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.

Green cleaning using household ingredients - Black & Decker, India

Tired of yet another allergic reaction to that strong chemical cleaning agent? I have an even tougher time with an allergic child around at home – even strong smells can set something off. I have come to realize over the past few months that there are many cleaning agents that we have lying around in our kitchen or home that we don’t realize the utility of:

Baking soda: The next time you are trying to remove a stain from a vessel, instead of scrubbing and using strong cleaning agents, just add baking soda and pour hot water on it. It works like magic, and is a most cost-effective solution too.

Vinegar: A diluted vinegar spray, along with some baking soda can remove even stubborn stains from bathroom tiles. I also recently heard about using vinegar as an ant repellant, hope to try that out sometime soon. Your local kirana shop should have a large bottle of vinegar that will last you for a lot of cleaning.

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Citrus juices and peels: Do not discard those orange peels as they have great cleaning properties. Just rub them on stained areas, and leave for a few minutes before scrubbing lightly and you’ll see most stains clear up. Can you imagine the difference from those acidic agents that hurt our hands and feet while using them?

These ideas can make a good beginning to green cleaning and I hope you would like to try them out too. I would also love to hear from you on what worked for you! While on the subject of eco-friendly cleaning, do check out the Steam Mop that can eliminate germs up to 99.9% using just steam, and other products from Black & Decker: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

How B&D has made our lives easier - Black & Decker, India

“Hit the nail on the head” used to be a common phrase, but we don’t hear it much nowadays, at least where DIY is concerned. Ever wonder why? We think it maybe because we have amazing tools such as the Electric Drill Kit from Black & Decker and that has made the action of using a hammer to hit the nail on the head a completely obsolete activity J. We started wondering which other activities have undergone a big change after the advent of power tools thanks to pioneering companies like B&D:

Vacuuming: The early vacuum cleaners used to be heavy and unwieldy machines, and using these could nearly be counted as a sort of exercise. Now you have the light, cordless and even great looking vacuum cleaners such as the Orb-it, that will probably even double up as a showpiece when you leave it to charge.

Painting: If this still brings an image of a brush and a can of paint to mind, you will be amazed at the change B&D has brought to this area. Not content with the ease that a roller provides over a brush, we decided to make the roller even more advanced. Our RapidRoller comes with a paint dispenser so that you will not see those ugly spots and splatters any more!

Floor cleaning: The revolutionary Steam Mop is a very efficient way to clean floors, so much easier than the standard mop and bucket regime. Not just the ease of use, but eco-friendly too as it uses just steam - there’s not much more you can expect from a floor-cleaning device. 

For a lot more about our cleaning and other appliances, do take a look at our website: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

What makes a Good Gift? - Black & Decker, India

We are a country of festivals, and gifting is a very important practice for us. Every occasion, especially a wedding is celebrated with a lot of grandeur and it is common for us to put a lot of thought into what we gift the newly married couple. Though the practice of DIY is not very prevalent yet, at B&D we offer you not just DIY tools, but also a lot of useful appliances that can help for your gifting needs. Here are some ideas:

Below Rs. 1000: A screwdriver is a very handy appliance, and all of us would keep one around for those small jobs like screwing in the handle of a vessel in the kitchen, or unscrewing the battery compartment of a gadget or toy. Gifting our cordless screwdriver is a very thoughtful and long lasting gift, as well as something out of the ordinary that will make it memorable.

Rs. 1000-5000: For the wedding of a close family member or friend, we look for slightly more expensive options, but try to keep it useful at the same time. Our range of cordless vacuum cleaners in the range of Rs. 1000-3000 gives you a lot of choice in this area, and what better way to clean up those sudden spills in the kitchen, or a mess in the car. This can also be a good option for gifting young parents who have to deal a lot with crumbs and small spills. For the DIYer, our Drill kit falls in the Rs. 3000-5000 price range.

Rs. 5000-10000: When gifting as a group, especially a gift to a colleague from the entire team, the budget is shared by all and there are even more interesting options available. Enter the Steam Mop that can make cleaning so much easier for any housekeeper. The B&D Pressure washers also fall in this price range, so if your friend or colleague has a yard or a bigger outdoor area to clean, this can be a great gift for them.

