How To Remove Mold And Mildew From Patio Furniture
If you come across a patch of fungi on your outdoor furniture or the inside of your patio umbrella, don’t panic. With the right treatments, you can effectively eradicate mold and mildew. We suggest you scrub the affected area with an ammonia mixture, mild bleach, or hydrogen peroxide to kill the growth and keep it from spreading. If you want to avoid using harsh chemicals on your furniture, you can scrub the area with a combination of lemon juice and salt.
In extreme cases, you may be better off ordering a set of replacement cushions. Once you’ve got your replacements, you’ll know how to prevent the same problem from occurring a second time. Preventative measures can also be made by using outdoor furniture covers during the wet and cold months of the year, or when not in use.
After discovering fungal growth on your patio furniture, you may be feeling uneasy about the effectiveness of your current cleaning habits. If you’d like to step up your game, you can always pressure wash your patio furniture from top to bottom.
Cover Or Store Your Furniture During The Off
When the end of summer rolls around , proper storage of your outdoor furniture is crucial.
Snow and extremely cold temperatures will significantly reduce the lifespan of your furniture, while proper storage will ensure its long, happy existence.
An outdoor shed or garage will do just fine . Just be sure to properly wash and dry your items before storing so theyll be ready to use and in tip-top condition once sunny days return again.
Remove And Prevent Rust
If you begin to see rust on your metal patio furniture, it is important to remove it immediately to avoid the situation worsening. Use a small wire brush to remove rust. Do your best to only scrub the rusted area to avoid harming the finish surrounding the spot. Make sure you have removed as much rust as possible before moving on to the next step. Once you have removed the rust completely, consider whether or not your metal furniture needs to be repainted. When repainting metal furniture, consider rust-resistant paint that will help protect outdoor furniture from developing rust.
For ongoing maintenance of metal furniture, clean the furniture, and then add a coat of paste wax to all surfaces. Applying paste wax each time you clean your furniture will help prevent rust and keep your patio furniture looking newer longer.
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Drying And Water Testing The Wood
This takes between 2-3 days depending on the type of wood and the amount of water it had taken in. On the 3rd day, conduct water to ensure the wood is ready for treatment.
Pour a cup of water across the wood and observe what happens. If the wood absorbs the water in the first 30 seconds, then it means the wood is dry enough and ready for waterproofing. If it takes more than 30 seconds to absorb the water, it means you will have to wait a little longer.
Why Trust The Spruce
Theresa Holland is a freelance writer with several years of experience in the home improvement space. Shes been contributing to The Spruce since 2019, where she covers outdoor living, furniture, and yard care. You can read more of her home-related stories on MyDomaine. To make this list, she considered each picks size and material, as well as type of fastening.
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How To Protect Outdoor Furniture From Rust
As with wood furniture, you can add a cover or other fabrics to the metal furniture to protect it from rusting. The better it can be sheltered from rain, the slower the rusting process will be. So, tucking your metal patio furniture beneath a gazebo or other shelter is a wise idea.
Most metal furniture will have a powder coating from the manufacturer that slows down rusting. Still, it is a good idea to apply your own coating to the furniture once a year, or once every other year. For metal, wax is a good option, as it will cause water to roll right off. You can use an automotive wax, or buy wax made specifically for outdoor furniture.
What if your furniture has already rusted? Its unsightly and will continue to degrade the metal, so its wise to tackle it right away. You can sand the rust off Be sure to apply a primer and a rust-protective coating once youre done.
Are Outdoor Cushions Water Resistant
Some furniture sets are made from water-resistant materials, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely waterproof. Even acrylic isn’t totally invincible to water damage and can suffer cracks, tears, and discoloration if exposed to too much moisture. Even if the manufacturer claims that the cushions are waterproof, we urge you to play it safe with treatments and proper storage.
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Store Patio Furniture For Extended Periods Of Non
Most people do not have enough space to store all of their patio furniture in an enclosed area when not in use. And, even if we did, most of us would not want to go to the trouble to drag out all of our patio furniture every time we want to use it, and then drag it back to the shed or garage when we are finished. This just does not make sense for outdoor living spaces that we use regularly.
However, if you live an area where you do not use your outdoor living areas in winter, or forvacation homes and second homes that you use infrequently, it makes sense to store your furniture between seasons or between visits.
This will help keep your furniture clean, protect it from the elements, and extend its useful life.
