How to keep your outdoor furniture looking good

May 3rd, 2007 Category Furniture, Outdoor Furniture, Tips

Jennifer Litwin, author of “Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever,” offers some ideas for reviving your outdoor furniture out of a season of neglect:

To clean patio furniture use a hose. If you need a deeper clean, try a mild solution of dishwashing soap and warm water. Brighten cast iron and aluminum furniture with car wax. Avoid harsh cleaning solutions. Don’t clean patio furniture in the swimming pool. The chlorinated water will degrade the finish.

To clean straps on vinyl sling or strap furniture, which get stained with suntan oil, pool chlorine, unfiltered irrigation water and tree debris try the same soapy solution. If stains persist, add a couple of tablespoons of bleach to a half-gallon of the soapy solution. Apply and rinse well. If that doesn’t work, increase the strength of the bleach solution. If a 50/50 mix of bleach and soapy water doesn’t work, replace the straps.

When vinyl straps stop bouncing back, don’t toss the chair. For just a few dollars you can replace straps in an updated color. When choosing strap colors, note that darker colors get hotter and fade faster. Light colors wear better. Don’t put off replacing old straps. Worn straps break easily, which is just embarrassing no matter how much you weigh.

To clean cushions, beat them to get the dust out, then vacuum them, and wipe them with a damp sponge or rag, says Spooky Apple, spokeswoman for Glen Raven Inc., makers of Sunbrella all- weather fabric. To treat spots, mist the spot using a spray bottle filled with a mild laundry detergent solution. Rub the spot with a soft towel or sponge (not a brush). Then mist again with clear water to rinse. For a really bad stain, try a little diluted bleach, after first spot-testing.

If you can remove cushion covers from their fillers, machine wash them in cold water using a mild detergent, like Woolite. Air dry. Don’t put cushion covers in the dryer.

If your cushions get soaked in a spring shower, turn them on their edges, so water runs out the sides, rather than collects. Often, cushions that feel dry on the surface have water lurking inside. You don’t discover this soggy surprise until 10 minutes after you’ve sat down.

If you have a pool, encourage people to use towels. Sparing the furniture from a barrage of suntain oil and chlorine could double its life.