Cleaning up a messy spring - several improved Black & Decker electric products for household chores - What's New? - Brief Article

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), May, 1997

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[check] Spring may have sprung more than a month ago, but if you are like us, you've been putting off that much-needed spring cleaning--inside the house and out. Thanks to all the wonderful gadgets supplied by Black & Decker's VersaPak rechargeable battery system that fits an entire family of cordless products, our joint is jumping with a bevy of cleanup activity.

The FloorBuster ($100), containing a 10-inch brush roll, is perfect for touching up high-traffic areas of the living, kitchen, bed, and bath rooms. The upright vacuum's capacious dirt cup removes easily and is dishwasher safe. The four-foot-tall FloorBuster stands upright when not in use and its handle can be disconnected for storage almost anywhere. For easy cleaning under beds and chairs, the handle arcs parallel to the floor. A simple touch of the foot pedal turns it on and off and changes the brush/nonbrush switch from carpet to hard-floor applications. This lightweight tool makes work a breeze since, instead of having to lug a cumbersome, full-sized vacuum in and out of the closet for spot cleaning, one can just grab the FloorBuster from the corner where it stands.

For those who want to eliminate the drudgery of cleaning porcelain and tile in the bathroom, the ScumBuster motorized scourer-scrubber ($59) is made to order. This versatile item drives three attachable tools: a 41/4" scouring pad for lifting grime and mold from tub and tile; a two-inch cylindrical detail brush to get at dirt nestled around fixtures and in corners; and a short-bristled 4 1/4" circular brush to scrub sediment deposits from grout lines. Covered in a soft plastic casing, ScumBuster can be emerged in water buckets and used in a running shower. Moreover, it weighs a mere 1 1/4 pounds and has an ergonomic handle for ease of use.

Once the indoor cleaning is complete, it's time for some home improvement. By interchanging the Total Task Sander's ($69.99) two differently shaped pads, it can perform detailing, finishing, or random orbiting tasks. One sanding pad has a square end designed for fine-finish sanding of large surface areas and a pointed end for detail sanding in tight, difficult-to-reach places such as corners or between chair spindles. A detachable tip on the pad can be rotated to maximize sandpaper life. The five-inch circular pad is utilized for random orbit sanding to remove material quickly and produces an ultra-smooth finish in less time than standard power sanders. It even will sand across wood grain without leaving scratches or swirl marks.

The Circular Saw ($54.99) operates at 1,000 rpm and is designed to cut drywall, plywood, particle board, and plastic. It weighs a mere 3 1/2 pounds, and the left-sided blade design gives one a clear view of the cutting line. Two steel blades (3 3/8" in diameter) are included.

The two-speed drill ($29.99) features a new mid-handle design. Since the user's hand now is closer to the work and the top of the drill is resting on both the front and back of the hand, there is better balance and more control. Plus, there is a screwdriver bit attachment (Phillips head and standard) that makes buying a power screwdriver unnecessary.

Now that the inside is spic and span, it's time to take on that unruly lawn and those overgrowing bushes. Just break out Black & Decker's Shrubber ($34.99) and grass shears ($29.99). The former is excellent for precision cutting and shaping bushes and shrubs. Easily handled with one arm, the fact that there's no cord to accidentally cut or get tangled in is a real blessing. The same thing applies to the grass shears and, unlike those scary fishline edgers that throw up dirt and pebbles, you won't have to wear goggles and fear for your sight when using this lightweight wonder.

These Black & Decker products can be found in home centers and hardware stores.