living space, and need a lot of extensive floor cleaning, then a big heavy-duty vacuum cleaner that also comes with a lot of attachments for cleaning nooks and corners might be the best vacuum cleaner for you. When looking at smaller spaces, and for cleaning areas like cars or blinds, a compact and handheld vacuum cleaner would be ideal.

Wired/wireless: While this also relates to the previous point, as larger vacuum cleaners are usually also the wired ones, it can also be a minor decision point. I have heard of people complaining that the long vacuum wire is a hassle, and in such cases going for a battery operated vacuum cleaner solves the problem.

Special needs: In case your house has a lot of carpeted area, you should ask specifically about a vacuum that works well on carpets. Another example may be someone who has pets and needs an effective vacuum to easily clean up pet hair. Make sure to discuss with the salesman and get all doubts cleared before deciding.

Price range: If you have a budget in mind, then start looking around in the price range you would like to begin with. Only if you don’t find something appropriate, you can rethink your budget and slowly start moving towards slightly more expensive models.

Ease of use: An upright vacuum cleaner might be a bit heavier, but due to the wheels even a senior citizen may be able to use it without much trouble. In such cases, the person who is going to be the primary user of the machine should visit the showroom personally and try out the appliance before making a final decision.

At Black and Decker, we offer you a range of vacuum cleaners to choose from, covering all the above decision points. Do visit our website for more details: