There’ll be no Such Thing as Mess This Christmas

‘Tis the season to be jolly, it’s the holiday that everyone looks forward too and it’s nearly here. Along with good tidings we bring some useful advice on cleaning this holiday. Mess is the one thing any mother cannot put up with and with Christmas just around the corner, mess is something that will be constant during this holiday. With aunties and uncles making that long trip down to see you, you can’t ask them to take their shoes off in the living room and the kids will be seeing their cousins after quite some time, so you can’t say anything to them either.

Now is no time to panic, because when it comes to cleaning, we at Black & Decker know exactly what you need. Here is a list of tools that you’ll require to keep your home neat and clean during the Christmas break.

1.      The FSM1620 Steam Mop

A mark of a good cook is a clean workspace. This elegant piece of equipment is great for removing food stains and splashes on the kitchen floor and keeping those aunties impressed.

2.      The DV141OEL Dustbuster

Not only does this dustbuster clean table and couch mess, it’s quite the looker. The DV141OEL is also eco-friendly as it uses 70% less energy than any other dustbuster in it’s class. #GoGreen

3.      The WV1400 Vaccum Cleaner

When the day is done and everybody leaves, that’s when you pull out this bad boy. The WV1400 comes with a variety of accessories that will help you make your home spic and span once again.

Visit our website to see more items from our cleaning range and if you have any questions about which one is perfect for you, then connect with us on Facebook or Twitter and we’ll help you out. After all, Christmas is the ‘giving’ season.

Eco Friendly Tips to remove Stubborn Stains

While kids might come up with challenges like grass and mud stains it is equally possible for us adults to deal with others from wine that are even tougher to remove. Especially when trying to avoid strong chemical cleaners, it gets difficult to find tried and tested options for the same. Here are green cleaning options for some stubborn stains:

Mud and dirt: These might look scary but are in fact one of the easiest to remove. Just soak in your eco friendly detergent for a few hours, and then wash as usual. For a bad stain, do a spot treatment with the same detergent as well before the soaking process.

Wine: The most often found tip of putting salt on the stain works very well if you are prompt with the response. If the salt turns pink you know that it has pulled out most of the stain, and then you can soak in detergent for a few hours and wash as usual.

Blood: Salt might be effective here as well, as long as the stain has not dried out. You can also use baking soda as an alternative. Keep soaking in cold water along with changing the water from time to time before the final wash. Make sure that the treatment is done as soon as possible, as dry bloodstains can get very difficult to remove completely.

Water stains on your floor can look really unsightly, but for these you have an easy solution in using the Steam Mop from Black & Decker. Using just the power of steam and no chemical additives, you can clean as well as eliminate 99.9% of germs! For this, and our other products do check out our site:

http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Top 10 Safety Tips for DIY at Home

Before you attempt your first DIY project at home, do take a look at these important safety tips:

1.     Safety gear like goggles and other protective equipment are very important in DIY. Do not compromise on the quality of these, buy good ones and they will last you a long time.
2.     Be careful around electrical sockets and long wires that are required for most power equipment.
3.     Keep a first aid kit handy, to take care of any minor accidents without needing to run around looking for items.
4.     The ladder can be a major cause of accidents during DIY, so make sure you use a stable one and that it is placed properly before you start off on your DIY activity.

   

   Source: http://bit.ly/15FwsuK

5.     Do not wear loose clothing that might get in the way. Cotton clothes that are snug fitting are ideal. Overalls or other protective clothing may also be appropriate for metalworking and other such DIY activities.
6.     Painting may require some additional precautions such as a breathing filter, and also keeping the room well aerated to minimize strong smells.
7.     Pay attention to the working of the equipment, and ensure that you have taken all precautions and steps as mentioned in the manual.
8.     Put off all power tools when not in use. Never place it down while put on, and walk away or get distracted.
9.     Make sure the tools are cleaned and put away out of reach of children and pets. Not taking care of them will greatly lessen their life span.
10.     Before completing your activity, make sure any debris and small items like nails and pins have been carefully removed or swept away. This is especially important if you have young children in the house.

Are there any more important tips that you can think of? Do leave a comment and tell us about it! Check out our Black & Decker power tools that can help facilitate your safe DIYing:

http://www.blackanddeckerindia.com

B&D Buddy - 4

Dear B&D Buddy,

I have been using vacuums for quick cleaning of dust and dry spills for a while, but just yesterday I had a bad wet spill that took so long to clean up! What’s an easy way out of this situation?

Spilling in Samastipur

Dear Spilling,

We have all been in this situation at some time or the other! I have kids at home and cleaning up a spill quickly is really important – to stop it getting spread all over the house and getting even worse of course J.