These are just some thoughts for gifting ideas in the above price ranges. Please do look at our website for many more choices: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

A closer look at Innovation - Black and Decker, India

We do not claim lightly that innovation is a big part of our commitment to our customers. Here’s a quick look at some of our appliances and how we have thought about many small features that make the tool more approachable and easier to use:

Corded drills: The pistol grip and trigger switch are features that were a part of the drill right from the first design that was patented in 1916. Many more features have been added now to make it even easier to use such as reversing of motion, variable speeds, a keyless chuck and a well-balanced handle with a softer grip.

Cordless Screwdrivers: Our cordless screwdrivers come with an easy torque selection and magnetic holders to hold on to the screws without dropping them. The pivoting handles, long lasting batteries and built in lighting that makes it easier to use in low light are other thoughtful features of the product.

Saws: The saws from Black & Decker now have improved accuracy features along with long lasting durability. Some models are now super portable as well, compared to the earlier models – but do keep in mind that these were still the cutting edge technology of their time.

Outdoor products: We brought out the world’s first outdoor cordless product in our Cordless Hedge Trimmer, and continue to innovate in the field ever since. Our gardening tools are still among the best fuss free and low maintenance models available in the market.

Vacuum cleaners: Our vacuum cleaners incorporate the most ergonomic designs and flexible parts for ease of use. One of our favourites is the Orbit that incorporates cutting edge looks along with a wealth of design features such as easy emptying of contents, compact design and a 360 degree charging base.

Steam Cleaners: One of our most recent innovations, the steam mop uses the Smart Select technology, and with just the power of water and steam, can wipe your surfaces 99% bacteria free. The new steambuster attachment allows you to clean on higher surfaces like your stovetop and inside your ovens too.

For more of the innovative products from Black & Decker, please do visit our webpage: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Top 5 Tips for Saving Water this summer - Black & Decker, India

All of us are aware of the water situation in our country and all over the world, and how saving water has become more important than ever. The increasing population and decreasing water bodies are going to lead a severe water shortage maybe even within our lifetimes. There are many things we can do at home to thoughtfully use this resource, and here are some top tips:

Think about the source: Since taps are the biggest source of water in our homes, it is important to decide a good model that allows water to be opened at lower forces with ease. If you have an older model that makes it tougher to regulate the flow, there are many attachments available that help to filter as well as distribute the water flow.

Use appliances that save water: The older methods of swabbing the floors may use more water especially with needing to change every time the water gets dirty. Using an appliance like a steam mop that uses a fixed quantity of water by effectively turning it into steam is a great option. Do check out the B&D Steam mop that also has a separate steam cleaning attachment if required.

Try to reuse: If it is possible to collect the soapy water from washing clothes and utensils, these can be reused for a variety of things from wiping the floors to watering plants. It also helps if you use environment free detergents so the water can be reused easily.

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Harvesting rainwater: If you have a good rainwater harvesting system in place, this can store a large quantity of water that can be used during the dry months. Even if it does not last until the next monsoon, you can still use this for watering your garden for quite a few months.

Educate families: It is very important for kids to understand the importance of saving water, and to learn habits such as turning off the tap when not in use. This will go a long way in spreading the word.

For more information about our steam mop and other appliances, please do visit our webpage: http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

Kids and Cleaning Up - Black & Decker, India

At this time of the year, though it’s great fun to have the kids around the home, it makes for a lot of extra cleaning up for you too. The thing to remember though is that even young kids can help you out around the house, if only you give them that responsibility. Here are some ways you can try out:

Cleaning the yard: This might have meant using a broom or a rake in earlier times, but with appliances like the Black & Decker Blower, this can be fun for the kids too. All you need to ensure is that they are supervised at all times, as children should never be left on their own with power tools. You can even use the blower function of your vacuum cleaner for the same.

Washing the car: Even a few years back, kids would have moaned and groaned about this activity, but with the help of one of our pressure washers the kids are sure to enjoy the task. It uses the focused pressure of water and has a control to limit wastage too. If you can use harvested rainwater for the task that would be great too.

Floor cleaning: Kids may not be able to help you in areas where they have to maneuver too much, but in rooms like the living room where there is a lot of clear space to be cleaned up, they can feel really proud to help out. They can use the Steam Mop, or any of the vacuum cleaners such as the Wet and Dry one for this task.

Garden Care: Children love to work in the garden, so they can help you out with a bit of de-weeding from time to time. If you have a lawn space, they can also try out our electric lawn mover for a quick trim from time to time.

