How to Fix the Center Console Armrest Cover in a 1995 - 2001 Ford Explorer

When the center console armrest cover in your second generation (1995-2001) Ford Explorer has become cracked and ugly from years of sun damage, don’t spend a lot of money replacing it.  With a little effort, you can restore it and make it look brand new for under ten dollars.

Things You’ll Need

Vinyl material of matching color and texture

Double-sided tape

Pencil or pen

Scissors

Phillips head screwdriver

Small flathead screwdriver

Step 1

Cut or tear off a piece of the damaged armrest cover.  Visit a piece goods store and find the upholstery section.  Show them the old material and ask them if they have anything similar in texture and color.  For my repair, I purchased a yard of marine grade vinyl, which is used to recover boat seats, for under $8.00.  In retrospect, a third of a yard should be plenty of material unless you are prone to accidents.

Step 2

Lift the armrest cover to expose the inside of the console storage compartment.  On the hinge in the back, you will see three Phillips head screws.  Remove all three and place them in a cup holder.  You won’t need these screws again until you re-install the armrest cover.

Step 3

Place the armrest cover with the bottom side facing up on a hard, flat surface.  Around the perimeter of the cover, you will see nine Phillips head screws.  Carefully remove each of these and place them in a safe location.  Remove the plastic panel to expose the interior of the armrest cover.  You should see a series of small staples that hold the vinyl material firmly in each of the corners.

Step 4

Very carefully pry these staples out of the plastic armrest base.  If the plastic base is old, it may have become brittle and you don’t want to crack it.  When all staples are removed, throw them away and remove the outer vinyl cover.  Inspect the underlying foam material.  If it looks OK, don’t worry about replacing it.

Step 5

Spread out the new vinyl material faced down on the flat surface and place the old vinyl material on top of it.  Stretch it out as much as you can and trace the outline onto the new material using a pencil or pen.  As long as you can recreate the basic shape of the original material, it should work.  Don’t worry if your new design is not as perfect as the original.  It would actually benefit you to add up to an inch along the longer sides.  Try to make the front and back of the new material match the original as closely as possible, though.  Don’t worry about cutting holes for the screws.  They will punch through the material when you screw them back in.

Step 6

Cut two inch-long pieces of double stick tape and apply them to the plastic base, just inside the rear section.  Lay the plastic base upside down on the new material and stretch the piece that corresponds to the back of the armrest so that it sticks to the tape.  Now, place two small pieces of tape inside the front of the base.  Lift the entire base and stretch the material towards the front.  When the material is as tight as you can get it, fold it firmly onto the tape.

Step 7

Flip the armrest right-side up and inspect your work so far.  Does it feel tight?  Are there any wrinkles?  If there is anything that doesn’t pass your inspection, remove the material and adjust it.  After the next step, it will be harder and more aggravating to fix earlier mistakes.

Step 8

Place the armrest upside-down again and apply pieces of tape just inside each corner.  Stretch and fold the corners of the material so that they overlap and contour the corner very tightly.  Fold each one so that they stick firmly to the tape.  When the corners are done, apply tape to the sides and repeat the procedure.

Step 9

Inspect the armrest cover once last time from above.  The material should be stretched tightly around the entire perimeter of the armrest.  The front corners should look round.  Make sure there isn’t any material sticking out that could interfere with the cover’s opening and closing.  If everything looks good, place the plastic panel back onto the underside of the cover and replace each Phillips screw.

Step 10

Take the newly-covered armrest back to the Explorer and replace the three Phillips screws that you left in the cup holder back into the hinge.  Open and close the armrest cover to make sure it has clearance on both sides.

Preparing Your Home for Cold Weather

As winter approaches it is crucial for homeowners to think ahead and perform simple preventative maintenance on their homes to avoid unnecessary and often expensive repairs.  It is possible to complete the majority of these projects in one weekend.

