Ordinary everyday stains can really ruin patio furniture cushions. And unlike indoor furniture, outdoor furnishings often can’t take standard fabric cleaners. On products made of acrylic, for instance, these cleaners will make the problem much worse and virtually destroy the usefulness of your cushions.

In most cases, stains will come out with a strong, homemade cleaning solution. It will not only remove stains, but also mold, mildew and embedded dirt. All you need to do is mix one teaspoon of Borax powder and one teaspoon of dishwashing detergent with a quart of warm water in a bucket. Mix it thoroughly and pour it into an empty spray bottle.

To treat the stain, spray the area liberally. Let it soak for about 15 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with a garden hose nozzle and allow to air dry.

While this technique works great on many patio furniture cushion fabrics, you may need to do a little extra work on a canvas or cloth cover. If the covers come off you can simply pop them in the washer. Avoid the temptation to dry them in the dryer. They may shrink, making it almost impossible to put back on the cushions.

If the covers aren’t removable, rub a scrub brush on a bar of soap and then scrub the stain until it lathers up. If you need more lather, dip the brush ever so lightly into a bucket of water. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly with a hose. Dry the cushions standing up on their edge. When they are dry, add a fabric protector and water repellent to make them more resistant to staining in the future.

In many parts of the country sap is the mortal enemy of patio furniture cushions and removing sap stains seems impossible. But it’s not that hard, if you have the right tools and techniques.

To remove sap you’ll need hand sanitizer, water and a cloth scouring pad. Start by squirting hand sanitizer directly onto the sap stain. Rub it in with your fingers. Let it sit for a couple minutes. This will allow the sanitizer to soak into the sap. Don’t let it sit for too long. You don’t want the sanitizer to dry. Now you can take the scouring pad and work the sap. A fingernail will work, too. Just keep working it until all the sap is gone. As a final step rinse the cushion with water so that all the alcohol from the sanitizer is removed. That’s the secret ingredient that removes the sap, by the way.

Before you treat any stain, you’ll want to make sure that the material can withstand the treatment you intend to give it. That goes for the hand sanitizers as well as any bleach solutions.

Another tough stain to remove is suntan lotions and oils. Most of the fabrics used on patio furniture cushions will stain if they come into contact with suntan products. In some cases this can actually weaken the fabric’s finish, especially if the fabric was treated with a PVC coating.

If the fabric is acrylic, you may be able to remove the stain with a solution of mild soap and lukewarm water. You can also try a cup of bleach and two capfuls of dish detergent in a gallon of water. Use a sponge to treat the stain and do it gently. Rinse well after treating.

Vinyl coated furnishings can get the same treatment with soap and water. But be sure you don’t use bleach solutions. It will irreparably damage the fabric.

Acrylic and olefin fabrics can be cleaned with mild soap and warm water, too. If the fabric is a blend of acrylic and olefin, you can also use the bleach solution described above.

Gently treat the oil or lotion stains and keep working them until the stain disappears, or at least become minimal. When you’re done, be sure to rinse and dry completely.

If you’re not sure what kind of fabric you have, check the tag before treating it. Often the tag will also have some suggestions for cleaning your patio furniture cushions as well as mention any ingredients that can be harmful, such as bleach.

Author Bio: Jesse Akre owns Edenvale Shoppes and hosts numerous furniture and furnishings for any home whether it be garden bench or end tables styles and designs.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: indoor bench,outdoor benches,hall bench,garden benches,entryway bench,hall tree bench