GR3400 Electric Lawn Mower

As you can see, there are a ton of activities that the kids can help you out with, during the holidays. A good way to go about it is to plan one chore along with other fun activities every day. Do check out our website for details on our appliances:

http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

What all can you clean with just Steam? - Black & Decker, India

Most of us are becoming aware of the harmful impacts of cleaning our homes with products loaded with chemicals, and especially those of us who have allergies or children with allergies experience the issues with chemicals even faster. Many a time, I have tried preparing eco-friendly concoctions to use as cleaning agents, and the effort needed to do this has discouraged me quite a bit. But what if a whole lot of places in our homes can be cleaned with just plain old steam? Let’s take a look:

Hobs and Stove-tops: Most of the grease that collects on your stovetop can be taken care of by cleaning it off with really hot water or steam. This needs to be done soon after cooking, so that the stain does not set in and become a little tougher to remove. In case of stubborn stains, you can try adding a little baking soda or lime, which will definitely remove them.

Our latest steam cleaning product: the FSS1600 Steambuster

Sinks and Washbasins: Just a quick wipe with steaming hot water once a day or even less often depending on use can keep your sinks shining bright and a pleasure to use. This is especially useful in metal sinks that have ridges that are really tough to clean with even a scrubber. Using an appliance that can literally blow off steam could be a great option.

Ovens and oven trays: Though many ovens come with a self-cleaning mode, you will still find some deposits that do not get cleaned unless you add some intensive scrubbing. Such an action can make your metal surfaces look worn out very soon, and therefore using steam as a cleaning agent here would really help maintain the life and shiny look of your appliances.

Shower areas and Tiles: A lot of the sticky dirt that gets collected in your shower spaces and tiled floors can be tackled very well with steam. Especially with light coloured floor tiles, we all know how tough it is to get those joints looking clean, and steam is the best idea for the job.

We have already talked about our steam mop in earlier posts, so I will not elaborate on that again. For our Steam cleaning products, please do check out our page:

http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

The Top 5 Germ Hotspots in your Home - Black & Decker, India

When young children start going to playschool, parents may be alarmed for the number of coughs and colds they seem to pick up on a regular basis. Although I wouldn’t advice a completely sanitized childhood as the occasional cold is necessary to build resistance as the children grow, it is a good idea to take some extra care at home so that colds don’t recur or spread among family members. Here are the top 5 germ hotspots in your home and surroundings that you might not know about:

Doorknobs and handles: Door handles are one of the most neglected spots for regular cleaning, and you would be surprised at the amount of germs that can lurk there. From being handled by someone having a cold to children who may not wash properly after using the restroom, it is definitely a major hotspot and a daily wipe can really make a difference.

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Food left outside: Food left uncovered can develop bacteria very quickly and must be handled with care. Ensure that food items are stored in the refrigerator as much as possible, or covered immediately after use.

In the bathroom: Taps that are handled regularly as well shower curtains can be sources of bacteria due to the humidity factor, so need regular cleaning and drying. The toilet seat can be an issue when someone has a bad stomach infection, in which case try to keep a separate bathroom for the individual or use toilet covers.

Beds and bedding: Although most germs may not be able to survive on non-living organisms and the chance of catching a cold or an infection from just using the same bedding is minimal, it is a good idea to change your sheets after a bad bout of cold or the flu, just to minimize the risk.

The floor: All parents would have cautioned their kids at one time or the other to not pick up food that has fallen on the floor, so we do have an idea of how unclean it can be. A gadget like the Steam Mop from Black & Decker can be of great help to eliminate germs and bacteria without using chemicals, and this is especially useful to parents with young babies and toddlers.

Do check out the Steam Mop and other products from Black & Decker at our website:

http://www.blackanddeckerindia.in

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:

http://india.stanleyblackanddecker.com 

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.

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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.

http://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com

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:

http://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com

Why should you switch to a steam mop? - Black & Decker

Did you read the interesting account of a mom from Alberta who went on a strike to make her children understand the importance of doing their chores? As expected, the kids would have been surrounded by quite a lot of chaos before getting the message. Are there times you feel like cleaning your home is such a big chore, that you would rather go on strike? One way to make your task easier is to pick up an appliance like a steam mop that helps keep your floors clean in a much easier manner.

