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Thursday, March 23rd, 2017
American Leather Living Room Aiden Chair ADN-CHR-ST
Cleaning mildew off your outdoor furniture is one of the many aspects of furniture maintenance. This can and will extend the life of your furniture. How you clean counts, though, as this is dependent on a lot of factors.
Mildew is a microscopic organism that isn’t a plant or an animal. It is a type of fungus such as yeast and mushrooms. And just like any other fungi, it produces enzymes that allows them to digest as well as decompose organic matters.
Well, your furniture is organic, so, mildew can produce spores right on those areas that moisture touches.
Mildew grows best in humid, hot weathers such as during the summer season. It takes life in an environment that is damp, dark and warm. Mildew often gives off a musty odor so you are sure to know that there is an ongoing furniture rot that’s happening somewhere if you smell it.
Majority of outdoor furniture already comes with cleaning instructions. If you lost the manual that contained these guidelines then you can ask your local home depot for cleaning solutions that were particularly made for outdoor furniture.
Bleach for Canvas, Fabric and Cushions
The most common chemical that is used to kill mildew, even molds, is bleach. This can be used on fabrics and canvas. What you risk, though, is discoloration. If you made a bleach solution that is too strong, then you cause the fabric or canvas to deteriorate and look faded.
To make the perfect bleach solution for mildew, dilute half a cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Transfer some of the contents to a spray bottle and use to spot treat.
You can spray the bleach solution to the entire cushion or you can just concentrate on the spot to remove the stain that the mildew was already starting to create.
The Capel Incorporated Floor Coverings Sea Glass Rug 0110CS Shell is perfect for your outdoor setting.
Other Solutions
If you do not like the idea of using bleach on your furniture, then use other means of cleaning it up.
You can just brush the mildew-infested spot then be sure to vacuum dry. You can also mix a solution of one gallon hot water with half a cup of Lysol. You can then wash the canvas or fabric with the Lysol mixture. Follow-up by rinsing with a mixture made from the following –
Be sure to dry the canvas furniture under the sun.
Bleach and Detergent for Acrylic Cushions
If the cushions are made of vinyl or acrylic, then you can also use this solution –
Apply this bleach solution using a spray bottle all across the surface of the affected area. Let it stand for half an hour then follow by wiping with a clean rag. Rinse the area with clean water then let dry.
Pressure Washer for Wicker
Wicker is a bit trickier to clean because the mildew can also grow in the weaves. To clean this, you need to use a hose or a pressure washer but make sure to use the lowest setting. Also, be sure to wipe the furniture prior to power washing. Use a sponge to wipe the surfaces with a solution made of cold water and mild soap.
To avoid the recurrence of mildew, apply paste wax as soon as the furniture has dried.
Vinegar for Plastic Mesh
Plastic mesh pieces are also time consuming to clean. The mesh is also tricky to maintain because of their overlaps. To kill mildew in this situation, use two cups of white vinegar and mix it with two tablespoons of liquid dish soap and a gallon of hot water.
Tags: furniture mildew, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, removing mildew, removing mildew from furniture
Posted in Home Office Design, Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on Your Outdoor Furniture and Mildew: How to Break This Damage-causing Union
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