Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Even though you’ll be sitting around on your patio chairs, porch swings, lounge chairs, and picnic tables, as you enjoy autumn’s breath-taking scenery, that doesn’t mean that you have to just sit around.  You can also be doing some of those chores that must be finished before the onset of cold weather.  In fact, if you’re going to be storing your patio furniture in the garden shed for the winter, before you put the outdoor furniture covers on it, you can give it a good cleaning; and that includes the outdoor furniture cushions.

The amount of cleaning that they will need will depend upon how heavily they were used during the summer, and how diligently you kept up with regular maintenance.  If you hosed them down, or, at least, wiped them off, periodically, you shouldn’t have to deal with a lot of built-up dirt or mildew.  Moreover, if you tended to spills immediately, and made sure that anyone who was slathered in suntan lotion put a towel on the outdoor furniture cushion before sitting down, you probably won’t have set-in stains, either.

Naturally, the method that you will use to wash your patio furniture cushions will be determined by the materials from which they are made.  Some of the most common fabrics are acrylics, such as Sunbrella®, woven polyesters that are coated with PVC, and vinyl; and these are normally treated to be resistant to water, mildew, and UV rays.  Usually, they have polyester fillings that won’t hold water; but some may contain urethane foam, which is not completely waterproof.

The thing to remember is that, even if outdoor furniture cushions are designed to stand up to the elements, they can lose some of their resistance, over time.  Harsh detergents, for example, can break down their waterproof barriers, stiff-bristled brushes can scratch or damage their seals, and tanning products, besides causing stains, can weaken some fabrics.

In most cases, everything that you need to know, including the type of material, and the cleaning instructions, should be listed on the label.  However, if you’ve committed the egregious crime of removing the tag, not only will you be left in the dark about how to care for your outdoor furniture cushion, but you may suffer serious “penalties of law” as well.

If your outdoor furniture cushions are made from a treated, acrylic fabric, such as Sunbrella®, PVC polyester, or vinyl, you can hose them down to loosen trapped dirt and dust.  Most stains can be removed with mild dish detergent and a sponge.  The best formula is a quarter-cup of detergent to a gallon of water.  To get tougher stains out, you can use a soft-bristled brush, or a product that has gentle scrubbing agents.

Outdoor furniture cushions that are more heavily soiled, or mildewed, may need a deeper cleaning.  If so, many manufacturers recommend soaking them for about a half-hour, in a solution of one cup of non-chlorine bleach, one cup of laundry detergent, and three gallons of warm water, then rinsing and drying them thoroughly.  Of course, before you do this, you should make sure that it’s all right to use bleach on the fabric; and even if it is, always dilute it in water, rather than using it full-strength.

Remember, if you protect your outdoor furniture cushions, they’ll protect you – where it counts!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: garden shed, lounge chairs, Outdoor Furniture Covers, outdoor furniture cushions, patio chairs, patio furniture, picnic tables, porch swings

These days, color plays a huge part in furnishing an outdoor living room (the area formerly known as the backyard).  One of the big advantages of shopping at CedarStore.com is that we offer a full spectrum of color choices in outdoor furniture, so you’ll be able to find porch chairs, swings, face-to-face gliders, garden benches, ottomans, accent tables, and everything else, to complement any décor.

Our huge palette does not stop there, however, as we also feature a spectacular line of outdoor furniture cushions in scores of brilliant colors and stylish patterns.  Because they are available in several materials as well, I thought I’d give you a bit of information about each.   

Sunbrella®, which comes in a stunning variety of colors and designs, is unparalleled for its quality, durability, and ease of maintenance.  It is highly resistant to mold, mildew, stains, and the fading that can be caused by the sun’s UV rays.  The best way to keep it looking new is to avoid letting anything set into it, so be sure to brush off dust, dirt, or crumbs, before they become embedded in the fabric, and wipe up spills immediately.  This should be no problem, because it’s what you would naturally do anyway.  You can also spot-clean stains just by using warm water and mild soap.        

Cushions made of olefin polypropylene and polyethylene spun fibers feel as soft as cotton fabrics, but have strength and durability that’s comparable to canvas.  They are treated with a Teflon compound, which makes them resistant to tears, stains, and mildew.  Finished with a UV inhibitor, they are wonderfully resistant to fading, so that their many colors stay true and vibrant for years.  These, too, can be cleaned with soap and water.      

Our 100% Polyester cushions feature an open weave, which gives them the feel of a soft fabric, and lets them breathe as well.  They are also treated to resistant soil and stains, and can be spot cleaned with mild soap and water, or simply sprayed down with a hose.

Sunsharp and Teflon cushions, which also come in a rainbow of colors, are designed to withstand the elements in style, resisting soil, stains, dirt, and fading, and are as easy to clean as the rest of our cushions.

So, it appears that you can’t go wrong with any of them.  No matter which you choose, comfort is the bottom line; so just relax and put your tush in our cushion. 

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy  

Tags: cushion, cushions, furniture cushion, olefin, polyester, sunbrella, sunsharp, teflon