Upholstered armchairs and sofas are comfortable and attractive additions to any home. When neglected, however, upholstery can quickly turn into next year’s yard sale’s featured item. Help upholstered furniture in your dining room, living room, family room and bedroom last for years and years, by getting to know ABC’s of upholstery preventative and corrective care. Stop Damage Before it Occurs Protect Upholstery from: SUNLIGHT, NEWSPAPER INK, FABRIC DYES, PAINTS & POLISHES Allow common sense to dictate what you should keep from harming your upholstered furniture. Sunlight will fade upholstery, so keep your upholstered couches, armchairs and ottomans away from window, or else well-shaded. Put your newspaper on a coffee table or side table, to avoid ink damage to your upholstered furniture.

Other items that can cause permanent damage include dark-colored sheets and blankets, for when damp or wet, dark dyes on these fabrics can rub off and ruin your upholstery. Finally, paints and polishes, such as nail or shoe polish, should never be used on upholstery. Make sure to cover your upholstered furniture when painting your living room, dining room, or bedrooms! Keep it Clean! 1: Vacuum, 2: Damp-Dust, 3: Professionally Clean Cleaning upholstered furniture is easy as 1, 2, 3. First, Vacuum as often as possible. Second, damp-dust arms and headrest areas with cleaning solution recommended by manufacturer. Third, indulge occasionally in professional cleaning for maximum dirt and dust particle removal.

Here’s a tip for keeping your favorite chairs & couches clean: Don’t be fooled by zippers on those cushions: cushion covers are NOT meant to be removed and washed separately! Before you vacuum, remove cushions. Beat them, rotate them, then vacuum them. 911 Emergency Care Blot, scrape, vacuum. Read label, match spill with remedy. Spills happen. The key to avoiding a permanent stain is to react in manner most appropriate to type of spill. For liquid spills, don’t rub spot, BLOT. Use a fresh, clean paper towel. For food or solid spills, first lift as much of spill as possible with a dull knife or a spoon, scraping gently towards center. For powder or cigarette ash spills, don’t add a liquid or rub. Instead, vacuum up spill.

www.the5yearjournal.com info@the5yearjournal.com

Last year, as I turned 50, (FIVE-OOOH!!!), I decided to give myself a birthday party. Part of party was to have a birthday journal, or diary. (I used my book The 5 Year Journal for two reasons -- #1. I had a lot of copies, and #2. The 5 Year Journal is dated) I asked my friends to pick a date telling me why they chose that date, and then write whatever they felt like writing.

After journal was passed around party, I then carried it with me and had more friends sign throughout year. I have now decided that this is my decade journal and it will come with me, and both my old and new friends will become a part of it from age 50 to 60 years old. Then I'll start again, because a birthday journal is now part of my birthday celebration.