Wednesday 30 January 2013

What goes in a DIY Home Utility Kit? - Black & Decker, India



If you are anything like me, the first time you go out to buy a home utility DIY kit, you would definitely be wondering what all those little pieces need to be used for. So here’s a short introduction to the basic tools and pieces in a home utility kit, I am using the one from Black & Decker as an example:



Drilling machine and drill bits: A drilling machine or a drill for simplicity is a powerful substitute for a hammer, and is suitable for most simple drilling tasks around the house. This one can be used for drilling into masonry, which means it can be used for tasks like hanging up a painting or photograph with ease. The drill bits would help with making holes of different sizes as well as for different materials. If you are looking to drill into something unusual, check if the required drill bit is supplied.

Wrenches: The kit contains a Hammer Wrench that is specially designed to hold on to nails or screws while using a hammer for additional force, as well a Combination Wrench that can be used similar to a spanner.

Pliers: This tool is very useful for holding on to objects that cannot be gripped easily by the fingers, especially when force needs to be applied to them. An example would be when pulling out a nail from wood or masonry, where the firm grip helps in applying the force required.

Accessories: This kit comes loaded with a wealth of other accessories from a hacksaw blade to a measuring tape that is all necessary for any DIY activity. A lot of screw-driving and drilling attachments are also a part of this, which you would need while dealing with different sizes and heads of nails and screws.

In short, an ideal home utility kit should provide you with all the necessary tools and accessories required to perform simple DIY tasks at home such as hanging paintings and assembling small pieces of furniture, without having to run to the hardware store for something or the other all the time. Do check out this kit and our other tools and appliances at our website:
http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Friday 25 January 2013

Congratulations! Winners of the Orb-it Contest

Black & Decker is proud to present to you the winners of the Orb-it contest which took place on our Facebook Page

 
Black & Decker Orb-it

The winners will receive further details about claiming their prize.

"Like" us on Facebook for ongoing events and contests https://www.facebook.com/BlackandDeckerIndia

How to have a clean home when you have pets - Black & Decker, India


When you have pets in the house, it can be difficult to keep the house clean. Here are some tips you can follow to maintain the house even with pets around:

Minimize the use of carpets: Pet dander that collects in the fibers of the carpet can be difficult to clean. Also, in case of accidents- a common thing when you have pets at home-, it becomes cumbersome to clean the carpets. It is therefore advisable to restrict the carpeted area in the house.

Scoop out the litter immediately: Litter boxes need to be scooped as quickly as possible to prevent the odour from spreading.

Vacuum often: Use the vacuum cleaner often to clear the hair and pet dander from the floor surfaces, sofa cushions and nooks. Not only do pet hairs look unsightly when on the sofa, they can also cause allergies.


Sweep and Mop every day: The floor can get dirty very fast when you have pets running about from outside to inside. The best way to clean all the dirt would be to religiously sweep and mop the floor every day and if possible more than once in a day.

Cover the furniture: If your pet has a favourite chair or sofa, it is best to have it covered with a bedcover or such-like, at least when you are not expecting any visitors. This way, you’d have only the cover to wash later.

Encourage outdoor time for the pets: Healthy pets, especially dogs, are generally active ones and need a lot of time outdoors. If they are also properly toilet trained, they do their job outside. It is advisable to give them ample outdoor time, so that there are minimal accidents at home and there is less to clean up at home. What’s more? You get your daily quota of exercise too!

Pets can be fun but if proper care is not taken, of them as well as their surroundings, it can become a headache and nasty experience for the owners. So have a cleaner home with these tips and enjoy the time with your favourite pet.

Black & Decker offers a varied range of appliances that will help you to battle the dirt brigade with ease and panache. Do check out our website to know more http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in          


Tuesday 22 January 2013

De-clutter your home this season and re-energize the place - Black & Decker, India


Is your home over-flowing with unwanted items and forever looking like a tornado-hit place? Does the thought of de-cluttering send you scooting under cover or feeling lost as you don’t know where to begin?

