Patio Furniture: Get it Ready for Fall in 4 Easy Steps. Outdoor living days are winding down. Now's the time to get your patio furniture ready for the big chill.
Before you stash that hammock, take time to clean it first. Spots will be easier to remove now than next spring.
Plus, timely cleaning ensures you'll have attractive pieces that can be pulled out of storage and used on those occasional warm fall days and nights.
Here's how to get your hammock, outdoor furniture and more cleaned and prepped for the change of seasons.
1 Chair Cushions.
Be sure to clean away any remnants from the outdoor season from patio furniture before storing cushions for the winter because set stains are nearly impossible to remove.
Most cushions have synthetic covers and polyester fill and are designed to withstand the elements. Still, they could use some help if you'd like them to last for the long term (or at least a few seasons.)
Use a spray
enzyme cleaner
on stubborn spots. Set the cushions on their ends in the sun until completely dry.
If you detect mildew, put the cushions on a flat cement surface and saturate them with a solution of 1 cup bleach, 3 gallons of warm water, and 1/2 cup of laundry detergent.
Let the wet cushions sit in the sun for several hours. Rinse, then allow them to dry in the sun for several days if necessary.
Store clean, dry cushions in plastic bags (I use trash bags) for the winter.
2 Hammocks.
To clean, lay them flat and scrub with a solution of hand dish-washing detergent in warm water using a nylon scrubber.
Rinse and clean the other side. Rinse again and hang to dry.
Never use bleach on these natural relaxers - it will rot the fibers.
When you bring them out in the spring, spray them with a water repellent to minimize water retention. (Cotton hammocks soak up water like a sponge.)
3 Umbrellas.
To really clean a summer's worth of dirt from an umbrella, you'll need to take it apart and put the top part back into the stand so that it's within reach.
Then crank the umbrella open and wash it with a liquid cleaner and a sponge.
If your umbrella is vinyl, use the detergent made for convertible car tops. It works wonders on these sun-beaten skin-savers.
Dry the umbrella open in full sun for a day or two.
Never put an umbrella away even slightly damp. That's a recipe for mildew.
4 Patio Furniture.
Aluminum: Wash with mild liquid detergent; rinse and dry. Coat with an automotive wax.
Resin: Wash with a mild, soapy solution, rinse and towel dry. Avoid products with ammonia, but use a diluted bleach solution for stains. Polish resin with car wax if desired.
Teak: Don't use teak oil on outdoor furniture because it will act as a dust magnet. Clean teak with a mild soap solution and a soft brush. Rinse well. Keep teak in the sun because dampness will cause mildew.
Vinyl: Clean with warm, soapy water. Avoid bleach because it can damage the finish, allowing porous material to stain, fade, and weaken faster.
Wicker (natural): First, tip the chair to one side and vacuum it well. Then wash it with a solution of mild detergent and water, using a toothbrush to get at those hard-to-reach spots. Rinse with a garden hose. Towel dry, and let dry fully in the sun.
Wicker, (resin or vinyl): Wash synthetic wicker in soapy water, then rinse and dry it. You can polish it with a spray-on polish.
Wood: Wash with a mild detergent and scrub brush. Store it indoors over winter if possible.
Wrought iron: Wash with soapy water; rinse and towel dry. Wax and polish it twice a year. Touch up any rust spots immediately. During the winter, either bring wrought iron indoors or cover it.
