Ever wonder how Zorro kept his black cape from fading? I mean he's riding around in the hot Mexican sun, working up a sweat dueling bad guys, and generally exposing that cape to a lot more wear and tear than you or I would to our clothes. Yet his black outfit always looked black, it never faded. Okay maybe Zorro is a bad example. The only reason I bring him up is that I have what I call my Zorro outfit hanging in the closet and I'll bet you do too.
We all have at least a couple of pieces of black clothing that are our favorites. My Zorro outfit consists of black slacks and a black turtleneck sweater. Sometimes when I'm wearing it people ask me where I parked my U-Boat. At any rate you know what I mean. Black is sophisticated and a great look that we all like. And it fades.
Black & Decker Air Station Inflator
So is there a way to stop black garments from fading? Well the answer is no but you can slow it down following these handy tips.
When you're getting ready to wash the item, button it up or zip it up and then turn it inside out. The idea here is to keep the fabric that shows when we wear it away from the full impact of the agitator and the detergent.
If you can, and if it's your favorite item you'll find a way, wash the black item by hand rather than using the washing machine. Abrasion is the number one cause of accelerated fading and if you can eliminate contact with the washing machine's agitator, as well as contact with other clothes, then you can keep your black item black a lot longer. If you have to use the washer, set it on gentle and use cold water and try to keep the number of other items in the wash to a minimum. Also use a gentle detergent, one without "whiteners" included.
Here's a handy tip. If you're washing your black clothing in the machine, add a cup of white vinegar to the water. Vinegar will prevent the dye in the clothing from bleeding. Vinegar in the rinse cycle will remove more soap from the fabric than any liquid fabric softener. And actually soap residue plays a big part in blacks "fading". It's not so much that the black has faded than it is that the soap is just hanging on subduing the color.
If you can, air dry your black clothes but don't do it by hanging them in direct sunlight. Ideally you would hang the clothes where they would be exposed to a light breeze and then touch up the moist areas with an iron. If you have to use the dryer, keep the clothes turned inside out and set the dryer on its lowest temperature setting. If you've used vinegar in the wash then you have no need to use a fabric softener sheet.
The dryer is the biggest enemy to black fabric. The heat and abrasion is the number one cause of fading. So with a little care you can keep those black things black longer. I wonder if Zorro used white vinegar.
Special Price!!! Black & Decker LH4500 12 amp 2-Speed Electric Leaf Hog Blower / Vacuum with Leaf Bag
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Black & Decker LH4500 12 amp 2-Speed Electric Leaf Hog Blower / Vacuum with Leaf Bag Feature
- Three-in-one blower, vacuum, and mulcher keeps your yard and driveway neat and tidy
- Handles even wet piles of leaves; 240 MPH blow speed and 385 CFM air volume
- Two-speed switch gives you more control around garden beds
- Weighs 15.4 pounds; 2-year warranty
- Includes a Leaf Blaster nozzle, vacuum attachment with tube, leaf bag with zipper, adjustable shoulder strap, and air concentrator
Black & Decker LH4500 12 amp 2-Speed Electric Leaf Hog Blower / Vacuum with Leaf Bag Overview
Black & Decker LH4500 High Perfromance LeafHog Blower/VacuumBlack & Decker LH4500 High Perfromance LeafHog Blower/Vacuum Features:; Powerful, Up tp 240 MPH Blow Speed Allows More Power for Removing Matted Leaves and Blowing Large Piles of Leaves; 385 CFM Air Volume For Maximum Vacuuming and Mulching; Metal Mulching Impeller with 16: 1 Mulch Ratio Improves Impeller Life and Reduces 16 Bags of Leaves to a Single Bag; 2 -speed Switch Reduces Air Speed around Flower Beds and Mulched Areas; Easy Empty Bag Design Makes Emptying Mulched Leaves EasierBlack & Decker LH4500 High Perfromance LeafHog Blower/Vacuum Specifications:; Amps: 12 Amps; Bag: 1.5 Bushels; Weight: 8.1 lbs; Air Speed: Up to 240 mphMulch Ratio: 16: 1; Decibel: 69 dBA; Blower and vacuum; Blower is ideal for clearing driveways, sidewalks, decks and garages of debris and fall leaves from the yard; Vacuum is ideal for clearing leaves, grass clippings, twigs, pine needles and other lawn debris; Easy Empty Bag design makes emptying mulched leaves easier; Anti clog Vortex vacuum system; Includes tube with LeafBlaster nozzle, vacuum attachment tube, leaf bag with zipper, adjustable shoulder strap and air concentrator; Metal mulching impeller with a 16 to 1 mulch ratio; 2 speeds; 385 CFM air volume; 240 mph maximum blow speedBlack & Decker LH4500 12 amp 2-Speed Electric Leaf Hog Blower / Vacuum with Leaf Bag Specifications
The Black & Decker Leaf Hog Electric Blower/Vacuum adds versatility and power to your tool collection. As a blower, the Leaf Hog can generate up to 240-mph air speed to clear matted leaves or sweep hard surfaces. Switch to the vacuum function, and the mulching mechanism devours and deposits up to 16 bags' worth of debris into the included rear bag. |
 The mulching mechanism can reduce debris that would have filled 16 bags enough that it fits in the single rear bag. View larger. |
Sweep your patio, workshop, or walkway clean, or use the 240-mph air speed to make quick work of wet, matted leaves in your yard. The Leaf Hog has a dual-speed switch to decrease air flow when you're working around delicate flower beds, patio furniture, or automobiles in your garage.
Gather and Mulch Leaves and Trimmings
The Leaf Hog converts easily to a 385 CFM lawn vacuum when you want to collect loose leaves, twigs, and grass clippings. The internal mulching mechanism grinds everything down, compressing as much as 16 bags of debris down to one. The included bag detaches easily to empty your mulch in flower beds, gardens, or compost piles.
Lightweight for Comfortable, All-Day Use
An included shoulder strap adds extra support when you're using the Leaf Hog. Weighing in at just 8.1 pounds makes the blower/vacuum light enough for anyone to use for extended periods.
Low Noise Levels from the Environmentally Friendly Motor
Power comes from a 12 Amp motor than runs on electricity--no need to mix oil and gasoline when you're ready to work. The electric motor greatly reduces the roar that's common with gasoline blowers to protect your hearing and reducing noise pollution.
The Electric Leaf Hog Blower/Vacuum is covered by a two-year warranty.
What's in the Box
Leaf Hog Electric Blower/Vacuum, tube with LeafBlaster nozzle, vacuum attachment with tube, leaf bag with zipper, adjustable shoulder strap, air concentrator
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| A powerful motor and intuitive, ergonomic features make this lightweight blower/vac easy for anyone to use. | ||
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| This Black & Decker LH4500 12 amp 2-Speed Electric Leaf Hog Blower / Vacuum with Leaf Bag ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. |
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