Veronica Bettencourt

There are several reasons why people might fall in love with their furniture and one of them might be because of the way it looks.  But, with something like furniture, knowing how to clean upholstery and giving it the proper care in order to keep it looking as good as it did when you bought it does not require much but is often forgotten.

Caring for your upholstery should be included in your regular household cleaning routine.  When you are vacuuming the floors, take the time to vacuum the upholstery as well.  This can be done on a weekly basis.  Vacuuming the furniture removes surface soil preventing the dirt from becoming embedded in the fibers.  You can also use a soft brush to whisk dirt away instead.  Plus, periodically turning over the loose cushions can extend your furniture’s life.  It allows an even distribution of wear and tear plus your cushions won’t develop indentations right away.  Also, fluffing the cushions helps to keep them in shape.  You can also change the cushions around from one part to the other.  Some seats get used more then other ones so, changing the cushions distribute an even amount of use.

Try to keep your furniture out of direct sunlight.  Too much sunlight can cause your furniture to fade or fry.  Silks are even more delicate.  Plus, airborne pollutants such as smoke or fumes from cooking can harm your fabric.  It’s not always easy to avoid fumes from cooking but, proper ventilation can help.

Sometimes prevention is the best way to keep something clean.  If you want to avoid stains and dirt on your furniture, set up rules to avoid this from happening.  Do not allow anyone to eat on the couch, loveseats or chairs.  Choose dining room chairs that come with a removable and machine washable covers for chairs with a fabric seat cushion.  Do not allow shoes on the couch.  To make sure that no one forgets this rule, make sure couch dwellers take their shoes off before they even sit on it.  Also, do not allow dogs on the furniture or even in the same room as the upholstery you are trying to protect.

Do not underestimate the power of a fabric protector.  Sometimes removing a stain is easy as blotting it up when your furniture is already protected.  But, if you do not have a fabric protector on your furniture, act quickly when it comes to stains.  Blot up as much of the liquid as you can with a clean towel.  Never rub the fabric because this can cause more damage.  Use a spot cleaner specifically meant for upholstery.  Make sure that you read all of the manufactures instructions first and test the product in an inconspicuous area first to make sure that it does not damage your fabric.  Use a soft brush to gently work the cleaner into the fibers in a circular motion.  Then, vacuum when it’s dry.

Every couple of years or so, you may want to have a professional come into your home to clean your upholstery.  Once a piece of furniture has become overwhelmed with dirt, it is harder to restore it to look as good as it did when you first bought it.

The other day I was cleaning out some of my drawers in my bedroom, getting rid of some items and rearranged some of the furniture in my living room. I was tired of the same look and was feeling a little claustrophobic and needed a sense of feeling just a little bit lighter.
As I was doing what I was doing, a friend of mine called and I told her what I was doing. Well, turns out she was so proud of me and went on with her ‘Feng Shui’ rant. In fact, any time I tell her I’m decluttering, she goes on with her Feng Shui rant and how much happier she feels when she does her monthly feng shui routine.
So, I thought I’d share a little bit on the topic since some of you may not know what it is really all about, or maybe you just don’t why it’s important.
So first, what is it?
Alright this one isn’t any easy one to answer. Feng Shui is an ancient art and science that was developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that focuses on how you can balance the energies of any space to ensure the health and good fortune for the people that inhabit that space. Feng Shui is about creating sheng Ch’i (positive energies) to balance man and nature and to eliminate shar Ch’i (negative energies). In exact terms, “Feng” means “wind” and “shui” means “water” (pronounced fung-shway).
One of the reasons why Feng Shui is so popular is because once you know how to implement feng shui in your home and life, it is easy to do because in 95 percent of the cases, there is no need to do a reconstruction of space or demolition of any kind. The principles of Feng Shui can be learned and beautifully incorporated with small changes that can have major changing effects.
Feng Shui offers a variety of feng shui ideas to improve your life. From the feng shui use of aquariums to attract prosperity or the use of crystals and fountains, the right use of colors, the feng shui use of clocks, and many other ways you can improve the energy in your home by applying feng shui.
Many believe that Feng Shui, as a science can affect the physical, mental, emotional and the spiritual levels of an individual. If at the physical level, it relates to the changing in the placement of objects, it can help you achieve mental stability and progress emotionally. And once the emotional balance is created, one can evolve spiritually to a higher self. Experts highlighting the importance of Feng Shui also state that –Feng Shui as an art can help you progress, but it can’t change your destiny, unless you work hard to achieve it. Feng Shui is not just about rearranging articles in the house- it is also connected to your well-being as a whole.
You don’t have to be a firm believer in all the principles of Feng Shui. If you just make a few changes in the areas you chose, it can be very rewarding. I never was a big feng shui advocate, however after making some changes at home, and hearing the constant feng shui rant, I can see how even small changes can equal big transformations and allow you to feel renewed and energized. I’m living proof

For more info on Feng Shui go to http://veronicabettencourt.com/fengshui where you can get a Free Feng Shui Report.

Here’s a get-to-the-point list of 10 things that you may have had to deal with at some point and didn’t know what to do. Some of these ideas I came up with myself and others I got from others who have let me in on their tactics.I hope you find them useful.

1. Repair Small Holes in Screen. Plug holes with clear nail polish, let dry, and repeat until filled.

2. Get Water Out Of Your Watch. Strap watch to light bulb, turn on for a few minutes. Water drops will form on crystals. Open up and wipe off.

3. Easily Untie a Knot In A Chain. Cover the knot generously with cold cream.

4. Easily Reduced Ashtray Smell. Keep a small amount of baking soda in ashtrays at all times.

5. Keep Piano Keys Looking New. Keep cover open. Ivory turns dark if exposed to darkness.

6. Caring For Leather Upholstery. Brush with skim milk every three months adding a drop of any essential oils for a nice odour.

7. Repair Scuffed Patent Leather. Cover with same colour polish, let dry, and then cover with clear nail polish.

8. Remove Salt Rings From Shoes. Brush with a solution of vinegar and water.

9. Stop Clothes Catching on Hangers. Put a coat of clear nail polish over splinters and rough edges.

10. Tip on Storing Plastic Curtains or Tablecloths.  Sprinkle talcum powder between the layers as you fold.

Hi everyone and welcome to my new blog!  Feel free to browse the site anytime and  look out for some helpful information coming soon