Wind is caused when air moves from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area. Since weather moves in from the west, westerly winds indicate good weather because they suggest the bad weather is already to your east. Easterly winds suggest that the bad weather is coming toward you.  You can use grass or flower petals to determine the direction of the wind. Throw your grass or flower petals into the wind and watch the way that it blows or falls. You can also detect the direction of the wind by wetting your finger and holding it out. The side of your finger that gets cool will tell you from which direction the wind is blowing. The air pressure determines what direction the smoke will go. In high pressure, the smoke will go directly up into the air. If the pressure is low, it will spiral back down around the fire. If you see the smoke spiraling back down, bad weather is likely on the way. When smoke spirals downwards, it means that bad weather is very close. The low-pressure system is already in place over your area. Before a storm, the low-pressure system can push out the area’s normal wind patterns. This creates a temporary calm before the storm begins. You’ll notice a lack of wind, which creates a stillness over the area. If you're near water, it will be calm and still, as well. This calm indicates a coming storm. At this point, you should be able to observe other signs of a storm, such as dark clouds. Close your eyes and smell the air. Smells become wet right before a storm, making them stronger. Before a storm, you should also notice a compost smell as plants release their waste. If you start to smell a compost scent, it likely means that a storm is coming. If you are near a swamp, you will likely smell swamp gases right before a storm. Swamp gas smells like rotten eggs because it comes from decaying vegetation. High humidity often precedes a storm, so watch for signs of high humidity, such as frizzy hair, curling leaves, and swollen wood. These signs can tell you that a storm is on the way.  Pine cones can also tell you if it’s humid because they will stay closed if the humidity is high but will open if the air is dry.  If you live in an area that always has high humidity, rely on other observations to predict the weather. If you're near the ocean, look for ocean swells. These swells can be caused by winds that are blowing a storm system from out over the sea. This could mean that rain is on the way.

Summary: Detect the direction of the wind. Watch smoke from a fire. Watch for calm conditions. Take a deep breath. Check for humidity. Observe ocean swells.


Brushing the velvet will remove dirt and lint, and loosen any mats in the fabric. This prepares the fabric for treatment and can remove caked-on dirt before spot cleaning. When brushing accessories, make sure you’re getting into corners and areas where there might be hardware to remove dirt and lint. The suction will remove any dirt and lint, and the brush attachment will loosen up mats in the fabric to prepare it for cleaning. Be gentle and don’t push too hard on the fabric as you can crush the pile. To prevent further stains and dirt from damaging the fabric, you can vacuum your velvet once per week. You may need to add extra lemon juice to create more foam. You won’t be using any of the liquid portion of this mixture, so don’t worry about having excess liquid. If you’re cleaning the entire piece of furniture, you’ll probably need to add more baking soda and lemon juice as you work. Make sure there are a lot of bubbles while you’re mixing. If you need to, you can add more water and detergent to create the foam. Gently pick up some of the foam that was created by the mixture. You don’t need a large amount, just enough to cover the top of the cloth. You can remove excess foam with a dry area of the cloth. Let the area dry and brush it with the cloth or a clothing brush.  For furniture, you should apply the foam by wiping in long strokes with the nap of the fabric.  You should test this method in a small, inconspicuous area first, such as the inner lining or hem hem of a piece of clothing if it has velvet on it, or a non-visible portion of the furniture or accessory. Although the mixture might appear to dry quickly, give it some time to completely dry from the fabric and allow the pile of the velvet to return to its original form. Avoid using the item or piece of furniture during this time. If the stain is still present, apply another coat and allow it to dry again, repeating until the stain is gone. You can find protective coating for velvet furniture at department stores, furniture stores, or online. Make sure you’re misting the item by spraying at least 6 inches (15 cm) away from the fabric, rather than saturating it with the spray.  After the spray dries, wipe the furniture with a clothing brush or lint-free cloth to remove any mats or creases. Protective coatings made specifically for delicate fabrics, such as Scotchguard and Nano Protector, are great solutions for accessories that tend to get dirty quickly. You can also use furniture protector spray to ensure waterproofing for velvet shoes.  Applying a protective coating might void your item’s warranty, so make sure you check the care information before spraying the item with the solution.
Summary: Brush the item with a clothing brush or lint-free cloth before treating. Vacuum velvet furniture with the brush attachment. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda and ½ a cup of lemon juice to treat spots on furniture. Mix 1 tbsp delicate detergent and 2 cups of water to treat clothing and accessories. Skim the foam of the mixture with a lint-free cloth. Dab the foam onto to the spot using a lint-free cloth. Allow the item 3-5 hours to dry. Apply a protective coating to furniture or accessories to avoid new stains.