Black & Decker spruces up spring.

• Position: What's New? - Cordless Power Scrubber; Cordless Power Cultivator - Product/service evaluation

Now that we've said goodbye to winter and this particularly harsh spring finally is starting to mellow, we've taken the time to step outside our homes and take a good look around. Our first thought is, "What a mess!" The elements certainly have taken their toll and our property sure could stand a good sprucing up.

To tackle some basic outdoor cleaning jobs, we turn to the Cordless Power Scrubber ($99.99) from Black & Decker, Towson, Md. With two 8" brushes included---one soft, one firm--this versatile product can be used for anything from washing cars to scrubbing patios, and many things in between. It has a pivoting head that locks in position to access hard-to-reach areas, and it is submersible, which makes it great for pools and hot tubs. We use it on our deck and outdoor furniture and, with its light weight (just 5.5-7.8 pounds) and long reach (up to 14'), it's also great for siding and RVs. We even tried it--with very good results--on our least favorite outdoor chore: washing windows. A mesh bag is included for carrying and storing all components.

The 18-volt rechargeable battery has a working time of up to 75 minutes and is interchangeable with many other...