Examine the exterior of the home and look for potential hazards like tree limbs hanging overhead that could fall and damage the roof or sides of the home.  Trim any bushes have grown and are now making contact with the house.  Make sure all doors and windows are sealed tight and if necessary, purchase new weather stripping and replace old worn out sections.  If there is any existing damage to the siding on the house or the roof shingles, now is the time to repair these problem areas.  Check the gutters and downspouts for debris and clean them thoroughly.  It is a good idea to spray water into the gutters periodically or check them during a heavy rainfall for leaks and repair any problems that are found.  If the home has a crawl space and is not equipped with automatic vents it is a good idea to invest in some.  Otherwise close all the vents now to prevent low temperatures from freezing the water lines.  If the home is not under a pest control contract, purchase enough pest repellent to treat the perimeter of the home to block unwanted pests that will soon be seeking refuge from the cold.  Pay to have the heating system of the home inspected and serviced by trained professionals to prevent surprise outages that will literally leave you in the cold.  Purchase a bag of de-icer to spread on steps and walkways and be sure that there is a shovel with a flat face easily accessible.

Inside the home, check all of the vents for obstructions and verify that each one is open.  Blocking vents causes the heating system to work harder and waste energy trying to warm those areas.  A programmable thermostat is easy to install and relatively inexpensive compared to the savings that long-term use will provide and it will maintain the home at a comfortable temperature based on the time of day.  Wash some blankets and leave them folded in various rooms to encourage family and friends to cover themselves if the temperature is a little too low for their comfort.  If the home has an attic with an access door, insulate that opening to prevent heat from escaping into the attic.  Icy weather often brings power outages, so stock up on candles, flashlights, and batteries.  If there is a fireplace available, be sure to have the chimney thoroughly cleaned prior to using it and gather and store enough firewood to heat the home for a few days.  For areas where power outages are frequent, investigate the costs versus benefits of installing a gas-powered generator.

Purchase a supply of non-perishable foods including canned goods and some gallon jugs of purified water in case you find yourself unable to leave home for a few days due to snow and ice.  A battery-powered radio may be used to listen for important weather advisories in case the television or computer are inaccessible.  If anyone living in your home uses prescription medication or oxygen tanks that are crucial for their health, be prepared by keeping a little extra on-hand.  Collect board games and think of ways to entertain family and friends in case they wind up trapped indoors together.

With simple preparation, your home will pass the cold winter months with ease and might give you and your family an opportunity to relax and enjoy the beauty of the season.

How to Reduce the Amount of Dust in Your Home

The first step in reducing the amount of dust in your home is to understand what causes this problem. Dust forms due to a number of things, including pet dander, dirt particles entering from outside the home, the decomposition of upholstered furniture and clothing, insects and their waste, dead human skin cells that have been shed, and many others. Through routine cleaning practices and some preventative measures, all of these problems may be controlled to an extent.

Let's begin with the central air conditioning system if your home is equipped with one. It makes no sense to clean and dust while there is a large machine recirculating dust and spewing it all over the house. Make an appointment to have the ducts cleaned and in the meantime replace the air filter with a high quality filter that is rated for maximum filtration of dust and allergens. Regardless of the directions specified on the filter, replace it every month. Leaving an air filter in place for several months at a time in a home with a high level of dust will cause unnecessary stress on the central air system and result in costly repairs.

Now do a thorough cleaning of your entire home using furniture polish and clean cloths where applicable. Don't forget to dust ceiling fans, blinds, drawers, and cabinets. Clean every surface in the home where dust could settle. Be sure to wash all bedding materials and if possible wash your curtains. Mop all hardwood and laminate floors and vacuum all carpeted areas using a vacuum with a Hepa filter. Clean your shower and bathtubs. At least once a month, move furniture, including dressers, beds, refrigerator, clothes washer, and clothes dryer and clean behind and underneath them. As this is a time consuming and often strenuous process, it may be necessary to alternate one area of furniture a month and then another the next month. Cleaning behind these pieces of furniture just a few times a year is better than never cleaning behind them at all.

Verify that each entrance of your home is equipped with a mat for guests to wipe their feet on. If you own a pet, be sure to bathe and brush them frequently. Check for cracks and crevices in your home where air may be flowing from the outside and repair them. If your home is equipped with attic stairs, verify that the door is sealing properly when closed. Products are available now that may be installed on an attic entrance that seals the door when shut.

If the dust problem persists, invest in an air purifying machine. The ionic air purifying machines do not require replacement filters and help capture a large amount of dust from the air. Consider removing large area rugs and upholstered furniture from your home. Switching carpeted areas to hardwood or laminate flooring will also greatly reduce the level of dust in a home. Be sure to keep closets and drawers which contain clothes shut at all times when not in use.

Following these simple tips will reduce much of the dust in a home and will simplify the cleaning process in the future.