Get your outdoor furniture ready.

As every autumn, the first rains arrive, the days are shorter and the temperatures drop. Inevitably, we no longer spend as much time on our terraces, porches, roof terraces or gardens.

Make the most of these days to check and update your outdoor furniture and accessories. Even if you have top quality materials to resist the elements, a certain amount of maintenance is always required to avoid signs of wear and tear on our furniture. 

Read on if you want to know some basic points to give your sun loungers, garden sofas, parasols or outdoor dining rooms a good overhaul.

A thorough cleaning is always welcome.

Clean your cushion covers.

Take advantage of these days to remove the covers from the cushions of your sofas, chairs and armchairs. To wash the covers, follow these steps:

• First of all, read the manufacturer's label carefully and follow the instructions.
• Remove dust and dirt. For large cushions you can use a hoover with a suitable power.
• If it is very dirty, you can prepare a solution of 9 parts water and one part neutral soap and apply it to the cushion cover, rubbing the stains with a soft bristle brush. If it smells bad, you can add a little vinegar or baking soda. 
• PATIO acrylic covers are machine washable with short programmes and cold water. If yours are not, wash them by hand using a sponge.
• Allow to air dry completely before re-sheathing.

Acrylic cushion covers are generally suitable for machine cleaning.

Wash your porotex mattresses.

Experience has shown us that if there is one material suitable for outdoor living, it is textilene or porotex. Its ease of maintenance and cleaning make it highly recommended for sun loungers, hammocks or daybeds.

These qualities do not mean that we should not take care of them, especially if the dirt is persistent. We can use a pressure washer as shown in the following video (you can use the manufacturer's product or any similar cleaner such as CIF).

Check the aluminium structures.

Use a cloth dampened with soap to remove any dirt that has settled on the structure of your aluminium outdoor furniture. Then rinse with lukewarm water and dry with another dry cloth.

Pay attention to any scuffs in the paintwork and repair them with the same RAL paint. If the structures have required assembly, be sure to tighten nuts and bolts to prevent wear on the legs.

ZOLEED table in lacquered aluminium.

Cleans the braided fibres of outdoor furniture.

If your garden furniture is made of fibres, it is also advisable to clean them thoroughly. Fibres such as VIRO or SUNLOOP are very easy to clean as they can be cleaned directly with soap and water, rubbed with a soft brush and rinsed afterwards.

Use a soft bristle brush to clean its fibres.

If you have rattan or natural fibres, things get more complicated because too much water can ruin the material to the point of rendering it unusable. You can use a damp cloth but be careful to dry it immediately to remove any remaining moisture.

Treats and nourishes wooden parts.

Wood in outdoor furniture also needs a series of cares as we have already seen above. On the one hand to preserve its colour, as it tends to fade due to the action of sunlight, but also to prevent the appearance of fungus and stains.

If the wood is very old, it is advisable to wash it with soapy water and sand it. Once dry we can apply a protector to nourish the material and then apply a sealer that will guarantee its resistance for at least one more season.

Cleaning of an outdoor wooden table.

Check your parasols.

Revisa la lona y varillas de tu parasol.

It goes without saying that parasols and sunshades are generally one of the elements most exposed to the elements during a large part of the year.  A periodic check is always advisable, especially at this time of year.
Clean the canvas and check the mechanisms and pulleys. Pay special attention to the opening rope, if it shows signs of wear it is advisable to change it before it breaks. 

Remember that at PATIO you will find original spare parts for NS - International parasols and you can even count on a qualified technical team to solve any eventuality that may arise.

Use winter station covers.

Protective cover for garden corner sofa with stool.

We already know that covers are our best ally to face the winter, especially on terraces and gardens that are completely uncovered.

You have at your disposal a wide variety of protective covers for outdoor furniture, in different sizes and dimensions: from a small parasol to a large corner piece, as well as hammocks, sofas or extendable dining tables.

Remember that the cushions should never be stored inside a winter cover as moisture stains may appear due to the effect of condensation. They should always be stored in a cool, dry place, preferably in an upright position so that they retain their shape.

Put a box in your outdoor space.

There is nothing more practical than having a cute outdoor box to store things and always have them at hand. It is highly recommended that they are made with an aluminium structure and that they have an effective opening system against gusts of wind.

You can use them for your outdoor cushions, sunshades, accessories, toys... If they also have the style of the PATIO chests, they will help you to give a touch of style and elegance to your garden.

Garden box in white galvanised aluminium.

Fernando Bueno.

More than 10 years at PATIO Estepona.