Patio Furniture Cushions: Help Extend Their Lifespan Eith Seasonal Cleaning And Weatherproofing

| Sunday, February 20, 2011
By Kristin Langley


Seasonal care is a very important part in maintaining your Patio Furniture Cushions . With the Spring and Summer months ahead, now is the time to formulate a cleaning regimen to keep them in great shape. The added benefit is that you will prolong the lifespan of your patio furniture cushions for years to come.

Bringing out your patio furniture cushions from storage is the first step. Make sure that you clean them thoroughly with a mild detergent. If you have cushions with removable zipper covers, then remove the covers and wash them in the washing machine on a low cycle.

Do not wash the foam insert because it could cause mildew growth. If you do get the foam wet, then make sure you let it air dry completely prior to replacing the cover. Before using the covers, you might want to consider investing in a protective sealant. You simply spray it on the patio furniture cushions, and it will protect them from any harmful exposures or weather conditions.

Even if your cushions are not in great shape because they were not stored for the winter, it is easy to make them look like new. Simply follow the same steps mentioned above, although you might need to hand-scrub the covers using a stronger detergent.

Cleaning products specifically formulated to reduce dirt and mildew while not damaging your cushions' fabric are available on the market. The appearance of your patio furniture cushions can be maintained by hosing them down when they start to get dirty.

You can also even out the wear and UV exposure of both sides of your cushions by flipping them over every so often. Exposure to sunscreen eats away at the fabric used in cushions, so it is a good practice to rinse sunscreen off your cushions as soon as possible. You should also rinse off anything that spills onto a cushion as soon as it happens.

When winter approaches and it is time to store your cushions for the season, you should follow the same types of steps as you did when you first took them out of storage in the spring. Remove the covers and wash them thoroughly. Let them dry in the sun before putting them back onto your cushions, but first make sure the polyester or foam inserts are completely dry.

Air-tight containers should be used to store your cushions. Never wrap your cushions in plastic, because mold and mildew could grow if air is trapped in the plastic. Placing a few cedar balls in the containers alongside the cushions will help keep bugs away and maintain a fresh smell in your cushions.

You can buy these at home improvement stores. They act like moth balls, but without the weird smell. By keeping up with your seasonal care of your patio furniture cushions, you can enjoy nice cushions all year long.




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