Tide Buzz Stain Remover Powered by Black & Decker

by Black & Decker

Product Features

• Ultrasonic stain remover for clothing and household fabrics
• 3 ultrasonic settings are safe on all fabrics
• Removes 85% of all stains before washing
• Eliminates tedious scrubbing and soaking
• For use with Tide Ultrasonic cleaning solution; starter bottle included

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 11.1 x 6.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001OHHDS
• Item model number: SR1000
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,903 in Home & Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen)

Product Description

Buzz is a revolutionary stain removal system that combines ultrasonic energy with powerful ultrasonic Tide cleaning fluid. Ultrasonic Buzz energy waves break up stain particles and knocks them out of fabric Specially formulated Tide Ultrasonic Cleaning Fluid removes the toughest stains. Absorbent Stain Catcher Pads catch stains and lock them away.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buzz is cool -- but mine stopped working after one day!, August 13, 2004

By 

Steve Bass "Author, columnist, and gadget maven" (Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tide Buzz Stain Remover Powered by Black & Decker (Kitchen)

The Buzz works on stains really well -- I zapped and removed an old oil stain on my wife's blouse quickly and easily.

But there's a but: The Buzz stopped buzzing a day after I got it. I called the Black and Decker 800 customer service number enclosed in the box and I explained the problem.

After reading a serial number off the AC-adapter's plug, they told me to cut the plug from the cord, gave me an RMA number, and ship it to them; they said they'd ship me a new unit.

After a little argument, they agreed to pay the shipping to me. (Talk about dopey -- the product's brand new and defective!).

Buzz positives:

1. It works as advertised - at least on the few sample stains I tried. If it saves just one $40 Polo shirt, it's paid for itself.

2. It can be wall mounted, saving space.

Buzz negatives:

1. The AC adapter is annoying large and takes up an inordinate amount of space on the wall outlet. I <hate> AC adapters.

2. Removing a stain can take 10 minutes or more depending, of course, on the size and nastiness of the stain.

3. The cord is stiff. I would have preferred a coiled cord, something that had a little spring to it. But then I wouldn't be able to easily wrap the cord around the unit. Trade-offs are tough.

Four Buzz tricks:

1. Don't bother getting more of the expensive, white paper refills. I used a soft white towel and it worked just fine.

2. After you run out of the two Tide containers with cleaning solution included in the box, use any "stain remover" fluid (not laundry detergent). I did and it worked just fine (unless, of course, that's what damaged the unit).

3. If you have a black light (think Halloween and glowing white shirts), use it to help make the stain stand out. Home Depot sells a fluorescent black light and fixture for about $10.

4. Keep the box and all the packing material just in case you have to return it.

Steve Bass
Author, PC Annoyances
http://snurl.com/annoy1
Home Office columns
http://snurl.com/homeoffice2

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A lot of Buzz over very little!, September 10, 2004

By 

sally-ruth "sally-ruth" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tide Buzz Stain Remover Powered by Black & Decker (Kitchen)

Like another reviewer, I bought this on the recommendation of Consumer Reports. I had first seen it on display in a department store and laughed out loud at the concept of a machine that takes out stains through ultrasound. But after reading the CR review I thought I would try it.

I have to say that new, small, non-oily stains sometimes are lessened, but so far I have never gotten a stain out completely. The thing is, when you have a garment with a fresh stain, you have all sorts of options besides a $50 machine -- stain sticks, a solution of Era detergent and Clorox2 non-chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, etc., etc. But how about those garments you keep around the house for weeks or more, and don't want to throw out, because you keep meaning to work on those set-in stains? Those are the ones I need help with. Forget it: The Tide Buzz is practically useless on stains that have been allowed to "cure" for longer than a few days.

It is important to consider why Black and Decker supplies pads to go under the area you plan to treat (and I agree with the reviewer who suggests a paper towel instead). When you squirt the stain solution on the garment and rub the tip of the Tide Buzz into the stain, that stain, if it's going to come out, will go DOWN, and be trapped in the pad. Great idea, as far as it goes. But bear in mind that if you have a stain on the front of a shirt, and there is a facing or placket on the inside, behind the stain, the Tide Buzz will force the stain DOWN into the placket or facing. Theoretically the stain will continue DOWN onto the underpad, but don't count on it. You have now probably got a new stain, lodged in that facing or placket, and how are you going to get IT out? Turn the garment over and send the stain back to the outside of the garment? AUGH! It's a never-ending nightmare!

So now I have this $50 piece of nothing on my laundry-room wall. I ordered it from Amazon and, like another reviewer, discarded the packaging, fool that I was. Do I ever feel duped. I guess I can just say that I will not purchase another product from Black and Decker again; and I won't be too quick to trust Consumer Reports on a laundry gimmick like this again, either.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I found the reliability problem!!, January 27, 2005

By 

C. Lichtenberg - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tide Buzz Stain Remover Powered by Black & Decker (Kitchen)

I found the reason for fluid not pumping.....corrosion!

Mine worked for a few days and then, as other people experienced, it quit pumping fluid. Reliving my childhood days I decided to take this puppy apart to see what the problem is and discovered a design flaw: screws that corrode and fluid delivery orifices that are too small. If you remove the fluid container and look into the small hole where the fluid goes from the bottle to the unit you will see a brass screw at right angles to the tube. This screw and another one just below it are for the fluid sensor. They use the conductivity of the fluid to complete the circuit and tell the system there is fluid available. Unfortunately, the brass screws were slightly corroded and deposited the corrosion material into the fluid delivery line and plugged a very, very small orifice (1/4 inch below the screws and where the fluid line attaches to the plastic port). After removing the sensor screws, removing the blue corrosion, disconnecting the fluid line from the port, I was able to remove the debris with compressed air. After reassembly it worked just perfect. I did note some of the blue brass corrosion material had made its way through the line.

My guess is they use water to test the pump and the screw starts to corrode even before you buy it. Also, the orifice at the hose/sensor attach point is much too small and any debris can clog it.

Hope this helps!