Do not despair. We have a few easy tips for you to achieve the best results of your cleaning spree and it will also leave your home much cleaner, organized and bursting with positive energy.

For the clothes:

Discard, donate, and re-use: The rule of the thumb is to discard clothes that are lying unused for more than 6 months. Categorize the stuff into three main piles: one that needs to be discarded since they are not in a good condition, one that can be donated away and the third that has stuff which can be re-used for other stuff.

Sort and arrange: Arrange the clothes in the manner you use them; often worn at a place that is handy and easy to reach and seldom-worn ones at the back. Small clothes like socks, handkerchiefs and underwear can be arranged in neat piles in a basket that can be kept under short hanging wear.

Re-examine every few months: do not wait till the closet is brimming over to begin cleaning. Make an audit every few months to see if the clothes are lying in a disorganized pile and if you are buying more than you are using.

In the kitchen:

Check for the expiry for food items: check all the items in the fridge and cabinets for their expiry and also the frequency of their use. Throw away all that have superseded the expiry date. Also view all the items objectively and see if you use them as often. If not, it is best not to clutter your shelves with such products.

Store items effectively and make a list while shopping: It is best to check the shelves before making the monthly grocery shopping, so that you don’t end up buying the stuff you already have. Also, stick to the list while shopping so that unnecessary items do not land up in the kitchen.

For paper, medicines and cosmetics:

Check for expiry: Medicines that have surpassed their expiry date need to be thrown away. Arrange the medicines in a neat transparent box and keep them in a handy location. The same rule applies for cosmetics too.

Paper: it is best to opt for e-bills but if you still get a lot of paper bills, a basket can be maintained near the doorway for easy storage and every time, the basket is full, the old ones can be filled away in a folder.

Check out our range of cleaning appliances to help you keep your home always clean: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Friday 18 January 2013

Woodworking DIY Tips for Beginners - Black & Decker, India


This interesting article puts across the fact that woodworking DIY may indeed be approachable to women too, and one big reason is that easy-to-handle tools are now available so much more easily. Black & Decker offers a range of power tools to assist you with DIY Carpentry jobs around your home. Let us also go through a quick orientation on the basics that we need to ensure before embarking on such a project:

Do your research: Woodworking does not involve just taking wood and tools and going for it. It is also important that we understand the project we are starting, from the type of wood to use to the finish that we want for it. Plywood is usually one of the easiest to work with for beginners, though older and antique kinds of wood also have a lot of charm.

Don’t overreach: When it’s just the first or second time we are going to try something, it’s best to take up smaller projects first, such as a stool or a simple table. Chairs can come next, and basic cabinets, but that bed or dressing table with drawers had better wait a little longer. Similarly, you can go for one of the easier finishes such as sanding and polishing, that can always be redone at a later stage if you feel more confident.


Think about your space: Both in terms of your workspace, as well as where you are going to put the finished product, plan it out well. The workspace could be a garage area in which case you can afford to leave the pieces lying around, but if it’s a part of your living space then it must come with enough storage to put tools and pieces away every day.

Remember to clean up: While a workshop may not need intensive cleaning, floors of the living space definitely need a complete clean up every day as wood chips or slivers lying around can be tough to handle for younger children or crawling babies.

We hope these tips make the project more approachable for you and we would love to hear more about what you are starting work on. Do check out our website for details of our woodworking and other tools:

Wednesday 16 January 2013

How we can help you maintain your garden and landscape - Black & Decker, India


If you live in an independent house, or in a gated community or apartment, the need to maintain your landscaping can turn into a major activity if not planned for. Along with regular scheduling of the same, it is also a good idea to invest in some tools for this activity. At Black & Decker, we offer you many useful gadgets for an easy maintenance of your landscape and garden space:

Mowing the lawn: Though a lawn looks great when freshly laid and can add a lot of green to your landscape, we all know how it can also spoil the look when overgrown. The easiest and fastest way to keep your lawn area in check is to invest in a lawnmower. Our GR3400 model is lightweight but powerful, and very easy to use. It has an easy adjustment for 5 heights or levels of cutting that can be set with just a single lever.