Black & Decker Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaners to the rescue! The heavy duty WV1400 is useful for really bad spills that need a more powerful appliance, but my all time favourite is the newly introduced cordless and handy WD7215N Wet and Dry Dustbuster. It is so easy to charge and takes just a few seconds to pick up and quickly clean that wet spill before it becomes dangerous. I know you’ll agree with me as soon as you try it out!

Easier done than said!

B&D Buddy

B&D Buddy - 3

Dear B&D Buddy,

I hate using a hosepipe to clean my car due to the wastage of water, and doing it with a bucket of water doesn’t always give good results :(. How can I solve this problem and get a sparkling clean car?

Anxious in Andheri

Dear Anxious,

I am completely with you on how wasteful it is to use a hosepipe, and this is a very common problem too. I commend you for your watchfulness on water usage, and hope more people learn from your example!

To solve your problem, I recommend the B&D pressure washers to wash your car as they use a controlled quantity of water in an efficient manner, to give you a sparkling and nearly polished effect. It even minimizes your work of rubbing the dirt as the pressure washes away most of the dirt! Do check out our range of pressure washers here and choose the one that is right for your need.

Easier Done than Said!

B&D Buddy

Top 5 Garden Care tips for summer - Black and Decker, India

Those of us who have gardens at home might have already started seeing the effects of the increase in temperatures. This is all the more important in case of container gardening, where the plants are completely dependent on the water and nutrition we supply to them. Here are a few tips to help care for your gardens in summer:

Mulch, mulch, mulch: The main issue with the heat is that plants seem to need more water, but this is always tough to balance with the worrying water situation. The best way to resolve this situation is to use good mulch, whether your garden is on the ground, or in containers. Straw or dry leaves can make very good mulching material, and you can get most of this from your garden waste itself.

Watering: Once mulching is done, it is easier to assess watering needs. The mulch will conserve the surface water from drying up too soon, and in some cases even watering once in two days might be sufficient. Do check your plants twice a day though, because some plants might need extra care due to the high heat.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kriztofor/3724503239/

Weeding: This is always an ongoing activity in any garden, but in summer you may find quite a few weeds coming up and crowding out the space. In some cases, you might be pleasantly surprised to find many edible weeds like clover and purslane that seem to grow out of nowhere and you can just pluck regularly and put them into your dal. Some weeds though have extensive roots that drink up all the water, and these need to be pulled up along with the root as soon as you notice them.

Pruning: In a season where plants find it difficult to get water and nutrition, pruning dead or dying leaves and branches is a good way to help the plants thrive. By doing this, the plant does not need to waste energy on the older branches and leaves, and will look fresher and flower or fruit much better.

Nutrition: This is something that’s important in every season, and especially in the case of kitchen gardens, some additional inputs during flowering and fruiting will give good results.

On the subject of gardens, we cannot help but mention our great range of gardening tools from Black & Decker that can be of use in home as well as landscape gardens. Please see our webpage for more details: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Woodworking tools from Black & Decker

Once you gain a little experience in the DIY arena, carpentry or woodworking is one of the most rewarding activities to indulge in. It can help you create a piece of long-lasting furniture that you can proudly display in your living space. At Black & Decker, we provide you a range of woodworking tools ideal for the amateur as well as for professional users. Here’s an overview:

Saws: If the word saw brings an image of a jagged edge metallic implement to your mind, then you will be delighted to see the advanced tools offered by us. These can help you cut through not just wood, but steel and masonry too. You can choose between circular saws and different models of jigsaw based on your need. In case of doubt, our store personnel will be happy to help you match your requirements.

Planers: Planers help to remove the surface level material that helps when you need to ease doors and windows that have expanded with the change in seasons. Another use would be removing surface coatings or even smoothing uneven surfaces. Choose the model based on the depth of cut you need, and the power delivered.

Router: These tools are very useful for making grooves in wood, such as those needed in decorative shelves or for simple carving patterns. With the stable design that can be stood up both ways, we would not be surprised if you mistake the B&D Router for a small robot.

Sander: The Sander is used at the end of the project to provide finishing touches such as sanding, varnishing or removing rust. Our sander model is very lightweight and easy to use, with the palm grip design making it ideal for single-handed use. It can also operate at a high speed to get your job done faster.

We hope this introduction to our woodworking tools is useful, and would increase your interest in checking out our range. We look forward to hearing more from you, and here’s our website information for more details and contact information:

http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

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

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.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maureendidde/6938335704/

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:

http://www.india.stanleyblackanddecker.com

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:

http://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com

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.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maguisso/523808623/

 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:

http://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com