How To Protect Your Patio Furniture During All Seasons
The wonderful thing about patio furniture is that it provides us with a comfortable space to spend outdoors. From being curled up and relaxing with a captivating book, to hosting BBQs or enjoying gatherings with family and friends we put our patio furniture to good use. It is safe to say we rely on our outdoor furniture for many occasions, and we should, therefore, take certain precautions to ensure it lasts for many years throughout the different seasons and elements.In order to avoid the appearance of rust marks, mildew, or stains, consider outdoor furniture protection and the changing weather conditions. Even if the patio furniture was meant to survive the harshest weather, things like moisture, UV rays, snow, and ice can start to bring upon signs of aging. While many of todays outdoor fabrics and materials are built to battle the elements, a little TLC for your furnishings can go a long way toward making them last and always looking good as new!
Quick tip for those canvas cushion covers save time by removing them and tossing them in the washer!
Other OptionsHere are some additional tricks we have hiding under the covers , to help with outdoor furniture care:
At the end of the day, you will want to get maximum use from your patio furniture. If you follow these simple tips to maintaining it, there is no reason why you should have to replace it anytime soon. You’ll extend the lifespan by years with just a few minutes of work. Enjoy!
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The Easy Way To Keep Your Outdoor Patio Furniture Dry
I absolutely love our little slice of the outdoors in downtown Chicago. Our patio may be small, but in the summertime we are constantly sitting out here enjoying the sunny days and warm nights.
But let me let you guys in on a little secret. I left our patio furniture outside for the entire year. Yep, rainsnow.sleetthis baby has been through it all. The truth is we dont have room to store all of our patio furniture indoors during the winter months. Heck, we dont even have room to bring the cushions, pillows, or rug inside. I dont recommend this method , but its all that we can do since we live in the city.
How to Waterproof Patio Furniture
So in order to keep our furniture from getting destroyed, Ive done a couple of things. First, I purchased furniture covers for the couch & 2 chairs. Those stayed on the entire winter and kept the furniture, cushions, and outdoor pillows dry. I also try to put the covers on whenever I know it is going to rain outside or if we leave for an extended period of time.
But to be perfectly honest, sometimes I see the forecast and I have no motivation to run outside and put the covers on our furniture before it rains. Therefore, I added another step of protection.
I bought a can of this Scotchgard Water Shield and I sprayed all of our cushions and pillows.
After doing a nice spray over the front, back, and sides of every cushion and pillowI let them dry for a few hours.
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Some Outdoor Furniture Materials May Be Wrong For Your Space
Heres a very incomplete list of the types of materials youll find when shopping for outdoor furniture: teak, eucalyptus, stainless steel, aluminum, wrought iron, wicker, synthetic resin. Each material has pros and cons that make it ideal for certain climates and outdoor situations and not for others. Consider the various metals, for instance. Aluminum is lightweight, which means its not great for areas that can experience high winds. Stainless steel is heavy and low-maintenance, but it can get super-hot when placed under the sun, so its not ideal if you are planning to leave it exposed.
If you live in a particularly wet climate, you may want to skip wood furniture even teak, a durable and all-weather hardwood, will need to be treated every year to protect against cracking and warping. As for natural wicker pieces, theyre intended for covered outdoor spaces as they cant really stand up to the elements. Synthetic resin wicker furniture is a better option if you like the style and want to use it outdoors.
The Lesson: Just because you find it in the outdoor furniture section doesnt mean its right for your outdoor situation or climate. Do your homework and make sure the material you choose suits the weather in your region and the level of exposure to the elements .
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Is Outdoor Furniture Weatherproof
Firstly its worth considering what we mean by weather, as depending on the region your property is located, the environmental factors your outdoor furniture needs to be built for can differ greatly.
First up: water. No matter if your location is coastal, prairie or mountain, its likely that any outdoor furniture that is left outside is going to come into contact with water at some point in the season, whether that be in the form of rain, snow, humidity, or morning dew, so this is one of the first considerations to address in looking for durable patio furniture.
A decade spent designing award-winning outdoor furniture for use in public spaces in Britain a country pretty much synonymous with wet, rainy weather makes Jennifer Newman, founder of the eponymous brand, somewhat of an expert in the materials which can best cope amidst high moisture levels. As she explains:
Outdoor furniture does not need to be waterproof, like a roof, but it does need to keep water from being absorbed into the surfaces. The durability of outside furniture depends on having a base material that will withstand the elements or surface protection that will shield a more vulnerable material.
All materials have different levels of inherent waterproofing, and these can be increased by the application of finishes such as paint, heat treatments or preservatives. Without these most materials that absorb water will deteriorate over time, either rusting, rotting or allowing mould and mildew to form.