Hedges made easy: Most large landscaped areas always contain a hedge on the perimeters, which really enhances the look, and helps to contain areas and keep them off-limits too where necessary. Whether a straight and even trim, or in some cases an unusual pattern, the B&D GT110 Hedge Trimmer can make a great addition to your gardening tools. It comes in a very easy to grasp ergonomic design that makes it easy for anybody to use.


Grass cutters: Have you ever tried edging a large area of lawn or overgrown grass? That can be a very difficult task especially if you try to use basic tools such as gardening or pruning scissors, not to mention the longer time it can take you. If you try our grass cutter models that can do a great job even in thick or wet grass, due to the radical E-Drive technology, you will never want to use anything else. Check out the GL310 and GL5530 models for more information.

Hope the short overview on some of the interesting outdoor products we offer at Black & Decker was interesting. For more information on these and many more please do visit our website: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Thursday 10 January 2013

Top 5 ways you could use a handheld vacuum - Black & Decker India


If you are one of those who wonder why you would need an additional vacuum to your heavy duty upright one at home, here are a few scenarios in which a cordless handheld vacuum can be invaluable to you:

In the car: If you are a family that eats your snacks in the car, on the way to extra classes or games, then you know what I’m talking about. Crumbs have a way of getting into everything, and just brushing them off doesn't do the task well enough. A cordless vacuum comes in very handy in such a situation.

In the kitchen and dining table: For most dry spills in the kitchen, a handheld vacuum can clear up the mess very quickly. It is also very useful as it can reach nooks and crevices more effectively than a broom, so that no spillage is left behind. Especially when you have kids in the house, who are learning to eat by themselves, the dining table tends to be a mess after mealtime. When a light and cordless vacuum is at arm’s length, we can very easily get used to the easy cleaning it offers.

On the stairs: It is difficult to handle a big vacuum on the stairs, so in order to make the job easier a handheld is ideal. You can carry it along easily, as well as clean corners and edges very well with the attachments given with the machine.

On the sofa: Every time you remove or move sofa cushions you can see the amount of dust and debris that collects underneath. To avoid this, set up a regular cleaning schedule with your handheld and you can see the difference. This also helps in reducing allergies around the house as a lot of the hidden dust is taken care of.


Keyboards: The brush attachment of a handheld like the Orb-it is ideal for cleaning your keyboards, be it computer or musical. Usually the gaps between keys always have dust accumulated in them, as these are difficult to clean even with the machine switched off.


Do check out more details about Orb-it and our other cordless handheld models at our website:

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Why get a hand-held vacuum? - Black & Decker India


You might have wondered about the variety of vacuum cleaners available on the market, and about which one would be suitable for your home. You may have a lot of doubts about the elegant looking hand-held vacuum cleaners, and here are some facts that may help you make your decision:

Small but powerful: Some hand-held vacuums may not be suitable for all types of cleaning as they are not powerful enough, but the 7.5W suction power of a vacuum like the Black & Decker Orb-it is ideal for your short cleaning tasks. Whether for a sudden spill or the crevices of the sofa, a cleaner like the Orb-it can get it done very quickly.

Less bulky: While heavy-duty upright vacuums are useful for intensive floor cleaning and similar tasks, for smaller nooks as well as handy usage, the hand vacuum is a very nifty appliance. Especially for seniors and those with back or neck problems where handling the bigger vacuum is a difficult task, the hand vacuum is light and much easier to use. The cordless usage is also a plus in this area.


Battery life: Taking the case of the Orb-it for example, the battery life is about 7 minutes, which is enough time for multiple cleaning tasks at home. Even if you want to take it along on a long drive, it will hold its charge for the time required for any quick cleanups needed along the way.

Convenience of attachments: While the nozzle in a hand held vacuum is already compact enough, they usually come with some useful attachments such as the brush attachment of the Orb-it that is ideal for keyboard cleaning. The crevice attachment also helps in accessing any narrow areas like sofa corners.

