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How to make your patio chair cushions and outdoor furniture last

By Roger Hutchison

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 15Sep2007
Word count: 681
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The key to a great looking outdoor space is the vibrancy of your patio chair cushions. No one wants to see cushions that are torn, dirty, or worse missing in action and sitting on the doghouse in your neighbor's yard. Fortunately, there are several simple steps that you can take to keep them looking their best and lasting a good long time.

Cleaning Patio Chair Cushions:

Keeping your patio chair cushions looking as great as they looked the day you bought them takes a little work. Fortunately, many cushions are now made from strong durable fabrics and often coated with stain repellents. This helps to keep your cushions looking great and lasting a long time however, it doesn't take care of everything.

Here are a few simple steps to keep your cushions looking excellent:

At the end of each season, or in the event of a spill, hand wash your patio chair cushions with a mild detergent and rinse. This annual cleaning is made significantly easier if you have cushions that allow you to remove the inner foam core. If you do have cushions that allow you to remove the cushion insert, then you can simply drop them in your washing machine on gentle cycle and air dry.

Take extra care to keep inner foam core dry because mildew can develop. This is especially important if you store your cushions during the winter months. In fact, if you can keep your cushions from getting rain soaked take those measures. This may involve removing them during inclement weather or positioning your furniture under a cover.

When storing your cushions, never wrap them in plastic because this will prevent circulation and encourage mold and mildew growth. Take measures to store them in a cool and dry place.

Cleaning teak furniture:

Teak is a natural product and thus requires some extra TLC. Fortunately, cleaning is simple and straightforward. To clean your teak patio furniture, skip the steel wool and high pressured hoses and stick with a soft brush or cleaning pad. Simple soapy water should get 90% of the dirt off and don't forget to rinse. If, however, you have mineral deposits, mildew, or deep stains, you can use commercial teak cleaners. Another quick way to get rid of stains is to use fine grade sandpaper. Sand in the direction of the grain and finish with teak oil for a clean finish.

Cleaning your resin lawn chairs:

Resin is easy to care for and fairly inexpensive but it can get dirty and dingy quickly. To brighten resin furniture, remove your patio chair cushions and set aside. Gather rubber gloves and a scour sponge or soft brush and a bucket. Combine 3/4 cup bleach and 1 tablespoon powdered or liquid laundry detergent mixed with 1 gallon warm water. Leave the mixture on the furniture for five to 15 minutes and then rinse well.

Note: Always test cleaning solutions on a hidden area to make sure material won't discolor.

Cleaning your patio umbrella:

Open your umbrella on your deck or patio lay it on its side. In a gallon bucket of warm water, combine 3/4 cup bleach and a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent. Take care to not use bleach on acrylic prints because it will damage the material. If you have an acrylic print, follow your manufacturer's label for cleaning instructions. Protect your hands with rubber gloves and, using a soft-bristle brush, scrub one section at a time. Rinse fabric with your hose or clean buckets of water and dry metal hardware with a clean dry towel to prevent rusting.

Normal wear and tear of patio furniture and patio chair cushions is expected, after all your outdoor space is a room that you want to live in. However, dirt, mildew, and mineral deposits can cause your patio furniture to wear more quickly than you'd like. Annual cleaning of your patio furniture and patio chair cushions will not only help keep them looking their best, it will help them last. Follow these few simple cleaning steps once a year and your outdoor space will shine.

Make your own outdoor living space more comfortable with patio chair cushions from PatioToys.com. Patty Tudor provides tasteful outdoor furniture and accessories for discriminating shoppers.

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