When you’re in the market for new outdoor furniture or just looking to spruce up what your furniture looks like, outdoor furniture cushions are the key to greater comfort and pretty looks. Even if your furniture doesn’t come with it initially, outdoor furniture cushions can still make a great addition to your furniture, but it helps to know what to look for in quality outdoor furniture cushions and how to take care of them. Let’s discuss that now:

Synthetics: The Key To Durability

While as you might expect, outdoor furniture cushions made of natural fibers tend to fade and wear more easily than those made from synthetic materials, so be sure to buy man-made fabrics, which are durable and generally treated to resist the effects of summer weather. In particular, polyacrilics will feel like cotton, but resist water and thus mildew, which will hold up better over the season. Similarly, the fill material should be made of some sort of polyester material, which will also resist water. Be wary of urethane foam cushions, however, which are not weatherproof.

Avoiding Discoloration

Although most outdoor furniture cushions will be easy to clean and durable, one of the most important things to wear when out of the house, sunscreen, can be a danger to these cushions, causing discoloration when it comes into contact with the material and is hit by sunlight. Because of this, if you go outside and wear sunscreen or suntan lotion, be sure to set a towel under you first. This will help to keep your outdoor furniture cushions looking new.

Cleaning

The great thing about outdoor furniture cushions is that they’re generally very easy to clean. All that’s needed is a mixture of a mild detergent and water, and a little gentle scrubbing, and your cushions should come clean. Rinsing is a snap, since all you really need to do is direct the hose to your cushions.

Storage

Of course, when the weather starts to turn cold, it’s best to store your cushions out of the elements until spring comes again. In this case, one last, heavy cleaning is called for, which can be done by mixing one cup of bleach, one cup of powdered laundry detergent, and three gallons water and flushing the cushions with this solution. Of course, you will want to dry these cushions for several days later; never store your outdoor furniture cushions for the winter while they’re wet. With this tips for care and the purchase of your outdoor furniture cushions, you will end up with a purchase that lasts you several years, adding to the beauty of your outdoor furniture.