Break out your blender this summer to make refreshing drinks for all your family and friends. Black & Decker makes it easy to prepare the best drinks right at home with these 10 tips on getting the most out of your blender.

#1 High-power = better performance
The right blender will help make drinks faster and easier. Use blenders with over 450 watts of power, because they let you blend ingredients and ice at once. Remember to put in ice and frozen ingredients first to keep them close to the blades.

#2 Pulse + speed = perfect texture
Getting the perfect texture requires pulse control and speed. Press the pulse button several times in 2-second intervals, and then put it on high to blend everything. This helps crush ice before blending.

#3 Use fresh ingredients for better taste
Everyone loves the delicious taste of fresh ingredients in frozen drinks. Fresh berries and fruits like strawberries, peaches and mango gives everyone an extra serving of fruit for added nutrition.

#4 Use the center cap as a shot measure
You never have to stop the blender to remove the lid for adding liquor again. The center cap in your blender lid doubles as a 2-ounce shot measure. Just remove the cap, measure and add liquor as you blend.

#5 Make non-alcoholic drinks pop
You can make non-alcoholic blended and frozen drinks special with a splash of seltzer or club soda to make it fizz. This works best with any ice-based or sorbet-based drinks.

#6 Give guests options
For a full-service bar experience, your guests need options. Have a variety of fruits, juices, sorbet and liquor on hand and ready near your blender, so you can make drinks to order.

#7 Don’t forget the garnish
Garnish makes frozen drinks more festive. To turn your backyard into a party, garnish your drinks with fresh fruit slices, mint leaves or drink umbrellas to add whimsy.

#8 Easy clean between drink batches
Don’t take your blender apart to clean between batches—you can fast-clean. Fill the carafe with water, add a drop of dish soap and then use a low or medium speed. After a few seconds, empty the carafe and rinse.

#9 Give your blender time to rest
Although your blender is designed to work all day, it’s not designed to do it continuously. To make sure it doesn’t burn out in the middle of a party, don’t run it continuously for more than 2 minutes at a time.

#10 Let your dishwasher do the real cleaning
You don’t have to clean your blender by hand. All of the removable parts (jar, lid, gasket and blades) are dishwasher-safe. You can take everything apart and put it in the dishwasher for easy after-party cleanup.

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As we mentioned in our last post, part of the Black & Decker coffee brewing system that makes for the best cup of coffee is our optimal brewing temperature. You can see this feature listed on any of our coffeemakers you buy, but what does it really mean?

Basically, its a special heating system in your coffeemaker that ensures that the water reaches the right temperature before it hits the grounds. When you brew coffee, the temperature of the water determines how well the flavor is extracted from the grounds. (more…)

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When it comes to buying a coffeemaker, most people think that a cone-shaped filter equals better flavor in your coffee. But does a cone-shaped filter really make for a better cup?

In truth the best cup of coffee is a product of a variety of factors, so simply getting a cone filter doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a better cup of coffee. After years of testing and trying both, the Black & Decker test kitchen and engineers created a basket-shaped filter system that brews the best cup of coffee in town. (more…)

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You love your blender for all your favorite drinks, smoothies and shakes, but are you getting the most out of your appliance? If you have a multi-speed blender, drinks are only just the beginning. Here’s an easy guide to the best speeds to use for a variety of blender tasks: (more…)

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Whether you’re spring cleaning to freshen up the house or just don’t want to bother with the ironing board for your clothes, vertical steaming is a fast, easy and convenient way to get fabrics looking their best. Vertical steaming allows you to remove creases and wrinkles, as well as freshen fabrics like curtains, linens and drapes after the long months of winter.

Still, many people shy away from vertical steam, because they don’t feel they get as good of a result as they do on the board. In truth though, with the proper technique, you can get fabrics fresh and pressed with phenomenal results. Here’s how: (more…)

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