CARE & MAINTENANCE
Cushions & Slings
Recommendations
Today’s casual fabrics are low maintenance, high style and weather resistant, however, a few precautions will help ensure that your cushions and slings provide you with many years of satisfaction.
- Place your cushions and slings away from trees or bushes that can drip sap.
- When not using your furniture, either remove and store your cushions or invest in a good set of furniture covers. Whenever possible store your cushions in a clean, dry place.
- Spread a towel over your chair or chaise before you apply insect repellant, suntan lotion or oil. While some products are totally harmless, others may cause the fabric to “burn” or change colour as every tanning preparation uses a different chemical formulation. So, play it safe and use a towel.
- Clean your cushions and slings periodically. While casual furniture fabrics are designed for outdoor use, this does not mean they will not get dirty (mold and mildew can grow on dirt).
- The fills of quality outdoor cushions are designed to allow water to pass directly through them as quickly as possible. Less expensive cushion fills use foam centers that act like a sponge by retaining water which not only will take longer to dry, but more importantly, will cause the cushion fill to breakdown prematurely. Should your cushions get wet, tilt them up on their sides and let them dry naturally outside in the breeze.
Care & Maintenance
Acrylic Stripes and Solids (cushions only)
Acrylic fabrics are 100% solution dyed, are heat sensitive and resist dirt, mildew and more importantly, ultra violet rays. This means that the colours on the cushions remain vibrant much longer than those of many other fabric types. These fabrics, including Sunbrella by Glen Raven Mills, feature a soil and stain resistant finish that makes clean up a breeze. Spot wash by sponging briskly with a soapy solution of natural soap (Liquid Ivory or Joy) in lukewarm water (under 100 F). Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove soap and air dry.
For stubborn stains, suntan lotions and insect repellants use a fabric spot remover (ie. Shout). Follow the directions on the container. Rinse thoroughly with clean water, shake out excess moisture and allow to air dry thoroughly.
Solution-dyed acrylic does not promote mildew growth; however mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from the fabric. To clean mildew stains, prepare a mild solution of one-cup bleach plus two capfuls of dish detergent per gallon of water. Spray on the entire area and allow to soak in. If necessary, scrub vigorously with a sponge or clean rag. Rinse very well several times with clean water and air dry. DO NOT use solvents, scouring agents, undiluted bleach, janitorial cleaners or gasoline. If in doubt, choose an inconspicuous area and test the cleaner.
Acrylic Prints (cushions only)
Acrylic print fabrics are very similar to acrylic solids and stripes. Both fabrics share base colours that are 100% solution dyed, however acrylic print fabrics have addition colours that have been printed onto the fabric. As a result, though the fabric is extremely durable and the colours equally vibrant and long lasting, a little more care must be given when cleaning. Cleaning of acrylic print fabric is much the same as acrylic solids and stripes (see above) with one major exception: NEVER use bleach or harsh detergent on the fabric.
Vinyl Coated Polyester Slings
For best results, clean weekly with a mild detergent (Liquid Ivory or Joy) and warm water. Regular cleaning of your vinyl coated polyester slings will help prevent mildew growth by washing out dirt particles that may become trapped within the weaves. Shake out excess moisture after rinsing and allow to air dry thoroughly.
To help remove stains and mildews, clean with a solution of warm water, mild laundry detergent and chlorine bleach (no more that one cup of bleach to three gallons of water). Never use a solvent type solution. Use X-14 Mildew Stain Remover for more severe growth. Other industry cleaners are also available on the market to help remove mildew.
Insect repellants and suntan lotions can reduce the life of vinyl coated polyester weaves by accelerating fading and staining. To avoid damage, wipe clean with mild laundry detergent and warm water.
DO NOT use solvents, scouring agents, carbon tetrachloride, undiluted bleach, janitorial cleaners or gasoline. If in doubt, choose an inconspicuous area and test the cleaner.
The use of furniture covers when the furniture is not in use over an extended period of time will minimize the necessity for additional cleaning and extend the life of the furniture and the cushions.