Mattresses are home to a whole host of things that we generally don’t like to think about. Dead skin cells, along with a wide variety of mites, dust, oils, and some unmentionable bodily fluids end up on the mattress no matter how careful you are.

Mattress Cleaning is not so simple. You can’t just throw the mattress in the washer or even wash it off in the back yard with the hose. Well, I suppose that you could but a hose and a bucket of soap is not the most effective cleaning job, nor it is best for your mattress.

You should be cleaning your mattress once every three to four months under normal circumstances, more often is there are frequent spills, pets, or accidents. Cleaning a spot out of a mattress is not the same as cleaning the mattress in its entirety.

Start by choosing a product that you feel comfortable with. Steam cleaning is a great and thorough method for mattress cleaning  There are numerous detergents that mix well into a solution that will allow you to thoroughly clean the mattress. A lot of people are perfectly happy with diluting their regular laundry detergent with about 5 cups of water for their cleaning needs. This is the cheapest and often the most effective method.

Once you have chosen you cleaning weapon of choice, you are going to want to first attack your mattress vigorously with the vacuum cleaner. Suck up as much as you can with the appropriate attachment before moving onto the next step. Attacking all sides of the mattress is recommended.

Once that task is complete, you can either scrub the mattress with a mild solution of detergent, or steam clean (my number one pick.) Either way you are going to want to approach the cleaning process methodically to make sure you are evenly cleaning the entire mattress. Do not saturate the mattress, as you are simply trying use minimal amounts of moisture. Creating a sopping wet mattress will only invite mildew, mold, and a strange wet mattress smell that isn’t that far from the smell a wet dog gives off.

Stains from the inevitable dog, child, or other unmentionable accident are a much harder beast when they are left to sit for a period of time. As soon as the incident has been discovered, the mattress should be cleaned thoroughly. Initially, a wet stain shouldn’t absorb any more fluid. Using a few cloths or paper towels, remove as much moisture as humanly possible from the area. This might take awhile, but a little patience here can really pay off in the long run. Once you are sure you have soaked the moisture clean, scrubbing with the same solution of detergent and water should be enough to get the stain out. If at all possible, the mattress should spend some time sun bathing. After all, the sun’s intense rays can have a bleaching effect on the mattress stain.

Never ever put a bed back together while the mattress is still wet. Regardless of the detergent or solution that you used, a wet mattress is a wet mattress. Why go through the hassle of  mattress cleaning  only to encourage moldy growth to take over. Putting even a slightly damp mattress into a mattress bag will only serve to lock in the moldy growth, giving it a haven to fester and play. This is defeating to your efforts. Even if it means camping out on the couch, mattresses should always be permitted sufficient time and location to dry thoroughly before returning them to their proper location and purpose.

It is said that with a treasured fountain pen, the writer assumes an air of accomplishment as they practice the art of fine handwriting. Writing with a fountain pen is a romantic link to our past culture that allows a personal expression that cannot be emulated by today’s forms of communication. The quality of a fountain pen depends on the quality of its mechanisms and one important mechanism of a fountain pen is its nib.

Sailor pen, the  has always maintained its heritage and reputation for the best quality nibs with the smoothest writing.  Sailor pens have a great range of nibs of the highest quality. To that end, Sailor is fortunate to enjoy the legendary prowess of master Nib Designer Nobuyoshi Nagahara.

For nearly six decades, Nobuyoshi Nagahara has passionately become one with his craft. Mr. Nagahara personally oversees and directs the design process of Sailor’s unique nibs. These pens, just like the man that crafted them, are truly unique in design, character and personality. Fine pen nibs can only be produced by professionally skilled craftsman who painstakingly produce them one by one…

Yukio Nagahara is the son of Nobuyoshi Nagahara, a world-renowned nib specialist. At 21, Yukio followed in his father’s footsteps, and joined Sailor’s manufacturing department, where he was trained by his father in the skills and techniques of pen making. Over the years, Mr. Nagahara has perfected the art of nib making, and is credited with the invention of the Sai-bi Togi, an Extra Fine Nib, and the finest in the world. A passionate nib maker, Mr. Nagahara traverses the globe, conducting pen-workshops, and also spends time with his father, creating Nagahara Nibs

To commemorate this legendary nib master & Sailor, makers of the world’s smoothest pen, William Penn – The World Pen Store will be conducting a special workshop, Different Strokes for the first time in India. This 2-day nib repair and maintenance workshop will be held in Delhi and Mumbai, in association with Sailor. This workshop will give pen aficionados a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and watch Master Nib Designer Yukio Nagahara craft and customize nibs. This signature event comes to India, following an overwhelming response in different countries like Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The workshop will also feature Sailor limited edition collections, flown in from Japan.

Date: 25th & 26th August, 2010  

Venue: William Penn Store, Select City Walk Mall, Delhi

Time: 11:00 am to 8:00 pm

Date: 28th & 29th August, 2010

Venue: William Penn Store, High Street, Phoenix, Mumbai

Time: 11:00 am to 8:00 pm

Pen Connoisseurs are invited to bring along a fountain pen, irrespective of brand, for complimentary nib repair, adjustment and grinding by Mr. Nagahara. A prior appointment with Mr. Nagahara will be necessary. Interested members can register at the William Penn Stores located in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad & Chennai. Registration can also be done online at the store’s website: www.williampenn.net.