Protecting Outdoor Furniture And Outdoor Day Beds
Learn how to care for the materials youve selected. This is the key to protecting your outdoor day beds and other furnishings from the weather. Its necessary to understand the effects of the elements on each piece of furniture. Rain, snow and extreme heat will all affect each type of material differently. Make sure to research the local weather patterns in your area if you are new to the region. This will give you an idea of what to expect over time.
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Can You Leave Metal Patio Furniture Outside In Winter
You can, but youll see a shortened lifespan from metal patio furniture that is left exposed to snow. Snow will quickly degrade your protective coatings and always keep the metal moist, which is a sure recipe for rust. It is much wiser to put your metal furniture away in the winter if you can.
You may have permanent benches or other furniture installed in your yard, just like public benches at parks. If you cant move them, then you can leave them out in the snow. Though, it is best to reapply their protective coating before winter starts.
Installing A Roof Panel To Protect Patio Furniture
You can install a roof panel for covering the patio furniture. For instance, plexiglass is a good material for a roof panel.
They are polycarbonate in nature and can help you segregate your patio from other home areas.
It gives you a personal space where your family and guests can spend time together outside of the home.
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Waterproof Outdoor Cushions: Protect Your Patio From The Rain
The groundhog lied! Most of the country is still in the throes of winter but spring is just around the corner, isnt it? Sing goodbye snow and hello rainy season!
Unless, of course, you live in a part of the country where its been raining all winter.
Weve all had more water on our patios this year, whether in the form of rain or snow. And unless youve invested in waterproof outdoor cushion covers, your outdoor furnishings have probably taken a beating.
Are youre wondering if, other than covering up the tables and chairs, theres anything else you can do to keep the water at bay? We have your answers here!
Keep reading to explore a few fresh ideas you can use for patio protection on those endless rainy days of late winter and spring.
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How To Care For Rattan And Resin Wicker Furniture
Like most beautiful, refined things, rattan is a little high-maintenance. Youll hear rattan and wicker thrown around synonymously. But theres a big difference. Wicker actually refers to the weaving technique not the material and different types of wicker require different types of care.
At Article, we make most of our natural wicker furniture from rattan, a climbing vine found in tropical paradises. While robust enough for Tarzan to swing on, rattan is still susceptible to the elements, especially when left in its natural form. We recommend keeping your natural rattan indoors, unless youre just using it temporarily for a dry afternoon outside. Exposure to water can cause rattan to swell, and too much sun can cause it to dry out.
If you love the look of rattan but want something that can survive outside , synthetic resin wicker like that in our Urba sectional is your best bet. It looks just like natural rattan, but is made specifically to better withstand the elements.
To clean, its always good to keep things gentle. Use a soft cloth and warm water mixed with pH-neutral soap. Avoid scrubbing and water saturation, even when challenging a stubborn smudge. Allow the piece to air dry when youve finished.
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How To Protect Patio Furniture From The Rain
- Vimarhonor on Nov 08, 2017We purchased a cover from big box hardware and it was awful -returned it. Purchased this one from Amazon/ costco and its size and vented bungeed design works wonderfully. We put A small plastic bin under the tarp to help shed the rain and snow.
- Lisa S. on Nov 08, 2017Really easier to buy covers that are made to fit the furniture. But you area little late to get them this year in a big box store. If money is a problem, use old plastic shower curtains with twine, or bungee cords.
- Itsmemic on Nov 08, 2017those covers are very expensive..and come on guys…tarps tied down with bungee cords? Pretty ugly don’t you think? I just put my stuff in the garage or shed throughout the winter
I live in Oregon so understand completely. If you can take it inside during the winter but that isn’t always possible. Next best thing would be a plastic or canvas tarp that you could throw over that. We live in a windy area so be sure to use bungee cords to secure it in place.
Lamps & Anything Electrical
I adore the ambiance of a lamp when sitting on our porch in the evening or at night. There actually are lamps available that are made specifically to be used outdoors, but Ive always found them to be a bit pricey and I enjoy changing my decor up too often to make a large monetary commitment like that.
To protect any lamps that I do use outside, it actually comes down to placement once again. The lamp that I currently have on our porch is sitting on a chest against the back wall and doesnt get any direct moisture on it. I admit that I was a little concerned about how it would react in a damp environment, in the event of an especially humid or rainy day, but so far it has done great.
If I had a situation where there was a possibility of rain getting on a lamp, I would fork over the bucks for an outdoor-safe lamp though. Water and electricity dont mix, yall, so be careful and use your head!
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