Many homeowners like to entertain their guests in an outdoor setting, and thus they have purchased outdoor furniture to provide comfortable seating and eating quarters while they and their guests sit and enjoy their garden lights. Unfortunately, after a few months, outdoor chairs and tables can begin to become unsightly. Its not so much that these furnishings have become dilapidated, but rather that the elements and other environmental conditions have taken a toll on their appearance. The most typical outdoor accessory to accumulate dirt and whatnot is outdoor furniture cushions. Not only do these cushions tend to come in lighter colors, but they also see the most used of any part in a furniture set. People are constantly sitting and rubbing against these cushions, making a transfer of dirt all the more probable. This effect is only compounded by harsh weather like rain that can move dirt and grime from other sources and transfer it to your cushions. Most people don’t feel particularly good about having invested a good sum of money into their Coleman outdoor furniture cushions, for instance, to have them destroyed by the weather. Fortunately, you can get your investment looking as good as new in a few simple steps.
How to Clean Patio Cushions
Before you take detergent and get scrubbing at the cushions, you need to identify what material they’re fabricated of. In most cases, the cushions are made of a polyester material. This means that we can be somewhat aggressive in taking the stains out. Just to be sure, check the label on your cushion. If it is made of anything else, contact the manufacturer for proper cleaning instructions. We can start cleaning our polyester cushion by using a mild detergent with some water and a brush. Dip the brush in the solution and start experimenting on an inconspicuous area. If you see results you like, continue on to other areas until the cushion is looking good as new. If the dirt stains refuse to lift, you can get a specialty detergent designed for outdoorsmen known as Sport Wash. This should be a little more aggressive in tackling the stain.
If you have access to a pressure washer, you might be able to get away without scrubbing and without using chemicals. If you intend on employing this method, be sure to do so in an area where you don’t risk damaging anything with the highly-pressurized stream of water. You can often find this tool at a do-it-yourself car wash. The advantage of getting your cushions cleaned there is that you also have access to detergent and various brushes. Get detergent on the cushion, scrub it a bit, and then hit it with the pressure washer. You can then use the vacuum at the car wash to remove any additional moisture.
