Care & Maintenance

Care & Maintenance

Outdoor Furniture Cleaning & Care

Make the most out of your outdoor furniture investment and treat it with care. Some basic cleaning and the use of protectants on a regular basis will extend the life of your patio furniture. While all of our outdoor furniture products are built to withstand our extreme Florida environment, a little maintenance goes a long way to ensure your patio furniture will be looking new and clean throughout the many years to come. These methods are not just manufacturer recommended, but tried and tested by the Patio Shoppe of Coral Springs family for decades. Below you’ll find some basic outdoor furniture cleaning & care instructions for the various types of products we offer.

Aluminum Furniture Frames & Resin Wicker Frames Maintenance:

Clean frames with mild soap and warm water, then rinse thoroughly with clean water about every 2-3 months. Do not use abrasive cleaners. Do not use a pressure cleaner. Once the frames are dry, apply a protectant with a clean sponge or lint free rag and allow it to dry thoroughly before use. This protectant is similar to products used on cars to protect bumpers from fading and premature aging. However we do NOT recommend using car products. Use only products recommended for outdoor furniture use. Recommended Products: 303 Aerospace Protectant or 303 Multi Surface Cleaner

 

Sling & Padded Sling Cleaning Instructions

If properly maintained with a few simple steps, your sling and/or padded sling furniture will last for years in our harsh climate, even uncovered!



Grab a hose and a bucket of mild soap and water and wipe down with a sponge or rag. If mildew is an issue, do not hesitate to add bleach to your bucket of soapy water (bleach is the only thing that will truly remove the mildew). Tilex in a spray bottle is also convenient. After the soap and water, saturate the mildew with the bleach product and let it sit approx. 15 minutes. The mildew should disappear. If most but not all of the mildew dissolves, repeat and let the bleach sit a little longer. ALWAYS be thorough in rinsing the bleach when done. The bleach will never hurt the fabric, but if not rinsed thoroughly, it can dry out the stitching on the slings.

Sunbrella Fabric/Cushion Cleaning Instructions (The BEST and only fabric Patio Shoppe of Coral Springs offers their clients)

One of the best ways to keep Sunbrella fabrics looking good and to delay deep or vigorous cleaning is to properly maintain the fabrics. This can be accomplished by simply brushing off dirt before it becomes embedded in the fabrics, wiping up spills as soon as they occur or spot cleaning soon after stains occur. 

DO NOT EVER unzip your cushions and take out the “stuffing” to clean the fabric. Your cushions are made to get soaking wet & absorb the water like a sponge. Your cushions are made to drain the water! The Sunbrella website states that you can put their fabric in the washing machine—this is not true for the fabrics that are cut and sewn to cover cushions. There is a great chance that you will ruin your cushion if you take the fabric cover off—welts, buttons, stitching, etc. can be compromised as well as the fact that your cushion will lose its shape when you try to “re-stuff” it. The zippers on cushions are for FACTORY USE ONLY. 

General or Light Cleaning
Brush off any loose dirt
Prepare a cleaning solution of 1/4 cup mild soap, such as Woolite or Dawn dishwashing liquid, per gallon of lukewarm water
Use a sponge or a soft bristle brush to clean
Allow cleaning solution to soak into fabric
Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue
Allow fabric to air dry
*When drying cushions place them in an upright position and rotate them every 30 minutes. This will allow the cushions to completely drain and dry quickly

Heavy Cleaning for Stubborn Stains and Mildew
Sunbrella fabric does not promote mildew growth, however, mildew may grow on dirt combined with long periods of moisture or on other foreign substances that are not removed from the fabric. To clean stubborn stains:

Prepare a solution of 1 cup of bleach and 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of water (you can also use Tilex with Bleach)
Spray on entire area and allow to soak into the fabric for approx. 15 minutes
Remove stain with a sponge, clean towel or very soft bristle brush
Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue
Allow fabric to air dry
*When drying cushions place them in an upright position and rotate them every 30 minutes. This will allow the cushions to completely drain and dry quickly
*If stain and/or mildew are severe, bleach quantities may be increased. View the stain chart (link below) for removal of specific stains
*Most Sun blocks & suntan lotions which contain harsh chemicals, may permanently discolor or damage your Sunbrella Fabric. If direct contact occurs, clean promptly

Sunbrella Manufacturer Links:
STAIN CHART: how to take out common stains on your Sunbrella Fabric Cushions:
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