Just as you wouldn't let your car sit outside 24/7 without periodicly cleaning it, you should occasionally wash your outdoor furniture. Proper maintenance will help your investment last longer. Here are a few tips.
To paraphrase an old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care." Nothing could be truer when it comes to cleaning cushions. If you periodically remove loose dirt or immediately attend to dropped food or liquid, cushions will serve you well for years. However, if worst comes to worst, we recommend a great website by the manufacturer of the finest acrylic fabric in the industry. There, you will get the secrets professionals use to clean their cushions. American made Sunbrella is so low maintenance you will be amazed. If you have cotton cushions, we recommend following the manufacturer's cleaning instructions.
Furniture with slings should be cleaned twice yearly; once at the beginning of the season, and once at the end of the season. Fill a plastic bucket (NOT METAL) with warm water. Add 1/2 cup liquid soap (Ivory, Dove, etc.) and 1/2 to 1 cup bleach. Mix together and apply with a car wash sponge or old towel as though you were washing a car. Allow cleaning mixture to sit for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly. A good protectorant should be sprayed on after cleaning. Body oils and suntan lotions can stain even the finest sling materials. Make a point of using a product specifically made for these problems as soon as possible. A well maintained sling should last for five to seven years with full exposure to the weather.
Expect sling cleaning products to be in the low price range.
High quality vinyl straps can last from fifteen to twenty years with twice yearly cleanings. Straps can be cleaned with a solution of warm water, 1/2 cup liquid soap (Ivory, Dove, etc.) and 1/2 to 1 cup bleach mixed together in a plastic (NOT METAL) pail. Wet straps down first, then use a car wash sponge as though you were washing a car. Allow to sit for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly. A good silicone based protectorant should be applied after cleaning. Body oil and suntan lotion should be attended to immediately. Use a cleaner specifically formulated for these problems.
Expect to find strap cleaning and protectorant products in the low price range.
Depending on the weather and environment, you should clean your furniture's frames at least twice a year, just before the season begins, and just when it ends. Almost any frame will benefit from being cleaned with a solution of warm water and a mild liquid soap such as Dove or Ivory Liquid. On any frame that isn't iron, you can use a diluted solution of bleach to get rid of mildew. Apply the diluted bleach solution with a spray bottle or car wash sponge, allow it to sit for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water. As a final step, apply a good liquid spray automobile wax, such as Turtle Wax Express Shine.
