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.

Paint Your Wicker Patio Furniture and Revamp its Look

Owning wicker furniture is a smart move these days both financially and socially. It saves you plenty of money because of the upkeep and it is a great piece of furniture that will look good in any home. In fact, you can use it outside of the home as well. However, if you decide to keep wicker outside the home, it is going to need some regular upkeep.

Painting your wicker furniture is one way to keep the new look fresh but this process is a time consuming one and should be done the right way. You can bypass all the work by just covering your furniture up with wicker furniture covers. However, if you do not want to spend the extra money on these covers, you can follow these simple steps to keep your wicker looking brand new:

-       Make sure you have all your tools and supplies ready. This means your paint, brushes and lacquer.

-       Take your stripper and soften up the wicker so you can strip it down. You can use a hard bristle brush for this step. Remember that the stripper is going to soften the wicker up but once it dries, it will harden again.

-       Once you are finished with the stripping process, wait two days so the wicker can harden again.

-       Now you are ready for the painting process. Spray paints are going to work best with wicker because they spray evenly. It will also reach the crevices a lot better than brushes will. Allow the paint to dry.

-       Once paint has dried, apply a lacquer via a spray. Again, using a spray is best because it does so evenly. You want to use a lacquer that is soft and not hard because the hard lacquers become brittle and will crack.

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.

Cleaning Tips for Your Patio Furniture

It’s time to get your patio furniture ready for summer lounging, barbeques, and get-togethers! When getting your patio furniture ready for a new season, make sure to follow cleaning tips depending on the type of material your patio furniture is made of. Follow these patio furniture cleaning steps by furniture material. Remember to always test a small part of your patio furniture with any cleaning product, method, or solution before cleaning the entire piece.

·      Plastic patio furniture: Clean light-colored plastic patio furniture differently than dark-colored furniture. For dark-colored furniture, use a solution of all-purpose cleaner, warm water, and a touch of laundry detergent. Use a soft brush to coat the furniture with the solution and let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing off the solution. For light-colored plastic patio furniture, use bleach rather than all-purpose cleaner. Bleach can discolor dark-colored furniture, but should not do so on light-colored plastic patio furniture.

·      Untreated wood patio furniture: Combine a cup of ammonia, gallon of water, and less than a cup of vinegar. Scrub down the wood furniture with the solution and then dry completely, using towels to remove all water. Untreated wood patio furniture holds onto excess water, which can lead to drying and warping, so make sure the furniture is completely dry.

·      Aluminum patio furniture: Scrub this furniture with a scrubber and dish detergent. Rinse off all the soap. If the aluminum surface is baked on, coat the surface with car wax to keep the finish strong.

·      Patio cushions: Your cushions will most definitely need to be cleaned. First, make sure your cushions are washable. If they are washable, use a sponge and soapy water, and then rinse and dry.

·      Patio umbrella: Umbrellas often grow mold while down and not in use. Remove mold with a solution of a gallon of warm water, about one cup of bleach, and a tiny bit of liquid dish detergent. Test a spot on the umbrella to make sure the bleach does not discolor the umbrella. If it does not stain, open the umbrella, scrub, and rinse thoroughly. Do not close the umbrella before it’s completely dry in order to prevent further mold growth.

No matter your type of patio furniture, it’s inevitable that it will be affected by the elements, such as rain, wind, dust, and pollen. Thorough, regular cleanings will keep your furniture, cushions, and umbrella well-maintained, beautiful, and dust- and mold-free. One other easy way to keep your furniture clean through out the year is with covers. Patio table covers, umbrella covers, chair covers, etc. all exist to keep dust, dirt, and the elements off of your furniture. With covers, you will not have to clean your furniture as often and your investments will stay looking good for years to come.

Add Style to your Backyard with Luxury Patio Furniture

Luxury is something that everyone wants to radiate. The more exclusive something is, the more it inspires. In the area of ​​the patio furniture, this is no different. Exclusive patio furniture can be assembled by anyone who has either the money for it, or can make it from scratch. Patio furniture for the conservatory, garden or patio can have the luxury to be ordered on the internet or by retail in a wide selection.

Luxury and exclusivity are often equated with style. To achieve exclusive features of the terrace, the design of the furniture should play an important role. Depending on the style and taste, garden and terrace furniture is luxuriously decorated. There are currently very fashionable options in quality furniture, which are equipped with color-matched covers concerning the seat cushions and back cushions. Patio furniture up to the luxury level is offered in many shapes, colors and varieties. This is the case with more fashionable kinds which are extremely exclusive and have straight lines and are slightly curved. Thus, the lower ends to round ones with a bow, or even the rest to be tilted back slightly. Besides the more luxurious kinds are also used in stainless steel and look like aluminum.

Patio furniture is never out of fashion, but on the other hand they can come from wood furniture. Very exclusive patio furniture this season can come in a style to look like an antique or fine wood. Your backyard will never look the same if you add luxury patio furniture but make sure you preserve it by using things like a patio table cover.

Steps To Keep Your Patio Furniture Clean All Summer Long

With summer comes hours spent out around the swimming pool or on your deck and that means you will want to make certain your patio furniture is clean and ready for summer fun. Patio furniture will see a lot of action during the summer months and that means you will need to set aside time every week or so keep it clean.

Mother Nature can do a number on your patio furniture and if you spend money up front to buy the highest quality possible you will reap the advantages over the long run in how long your furniture will last. The array of furniture styles and types of building material is dizzying and you will want to take time to buy furniture that suits your mood, lifestyle, time you want to spend cleaning and your budget.

When purchasing the patio furniture, you will want to purchase patio table covers as part of the entire package. Covers help protect your furniture from the elements and keep it viable for years.

Just as you can hire someone to clean your house, you can hire someone to come and clean your patio furniture. The choice is yours, but you can certainly do the task yourself in a few hours. Ask the patio furniture dealer what kind of cleaning and upkeep your furniture will need once you purchase it and this can also help you narrow down the kind of furniture that’s best for your needs.

Some patio furniture will need to be not only cleaned but might need to be re-stained, repainted or have rust removed on an occasional basis. If your furniture will require special treatment, make certain you purchase the cleaning products when you purchase the furniture so it’s available when you need to get ready with your cleaning. In many cases, furniture can simply be cleaned with warm soapy water and then left to dry in the summer sunshine.

Cushions for your patio furniture will also require cleaning and upkeep. Read the labels to see if the covers can be removed and tossed in the washing machine or whether you can clean them with warm soapy water when you’re cleaning the rest of the furniture. The type of weather your furniture will be subjected to will determine the type of cleaning it needs and will add to, or can subtract from its life expectancy.

Buying quality patio furniture and quality cleaning supplies will help your deck or patio look great all summer, and be a point of relaxation and fun for everyone.