With this heavy downpour happening almost daily this month, it is important to know how to take care of your outdoor furniture. Furniture with wood and fabric/cushion elements will need extra care. Here are some quick tips that you can do to avoid rain damage.
QUICK TIPS TO DO NOW
Step 1: Use a waterproof spray to protect all areas of the furniture. Make sure you read the instructions on the spray to prevent 'over-spray' which will cause an unsightly residue. Use wood protector creams and conditions for extra protection on the wood.
Step 2: Keep cushions indoors when not in use. Make sure it is completely dry before you store it.
Step 3: Add risers/lifts on the legs of the furniture to avoid water damage for any flooding that may occur. You can also add a silicon leg cover.
Step 4: Cover the furniture that you will be leaving outdoors with a waterproof cover. Open it up once the rain have subsided.
That's it!
If you would like to know more in detail about outdoor furniture care..read on..
When you’re investing in your outdoor space, you want to keep those new furnishings looking great for as long as possible. For any furniture that's used outdoors, regular maintenance is needed no matter how durable that piece of furniture is. Dirt and mold can accumulate which causes pre-mature rotting and tarnishes metals. It is very highly recommended to have a shelter to protect your outdoor furniture.
Here are some easy cleaning tips that you can do to protect your outdoor furniture.
1] WIPE CLEAN REGULARLY
Basic wiping must be done often. This not only removes surface dirt but also any wet spots that may cause damage. No material is 100% indestructible under constant rain and UV. Even if the furniture's structure is not compromised, you won't want to be cleaning months of dirt built-up. Built-up can also lead to rot and mold. Rough scrubbing may cause more damage. So wipe it down as often as you can to prevent built-up.
2] KNOWING THE MATERIALS
Different materials need different ways of maintenance. Wood is always a favourite look for outdoor furniture and outdoors in general but it is one of the hardest material to maintain. Any natural materials deteriorate faster than man-made materials although there are some exceptions like sealed Teak and Stone.
3] MAINTAINING WOOD FURNITURE
To ensure the wood parts last a long time, seal and condition it often. You can use a wax conditioner to repel moisture and water damage. Doing a quick spray or rub of waterproof seal will help maintain it as well. Do this the night before your party so the conditioner or seal have time to dry completely.
4] MAINTAINING THE CUSHIONS AND FABRICS
Although most fabrics and cushions of outdoor furniture have a water-resisting layer, this protective layer will eventually wear off in wet and hot weather. Remember that water-resistant is NOT waterproof. Any material that is waterproof will not very comfortable to sit on. This is why it is best to invest a shelter on your patio, balcony or backyard. You will be saving money not having to replace your outdoor furniture every couple of years.
When washing the covers, soak them in soap water and air dry them to prevent any shrinking or tears. Avoid washing them too often, it is better to spot clean. To protect it further, use a Scotch Gard Fabric protector to keep away moisture damage.
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5] MAINTAINING OUTDOOR RUGS & HOW TO CLEAN IT
Outdoor rugs come in many kinds of durable material. The misconception of outdoor rugs is that it is waterproof and does not get dirty. This is not possible as all materials will get dirty without any cleaning. You can choose materials that are durable despite getting wet instead and using the waterproof spray to prevent it from soaking in too much water.
You can opt for a plastic rugs but we can all agree that it will probably look awful. So the common materials for stylish outdoor rugs are polyester and jute. To clean it you can vacuum, spot clean and dry wash it. Just like indoor rugs, most of them can't be thrown into the washing machine. You will need to get a professional to 100% wash it.
POLYESTER
Polyester is a good option for an outdoor rug as it does not get damage with constant contact with water. It will dry off normally like how your polyester clothes will.
How to clean polyester rugs:
Spot cleaning and dry washing is always the way to go for rugs and carpets. If it is light enough to be hanged, you can beat the rug and hang it in the sun to get rid of any odours. The sun is a natural disinfectant and deodoriser. Yes, sunlight kills mold, mildew and gets ride of nasty smell too.
For lightweight polyester rugs, you can hose it down and let it dry naturally. But remember to check the weather forecast! Only do this when you know it will be a sunny day or your rug might not be able to dry completely.
JUTE
Jute rugs are relatively easy to maintain. Dirt doesn’t cling to it's hard fibres — it rests loosely on the weave where you can vacuum away. When properly cared for, Jute rugs will last you a long time .Jute, while it looks amazing outdoors, it does not do well in wet environments. As jute is a natural material, it may stain when it gets in contact with water too often. If you love the look of Jute, it is recommended to have it under shelter. If it gets wet during heavy rains, try to dry it completely under the sun the next day.
Spot Cleaning Jute Rugs
An effective method for cleaning your jute rug is the spot cleaning method.
Here’s how it works:
- Press firmly into your rug with clean kitchen towels immediately after the spill takes place, working from the outside of the spill inward to avoid spreading. Blot, do not rub — until no moisture transfers to the towel.
- For solid spills, pick up solids with a kitchen towel, blot any excess spills. Spray and wipe with a gentle multi-cleaning spray.
- For red wine and tomato sauce, dab with a white cloth dampened with club soda to neutralize the spill and remove any possible stain.
- Let it dry. Most of the stain disappears. If it doesn’t, try cleaning with a cloth dampened with mild soap, scrub gently.
Dry cleaning Jute Rugs
- Before applying the dry carpet cleaning powder or baking soda, test it on the underside spot of your jute rug to make sure that colour does not run.
- Then, shake the dry carpet cleaning powder or baking soda onto the spill until covered.
- Brush the dry carpet cleaning powder or baking soda through the jute rug in all directions. Let it sit for a few hours and vacuum away.
- You can also hang it and beat the rug lightly to remove any loose dirt and dust. Do not beat too hard as the weaves may loose its shape.
If you are looking for various Outdoor Carpet in Singapore , here are some links that might help:
6] LOW MAINTENANCE OUTDOOR FURNITURE
If all this sounds like a hassle to you. You can still opt for low maintenance outdoor furniture like stone, ceramic tiled, glass, plastic, cement, sunbrella fabric and synthetic resin wicker. These materials need very little to no maintenance but with any furniture, if you don't maintain and clean them, the wear and tear process will come sooner than later.
