January 10, 2012

Selecting and Maintaining Patio Furniture Covers

If you are in the market for patio furniture covers, remember that picking them out is only part of the job. You will need to have a plan for cleaning the covers when spills happen, as well as a way to store them during the off-season. Another consideration with patio furniture covers involves the amount of money you are intending to spend.

Ask the salesperson some questions about cleaning and filling. Which covers can withstand bleach, and which cannot? What types of filling are available? It is always smart to avoid foam filling since it is susceptible to mildew and rotting. Polydacron is a common, inexpensive, and durable patio furniture filler. Searching for patio furniture covers can become an adventure, as long as you have the basic knowledge under your belt before committing to a purchase.

Try to locate a matching parasol when you acquire you patio furniture covers. Later on, it will seem impossible to find a match, since most retailers rotate styles and patterns on a yearly basis. If you have dark, metal patio pieces, try to get some very bright, snappy covers to liven up the arrangement. Just a bit of loud color can truly make a huge difference. When putting up the parasol, make sure to place it in a heavy base to prevent a fall during windy weather. Remembering just a few guidelines about color coordination, cleaning, and cushions will make your shopping trip easy and fun.

Cleaning is an important part of the patio furniture regimen. It is best to avoid bleaches, unless they are diluted about 20-to-1. Better to use mild dish soap and warm water to wipe off dust, dirt, and grime that gets on the fabric. Cotton covers tend to pick up more stains, but are easier to clean because they can withstand a bit of bleach and a good scrubbing. Vinyl, polyester, and other artificial fabrics may not be able to endure bleach, but they do not gather as much dirt as cotton does. Therefore, it’s really a trade off between the natural and artificial fabrics.

When winter comes, be sure to store your patio furniture covers away from sunlight, and wrap them in some type of bagging, preferably plastic. Give them a thorough cleaning before storage to prevent small, unnoticed stains from setting in.

PatioFurnitureCovers.com manufactures high quality patio furniture covers. If you are looking for a long lasting, durable patio furniture cover, then be sure to check out the patio chair covers, fire pit covers, umbrella covers, and more available in our inventory!

Filed under Garden Furniture by Peter Rockwell

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