Cleaning Tips for a Fabric Ottoman

Owning an ottoman helps you in a couple of ways. It allows you to revamp a room, and at very little cost, and it also helps reduce wear on your furniture. If your ottoman, or any other furniture, however, is placed near a sunny window it will be affected over the years. You can change this by using an ottoman cover, and by cleaning your ottoman regularly.

There are several things to keep in mind when cleaning your ottoman. It is recommended to clean the fabric as often as needed. A gentle cleaning is preferred to a more rigorous regular cleaning, but you can be more energetic about it if need be. 

Cleaning removes dust that has been accumulating along with any other dirt and grime. Pigmented leathers and semi-natural fabrics should be cleaned using a mild soap that has a neutral pH along with some warm water. Rinse the soap off with a clean dampened cloth to help remove any residue that is left over. Don’t use a soap that is too strong for the skin, as it may also be for the leather. 

You should always test on an inconspicuous part of the ottoman to make sure that the cleaner is adequate. If you are cleaning an aniline leather ottoman, clean it with a damp cloth only. Don’t use soap on the leather. 

Under no circumstances should you expose the fabric to bleach, ink, liquid, traces of fatty skin, strong products (even laundry detergent) or chemicals and sharp objects to avoid damaging the furniture. Never expose the ottoman cover fabric or leather to direct sunlight or bright light sources as this will discolor or distort the piece.

DIY: Build a Fire Pit With These Tips

Since the dawn of time, friends and families gathered around the fire company, eating, and entertaining. The patio and the garden turned into an outdoor theater as many people are searching for ways to put some flair back into their home. Their favorite choices have become outdoor fireplaces, fire bowl and fire pits for their outdoor spaces. However, not all types of outdoor fireplaces or fire pits will serve a home as well as the other. Here are a few tips for choosing outdoor fireplaces, fire bowls or fire pits:

• Consider your needs. Whenever you decide to buy, think about what things you want from an outdoor fireplace. Looking mainly for heat to expel the moisture in the evening so you or your family can enjoy the outdoors for the colder months?
• Every fire will smoke. Consider a chimney with a smoke stack that runs away from you.
• Iron eventually rusts. Even the finest of quality outdoor iron will do so. Make sure you do preventative maintenance. Using a fire pit cover is smart in this instance.
• Height matters. A fire pit on the ground or in it gives you the sensation of a real fire.
• What does portability mean to you? Having a portable fireplace is what life is all about. You can take a piece of home wherever you go but, at the same time, you can also bring nature to you.

With a little forethought to your intended use, you are able to select the perfect fire pit outdoor fire bowl or fire your needs.

Restore your Chaise Lounge and Patio Chairs with these Easy Tips

 If you are the proud owner of patio furniture or chaise lounge sets, you should be well aware of how to take care of it. It would be a good idea to invest in chaise lounge covers as well, but here are those tips:

Before you start on your task you are going to need some rubber gloves, a wire brush and a scouring pad.

For Aluminum Furniture:

-       Put your gloves on and scrub the furniture with the wire brush to loosen up any rust, if present.  Use the scouring pad on the furniture.
-       Take out the scouring pad and throw some aluminum brightener or kerosene on it and start scrubbing hard to loosen up any dirt or rust.
-       Dry the furniture off.
-       Wax.

Fabric Furniture:

-       Your chaise lounge should be ready to go at this point. Have a bucket of water and detergent ready. The solution shouldn’t be too strong.
-       Make sure that you vacuum the lounge first.
-       Take a cloth or brush and make it wet by dipping it into the soapy water.
-       Start cleaning your chaise lounge.
-       Now rinse it off with a clean, wet cloth and air dry the lounge.

Whitening Furniture

-       Set up a bleach mix by making 1 gallon water, ¾ cup of bleach and 1 tablespoon of detergent into a bucket.
-       Put on your gloves and start applying the mixture.
-       Let it sit for about 10 minutes and then rinse.

Plastic Furniture

-       Wash furniture off using detergent and water. A simple light mix will do.
-       Scrub the furniture down with a firm bristled brush using the soapy water.
-       Rinse off and let it dry outdoors.

Tips For Extending the Lifespan of Your Wicker Patio Furniture

Any kind of wicker furniture looks fantastic but it also requires a certain attention to detail. If you own natural unfinished wicker, then we wouldn’t recommend that you use it outdoors because the elements will strip it down quickly. It doesn’t matter if you have it on a deck or patio either as the sunlight and moisture combined with winds and rain will take their toll and leave your once beautiful furniture in a dead state. Just because you have finished or coated furniture doesn’t necessarily mean that your wicker will stand the test of time. It just means that it will last longer.

If you are looking for the most durable wicker on the market, you want to purchase synthetic wicker. Synthetic wicker requires a lot of extra care but it is well worth it. Here are some hints you should adhere to:

Cleaning Your Outdoor Wicker Furniture

If you own resin wicker, you should have it cleaned often so the grime and dirt that accumulates in the small crevices along the wicker weaves do not deteriorate the furniture. You can clean it with a hose that has a very strong kick to it and try using a multi-purpose cleaner as well but make sure you use it on a place that isn’t visible first so you can check that it doesn’t harm the finish.

Keep Your Natural Wicker Away From the Elements

Natural wicker has a habit of drying out, so make sure you try to keep it out of the sun as much as possible. The sap in the canes will continues to live in the wicker as long as you do this. The sap, however, can rot if it remains too moist for too long, so it needs to be kept out of the rain as well. Natural wicker is one of those types of furniture that has to be cleaned regularly and, if done so, can last for years. But it is advised that wicker furniture is best suited for indoor use.

Indoor Use or Storage

If you can store your outdoor wicker furniture in a shed or garage during winter or off-season, doing so will actually add years to its life. Protecting the furniture with wicker furniture covers is also a great idea but make sure that every piece is dry before you cover it up.

Rejuvenating Outdoor Wicker Furniture

If you keep your outdoor wicker furniture clean from the elements, you can ensure that you have your furniture for plenty of years. Over the course of time, any type of furniture will have its problems. If the piece is soundly made, a coat of paint or dye can refresh the look and give plenty more years of service.

Planning For a Great Outdoor Dinner Party

Hosting an outdoor summer dinner party can be a relaxing, fun event, as long as you plan in advance to make it that way. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the mood for an elegant dinner party or a party that is welcoming to adults and children, the outdoors is the best place for a party in the summer months.  

To make certain you’re not going to be stressed out when it comes time to your party, you will want to take some steps in advance to make certain the party is fun for you as well as your guests.  Preparing cheese, fruit and relish trays or crudités is a great way to offer guests something to nibble on and something you can do a day in advance. If you want to serve warm dishes, these can also be prepared in advance and then heated up the day of the party. The only thing you should worry about that night is cooking up the meats you’ll be serving.

Take time to clean up your yard and arrange the furniture into intimate groupings for the party. If you have table umbrellas, make certain you remove the umbrella covers and air out the umbrellas before the party.

Also take time to clean the furniture a day or so in advance so it has time to dry before your guests arrive. The morning of the party all you will have to do outside is hang the decorations and put the place settings out.

Before your guests arrive you will want to fill the coolers with ice and beverages and arrange them in the party area. Also, check the furniture and yard to make sure it’s still party-ready. Don’t forget to get some garbage cans ready so your guests to toss garbage. Right before the guests come, add ice and beverages to coolers that you can have right outside in the party area.  

As soon as your guests arrive you can rest assured that everything other than the grilling has been taken care of and you can sit and relax and enjoy the festivities. Chances are you will have offers of help to clean up once dinner’s over – accept it – it will help you enjoy the party.