The great outdoors – its free, its beautiful and can do a lot of good to a family’s health and well-being. Medical practitioners have for years been persuading people from all walks of life to get off their coaches and switch off their television sets to step outside and breathe in the fresh air. And with society slowly becoming more conscious of their physical wealth, the backyard has now been converted into a more cozy setting, complete with patio furniture, spruced up with a colorful outdoor furniture cushion, to entice the family to spend more of their time outdoors as often as possible.

Using an eye-catching outdoor furniture cushion can make any dreary, boring furniture stylish and sophisticated. Since these types of furnishings require the use of hard, study materials to weather out any type of atmospheric changes, they may, however, leave little or no room at all for comfort. Try sitting in a rattan patio chair for even 30 minutes and one immediately feels the sting. But with the use of a strategically-placed furniture cushion, and viola! Instant comfort for the body is readily achieved. Style and comfort withstanding, an outdoor furniture cushion may, unfortunately, be a pain to clean and dry out. Even well meaning Martha Stewart-esque type personalities may become extremely frustrated in caring for these cushions in the long run. To avoid the pains, though, there are a number of items to consider that can make maintaining and caring for these pieces a walk in the park.

The first item to consider is the material used in the cushion. An outdoor furniture cushion should be able to retain its shape and color regardless of the seasonal weather beatings that will undoubtedly be inflicted on it. As such, homeowners are highly discouraged from buying cushions filled with urethane foam or those covered with cotton fabrics, however pleasing they may look. Always ensure that one’s cushions are filled and are at least covered with waterproof materials that will be resistant to mold and mildew. A good outdoor cushion also comes equipped with a button at the side or any similar material that can allow water to drain out the bottom. Polyester thread stitching is also preferred, which makes for a more durable product as compared to those with cotton threads that easily break.

Once one has chosen a good outdoor cushion, proper care is now the next concern. Weather is an uncontrollable factor and as thus, it is very important that one’s cushions are placed under the sun to dry out immediately after every rain shower. Mild detergents and water are also advised when cleaning these products. In winter, when one has less or no use for it, it is advisable that these cushions are thoroughly dried and aired out before storing in a dry container for storage purposes. This prevents mold from appearing and damaging the product. By following these handy tips, one can be assured of that one’s beautiful outdoor furniture cushions will be enjoyed for years to come. A little diligence and patience definitely goes a long way on keeping these products looking new and fresh for a long, long time.

Author Bio: William I. Neil is an architect, providing home improvement information and business directory listing about outdoor furniture cushion also categories, e.g. rattan outdoor furniture

Category: Home Management
Keywords: outdoor furniture cushion, outdoor furniture, cushion, furniture, home, home decoration