Easy charging: Hand-held vacuums usually have compact and convenient charging points, which can also be used as a storage space. When you have a hand-held that is as good looking as the Orb-it, you can even leave it charging on your kitchen slab as it’s a great conversation point too.

For more information on the Orb-it and other hand-held vacuum cleaners from Black & Decker, do check out our website:
http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Friday 4 January 2013

6 Easy Car Maintenance Tips - Black & Decker

With the dust flying all around, our vehicles that are parked in the open air really face the brunt of it all. Most places don’t have an easy car wash facility, and in any case it is not always possible to go to an external agency to get your car cleaned. We can start with some simple ways to easily maintain the car, and here are some tips:

Avoid messy food in the car: Make it a rule to minimize or avoid food that might lead to a mess on the upholstery. This includes biscuits or crumbly cakes, or anything that is in a semi-liquid state. Try to stick to dry food that can be made into bite size portions and just popped into the mouth.

Use water effectively: You can wash your car quite easily with an optimal amount of water. There is no need to leave the pipe or tap running for a long time, instead try other methods such as using a pressure washer which uses the motor pressure to clean your car very efficiently.


Cleaning the seats: Before shampooing the seats, remove all the loose particles using a compact vacuum. Black & Decker for example has some cordless models like the Orb-it that are great for quick cleanups on the go, as well as auto vacuums designed for cleaning car interiors. A vacuum is the best way to reach all the nooks and folds of the seats.

The right cloth: It is very important to use the right cloth to wipe the car and especially the glass portions of it. A microfiber cloth works very well for wiping the glass without leaving any stains, as well as cleaning well. There are other options available for the metal portion, but a soft cloth that does not leave behind fibers is ideal.

Check under the bonnet: Don’t forget to check under your hood once all the cosmetic cleaning is complete. Though most good service centers will check for coolant and other needs regularly. It is always better for us to have an idea too.

Polishing: A final step that can be done once every few months is to give the car a good coat of a high grade wax or polish. Use the advised cloth to apply, and then a good machine such as the polisher from Black & Decker to give the final shine.

Do check out our range of appliances that can be used for car care at:

Thursday 3 January 2013

6 Tips to keep your Home Allergen free - Black & Decker


Many of us stay in places where allergies are prone to raise their head at times of season change, and the pollen and other irritants in the air can be a really bad experience for children and adults who are sensitive to them. In such a situation, we can only try our best to make our home an allergen-free zone, and here are some ways we can go about it:

Keep dust away: Dust is one of the biggest factors for allergies, and it is very difficult to keep it at bay, due to the pollution in the air and other reasons like construction activities in the area. The best way to eliminate and clean dust without it rising up in the air is to use a vacuum that quickly sucks it away.

Mattress care: Mattresses can be repositories of dust as well as hosts to bed bugs and it is very important that they be cleaned regularly. This can be done by regular change of sheets and pillow covers, as well as airing them out in sunlight if possible. Use a vacuum for cleaning mattresses at regular intervals as well.

Air purifiers: Purifiers and humidifiers can be a good means of improving the quality of air, especially if you have children who are prone to allergies and have disturbed sleep due to coughing bouts.

Eliminate chemicals: Most cleaning agents have strong smelling chemicals in them that tend to irritate allergies a lot. By moving to natural cleaning agents like baking soda, lime and vinegar, we can reduce these impacts. Another good way of natural cleaning is by using a steam mop that uses just steam for effective cleaning.

Curtains, Blinds and Carpets: These are areas where dust and other allergens can collect over time, and can be especially harmful for young children who play closer to the floor level. Curtains need to be removed and washed regularly, and for the carpets and blinds you can use the different attachments of your vacuum cleaner. You can also use a smaller handheld vacuum for the blinds.

Pest control: Allergic individuals are highly sensitive to pests and their effects. Droppings from cockroaches or even a bite from an ant or mosquito can set off a severe reaction, and it is always better to be careful in advance. Try some eco-friendly pest control methods and creams and try to keep these pests at bay.

Check out our range of cleaning appliances to help you keep allergens away at our website: