Who doesn’t love sitting outside on a beautiful day, and relaxing on your outdoor furniture? Outdoor furniture has brought a whole new meaning to “outdoor living”. There are endless amounts of furniture you can choose for whatever decorating scheme suits your needs the best. But, there are some key points before you purchase that outdoor sectional you’ve had your eye on. It’s crucial to know the fabric and the maintenance required for outdoor furniture pieces.
Fabrics
  • Acrylic
These fabrics dry quickly, stay cool in the sun, are mold/mildew resistant, and a breeze to clean. Sunbrella is the most well known acrylic fabric manufacturer.
About Sunbrella Fabrics
  • Fade resistant
  • Water resistant: Sunbrella is treated with a fluorocarbon finish for water repellent
  • Very minimal shrinking and stretching
  • Each individual Sunbrella fiber is color saturated from the inside out for a rich, fade resistant color that lasts even in very extreme conditions.
How to Clean Acrylic Outdoor Furniture
 
If your cushions are made from acrylic or vinyl, mix the following components for cleaning mildew from outdoor furniture: Use 1 cup bleach, 2 cups detergent, and 1 gallon of water.
Apply the bleach solution with a spray bottle to the upholstery surface. Let it set for approximately 30 minutes, and  follow by wiping the surface with a clean rag. Lastly, rinse with clean water and allow it to dry.
  • Olefin
Olefin fabrics are taking patio furniture by storm because of their resilience and durability. Olefin is highly stain resistant, lightweight, easy to clean, wicks moisture and dries quickly, and resists fading, mildew, chemicals, and insects. Olefin also has great abrasion resistance.
  • Crypton
Crypton is virtually waterproof, and is treated with UV inhibitors to prevent colors from fading and dulling from sun damage.
  • Polyester
Polyester fabric has some of the strongest yarn, it’s fairly inexpensive, and dries quite fast.
 
  • PVC Polyester
This type of Polyester has that “plastic” feel. It’s a polyester yarn that is coated with PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), this makes the fabric very robust, and durable.  PVC Polyester is very easy to clean, has fast drying capabilities, and also mold/mildew resistant. 
 
 
Cleaning Outdoor Furniture
 
Majority of outdoor furniture comes with a set of cleaning instructions, but you can also follow this cleaning process as well.
 
When You Have to Clean Mildew From Fabric Upholstery
 
To make a bleach solution appropriate for cleaning mildew from outdoor furniture fabrics, dilute ½ cup of bleach in one gallon of water, and apply it with a spray bottle. You want to test for color fastness on a section of fabric that is least noticeable, before you spray the entire upholstery. After applying the solution, scrub the bleach mixture into the fabric with a scrub brush and rinse with clean water.
 
If you’re not into using bleach, and want to opt for a less harsh alternative try these:
  • Vacuum the dirty, soiled fabric
  • Mix a solution of 1/2 a cup of Lysol into one gallon of hot water
  • Wash the canvas upholstery with the Lysol solution, and gently scrub with brush
  •  Rinse with the following mixture: 1 gallon of hot water, 1 cup of lemon juice, and 1 cup of salt. Allow your canvas furniture to dry in the sun.
To help avoid recurring problems with mold and mildew on your nice outdoor furniture, clean it routinely, and be sure your furniture is completely dry before you store it.