Dos and Donts About Your Outdoor Furniture
Although your outdoor furniture may be built and designed to weather the elements, it is still not indestructible and here are some dos and donts about your outdoor furniture.
As outdoor furniture are being subjected to the elements and are actually getting repeated torture and blows from the sun and rain, aside from the fact that it also gets scratched or scraped with occasional bumps and gusts of wind carrying sand or grit particles that can dull a chrome metal finish and can also cause discoloration of paint finish.
Unless necessary steps are taken to protect outdoor furniture from the elements like covering it when not in use or stowing it away indoors during bad weather, it does not require as much care as what is usually being done for indoor furniture.
Outdoor furniture can be as much similar as cars, especially when it comes to protection from the weather, since basically it is subjected to as much pressure as it does under the heat of the sun.
But essentially, outdoor furniture is designed for durability, but prices also has a way of providing that extra heavy-duty protection.
So, it is safe to say that relatively the more expensive outdoor furniture, under standard conditions and quality, are afforded with more protection compared to its less expensive counterparts.
How is it so, taking for example outdoor furniture made of metal. Except for wrought iron and stainless steel, metal based outdoor furniture, especially the more expensive ones, are painted with an epoxy based primer that protects metal from getting on contact with heat or water that could cause it to corrode and get damaged in time.
So it is best to take note that even if your outdoor furniture is made of metal, make sure to have it protected as well by either covering it when not in use.
It also requires at least hosing it down with soapy water once every two weeks to prevent spills or substances that cling to metal and eventually seep through the metals protective covering.
Avoid using cleaning agents not made for your outdoor furniture, unless it is specified in the product label or information.
Cleaning products designed for cleaning outdoor furniture are formulated to make your outdoor furniture last longer and provide protection as well, compared to regular household cleaners.
However, if a standard cleaning formula is also compatible or suitable for materials that make up your outdoor furniture, then you can rest assured that it is safe for use.
Always make it a point to read the product labels or specifications first before using one on your outdoor furniture.
Those that are likely difficult or a bit more challenging to maintain are the fabric cushions that are sually added to accessorize most outdoor furniture.
Although most fabric material used for outdoor furniture cushions tend to resist dust from clinging to the fabric material, moisture and water could still get absorbed into fabric, causing mildew to form in the padding so always keep cushions covered when not in use.
During winter time, make sure to either cover your outdoor furniture or if possible, you can stow away your furniture into the garage until the season passes.
So try and save yourself the money by not having to buy new outdoor furniture simply just by ensuring that your existing outdoor furniture is adequately protected and as long as you know how the dos and donts about your outdoor furniture.