Submitted by: Jesse Akre

Left to its own devices, cloth patio furniture can be very resilient. With a little annual maintenance you can keep your patio furniture looking like new, too.

To keep your cloth furnishings in top condition, you want to be sure that you clean them periodically. This is particularly true if you live in parts of the country where you get rainy days. Dirt, leaves and grime can quickly build up on the surface of your cushions. In most cases, a quick hosing from a garden hose with a spray nozzle on it will do the trick. If you still see dirt, add a little dish washing soap to a bucket of warm water and remove the dirty with a sponge or rag. Dont overdo it on the moisture. Ring out the sponge or rag before scrubbing. When through, rinse the cloth patio furniture off and let it air dry.

If there are some stains, you can remove them with a mixture of two tablespoons of baking soda to a half gallon of hot water. With a stiff brush, work the solution into the stain. After letting it do its job for a while, wash it completely. You may have to do this a couple of times.

When the stains have been removed, always be sure to clean the entire cushions completely. You can use a commercial cleaner or some dish soap in warm water. Rinse thoroughly. When complete dry spray on a water repellent and fabric protector.

If you have some baked on mold or mildew, a chlorine bleach solution consisting of a quarter cup of chlorine bleach in a gallon of water should do well. Apply it with a spray bottle or dab it on with a sponge. Let it sit for about a minute, then rinse off the entire piece of cloth patio furniture.

Remember that water repellent and fabric protectors cant protect your cloth patio furniture from the harsh rays of the sun. Eventually, the fabric will begin to fade. When youre not using your outdoor entertainment spaces for a period of time, remove the cushions and store them away, either in a storage box on your deck or patio or in a closet or the garage. Extensive sun exposure can not only fade the fabric, but also cause the fabric itself to break down and weaken.

Another enemy of cloth patio furniture is suntan lotion or oil. Be sure that friends and family place a towel on the cushion before sitting or laying on them. The oils will stain the cushion and theres no way to remove these stains.

One of the pieces of cloth patio furniture that is often overlooked is the canvas patio umbrella. It too can get dirty and mildew and mold can form if you dont clean it occasionally. Cleaning it is fairly straightforward. Use the same chlorine bleach solution mentioned above to clean the umbrella. If your umbrella has a decorative design on it, be sure to test the area for color fastness. If the paint is acrylic, bleach will cause it to fade.

As always, use protective gloves and eyewear when working with bleach. An inadvertent splash in the eye even with diluted bleach can be extremely painful. You dont want to spend those rare hot summer days in the emergency room.

When the season comes to a close, always be sure to give your cloth patio furniture one last thorough cleaning, including one to kill any mildew or mold spores that may have collected on the cushions. If you put these away dirty, you may find that the storage area was damp and warm enough to cause a bumper crop of mold and mildew to form in the off season. Before you put them away, make sure they dry and air completely.

Never put your cloth patio furniture in plastic. This will promote mold and mildew growth and even a few remaining spores can destroy your cushions over a period of a couple months.

About the Author: Jesse Akre owns Edenvale Shoppes and hosts numerous furniture and furnishings for any home whether it be

end tables

or

teak furniture

styles and designs.

Source:

isnare.com

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