Ease of use: The ideal steam mop is much easier to use than a conventional floor mop, as there is no need to lug along a water storage bucket, or to dip the mop and squeeze out excess water from time to time. You can just fill water in the required compartment, wait for it to heat up and start using; and then use continuously depending on the capacity of the mop. It requires a lot less bending and stretching than other methods of cleaning and is comfortable to use even for senior citizens. The existence of a swivel head makes it possible to clean out the difficult to reach corners too.

Chemical free: It is very difficult to get a clean floor without using any chemical additives, and we all know how strong smelling and unhealthy some of these can be. Using the right steam mop makes it possible to clean even spots or messes using just tap water and the high temperature even kills most germs making your home a healthy environment for you and your family. 

Modes of use: Another great feature to have is for your mop to have smartness built into it too. Depending on the type of floor you have, you can just choose the required setting and the mop will release the required amount of steam needed to clean your floor. This saves a lot of effort of worrying about the gradation or how strong the steam is, and using it in different areas of your house where you might have different flooring such as wood becomes a breeze.

If the features mentioned above sound interesting, do check out the Black and Decker Steam Mop as an option for your floor cleaning needs. You can see this and other great products from us on our website:

http://india.stanleyblackanddecker.com

5 Great Eco-friendly Cleaning Options for your Home - Black & Decker

A recent article in the Times of India paints a scary picture of the chemicals around our home. Are you one of those people who are tired of all the strong smelling chemical formulations available in the market for cleaning your homes? Here are some simple cleaning solutions that can help keep our home and environment chemical-free:

Baking soda: This is one of the most versatile and simple home cleaning products you can find, and can be used for a variety of things from cleaning your stove-top to removing smells from your refrigerator. Try it with a combination of other eco friendly ingredients like vinegar to remove stains from literally anything.

Vinegar: Did you know that keeping your vegetables and fruits soaked for a few minutes in a water and vinegar solution is a good way to rid them of pesticide residues, and can even help remove the waxy coating that has become a standard feature of today’s apples? Used in combination with baking soda, it is a very effective household cleaner that can even be used to clean your toilet bowls.

Lime/Lemon: It’s acidic content makes it a good cleaning agent, as well as a good disinfectant. A combination of olive oil and lemon juice can even be used as a homemade wood polish. See this simple recipe here and give it a try.

Plants: Keeping houseplants is a great way to clean up the atmosphere of the room as they help by providing oxygen as well as to reduce bad odours. Here’s a great list of plants that you can try growing indoors.

Hot water: From cleaning your pans to swabbing your floor, hot water can replace a lot of chemical home cleaners very effectively, with just a little help from vinegar and baking soda for stains. You can add a drop of natural oils like citronella to help with the mosquito menace as well as for that little bit of fragrance if you like it.

 In the quest for eco friendly cleaning, Black and Decker has come out with this product, that uses just tap water and does a great job of cleaning your floors. Check out the steam mop and other great products at our website: http://india.stanleyblackanddecker.com/

The Steam Mop, from Black and Decker

Keeping our houses germ free is something everyone strives for, especially if you have children or pets. In an effort to make sure it’s completely germ free, you often end up using harsh chemicals. These chemicals can be harmful to you and your family because there might be chances of accidental consumption and other such accidents. 

So how do we keep the house clean without using such chemicals? With the Black&Decker Steam Mop of course!

When cleaning with steam, there is no need to rely on harsh chemicals for a deep down clean. Simply use regular tap water to wipe out 99.9% of germs to achieve a clean home the all-natural way. 

Here are some of the features of the Black & Decker Steam Mop:

Kills 99.9% of germs using just water: No chemicals required. Great for homes with kids or pets

SmartSelect Technology: With SmartSelect™ Technology, simply turn the dial to the specific floor type –hardwood/laminate, tile/ vinyl, or stone/marble – and the mop automatically releases the right amount of steam. SmartSelect helps to assure a thorough yet delicate cleaning on all sealed hard floors and is even safe on sealed hardwoods.

Ready-To-Go Tank Illumination: changes from red to blue when the water reaches the correct temperature.

Swivel Steering: Users can easily maneuver around furniture and into corners.

Easy-glide Microfiber Pad: effortlessly glides across floor locking in dirt and grime. Machine washable and reusable

Hands-free Pad Removal: for easy release by simply stepping on the pad.

High Capacity Tank: holds enough water for over twenty-five minutes of uninterrupted cleaning.

The Steam Mop, from Black & Decker gets your house clean using ONLY water and it does it in half of the usual time required. Buy yours today.

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