Do you enjoy spending most of your time in the great outdoors lounging in your backyard? If you have a nice set of lawn furniture, then you’ll want to keep it in tip-top shape for all of your summer barbecues, al fresco dinner parties and quiet time with family!
Outdoor furniture is designed to weather some of the elements, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely maintenance free. You can keep up your outdoor umbrellas, chairs and tables and extend the lifespan of your furniture by using these common sense tips whenever you’re ready to hit the deck for a little routine care.
First, always remember to keep cushions, pillows and umbrellas out of the rain whenever possible. The newest outdoor wicker furniture is made with a combination of real wicker and a resin material to resist moisture, but any upholstery must be dried out completely to avoid mold and mildew.
Keep in mind that 100 percent acrylic fabrics won’t rot or fade, and polyester filling will dry more quickly than natural fiber fabrics, but you should never put either in the dryer because they will melt.
Instead, once everything is dried in the sun, you can spot clean them. An easy home-cleaning method is to soak a rag or sponge in a solution of two parts bleach and one part water, then dab the stain and blot dry.
Even if your patio furniture isn’t wet, you still need to take a little time every so often to shake out cushions to get rid of pollen, dust and dirt, and wipe everything down with a damp cloth. Mold and mildew stick to grime, so a little preventative care will save you cleaning time in the long run.
Need more great ideas to clean your grungy picnic table, soiled deck cushions, mildewed patio umbrella, shabby wicker or dingy resin lawn chairs? Check out this great article published in Good Housekeeping for some great advice!