Refresh Your Outdoor Furniture

Summer is winding down, but the hot weather is still in full swing here in Northeast Florida and it’s the perfect time to refresh or totally revamp your patio furniture.  Here are some tips:

• Reupholster – Cushions and padding fades in the sun, and the more hours of direct sunlight your patio gets, the more faded your upholstered furniture will become.  New cushions and pads in a bold, new fabric will definitely give your furniture a new look.
• Re-stain – Hardwoods such as teak make great outdoor furniture, but every so often they need to have oil or a new stain applied in order to keep them in good shape.  Even if you prefer for your teak to have that silver, weather-worn look, it will still benefit from a good sanding.
• Paint – A fresh coat of paint can give nearly anything a facelift.  Furthermore, paint technology has advanced considerably in recent years, and you can find specialized coatings to resist rust or mildew or which have UV protection, and other features that make it great for outdoor furniture.
• Repair – Wicker comes undone, legs become uneven or wobbly, hardware gets rusty, cracks appear, water damage occurs, and other countless issues can befall your outdoor furniture.  A simple repair may mean you get to enjoy the piece more than ever.
• Accessorize – Add colorful accessories to your outdoor seating.  Add bold and bright throw pillows or a new umbrella, and you deck or porch can become your family’s new favorite hangout.
• Clean – Often something as simple as a thorough washing can refresh your patio furniture.  With the right cleaning solutions and a little “elbow grease,” you can get your outdoor table and chairs or other furniture ready to enjoy for the remainder of the nice weather.

 

Give your outdoor furniture the attention it needs to stay in good shape, and you’ll be able to enjoy it for many days to come.  However, if you’re not sure how to make the repair needed, feel uneasy applying the right stain, or just don’t have the time to give your deck chairs and patio furniture the attention they need, call on a good local furniture refinishing company.  Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering is the best furniture restoration shop Jacksonville, Riverside, San Marco, and Atlantic Beach homeowners call for their furniture needs. We specialize in repairs, restoration, and reupholstering, and would love to help you create the look you’re dreaming of for your outdoor furniture.

Cleaning Your Outdoor Furniture for Winter Storage

Winter is short here in Jacksonville, Florida, but the temperature can still dip pretty low.  During these cold weeks or months, it’s best to clean your patio furniture and move it to a storage location to make sure it stays in good shape for when the warm weather returns.  

To begin with, nearly any type of outdoor furniture can receive the following general cleaning:

1. Wipe down each piece of furniture with a soft, dry towel.  This will remove the majority of loose dirt, leaves, and other debris that will have collected on your furniture while in use outdoors.  
2. Make a simple, homemade cleaning solution to help with any residue or buildup, including mold, mildew, and mud.  Mix no more than a tablespoon of mild dish detergent with 1 gallon of warm water, and you’ll have a solution that is gentle yet effective, and able to be used on almost any type of furniture.  Remember to check the manufacturer’s guidelines for your furniture to make sure this mixture is safe for the type of material it is.  
3. Make sure the surface is then properly rinsed and thoroughly dried.

Depending on the material of your deck furniture, give the piece a more thorough clean, as follows:

• Metal: Wrought iron furniture is sturdy, but is still susceptible to rust when exposed to moisture.  Remove any rust that has accumulated by gently dry-scrubbing with a soft, wire brush or lightly sanding the rust away and wiping it clean.  Aluminum furniture can be washed using the dish detergent solution described above, then thoroughly dried.  If possible, store metal furniture indoors, but if it must be kept outside, cover all pieces in a heavy duty tarp or cover.
• Upholstery: Fabric cushions and padding and other upholstery needs to be properly cared for before being stored.  Acrylic fibers are designed to deter mildew and mold, but can still acquire some buildup, especially in climates that are generally warm and wet, such as ours.  Give each cushion a good shake to rid it of dust, and vacuum any cushions or areas that are especially dusty or dirty.  If you have a fabric umbrella, shake it out and wipe it down.  Examine the umbrella to make sure no insects have built nests in any of the folds during recent months.  Clean all surfaces, even the umbrella fabric, with the dish detergent solution and allow it to dry.  If it is to be stored, all fabric, and in particular anything with foam padding, must be stored in a dry space to prevent mildew from growing on it.
• Plastic: Plastic needs little special attention.  Once you’ve wiped it down with a dry cloth, and cleaned it with the dish detergent solution, hose it off with your garden hose and towel it dry, and it’s ready for storage.  Plastic can become brittle in extreme weather, so it does need to be stored inside, or at the very least, covered with a vinyl or plastic covering.
• Wood: Painted wood will fade, and natural wood can warp and splinter in extreme weather.  Wicker and rattan furniture is delicate, and cannot withstand the winter weather.  Wipe down all wood furniture with a soft towel.  If possible, moisten the towel with a small amount of the dish detergent solution in order to scrub away buildup.  Be sure this solution is thoroughly removed and that the area is completely dry.

With the right precautions and cleaning, your outdoor furniture will remain in great shape for many future seasons of use.  However, it’s still a good idea to call on the best furniture refinishing service in your area when the time comes to refresh or repair your patio furniture.  Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering is the best furniture refinishing service Jacksonville FL homeowners choose.  We specialize in making outdoor furniture look beautiful, whether that means repairing it, refinishing it, or upholstering its cushions in a brand new, exciting fabric.  Call on us to clean and prep your furniture for storage, and then to revitalize it when winter is over!  

Outdoor Furniture Cleaning Tips

Here in Northeast Florida, our outdoor spaces get used almost year round.  Most Jacksonville residents like to be outside from the first warm evening in spring, all through the summer, and as late into autumn as possible.  After a few seasons on the deck or patio, your outdoor furniture may start to look a bit worse for the wear, and rust, mildew, and other stains can appear.  Our tips will help you keep your outdoor furniture clean and ready to use, so you never have to miss any time outside. (more…)

Sunbrella Fabric – A Popular Choice for Outdoor Furniture in Jacksonville, Florida

Choosing the best outdoor furniture upholstery for your home can be daunting. After all, you want something durable that can withstand the Florida elements, yet you also want your outdoor space to be inviting and attractive. Sunbrella fabric provides both durability and aesthetic, and is the simple choice for outdoor furniture upholstering.

Sunbrella fabric was introduced in the 60s as an innovative alternative to the traditional cotton awnings. Sunbrella quickly gained popularity as its acrylic blend was better at resisting fade and offered a guarantee against the elements. By the mid 70s, Sunbrella had caught the attention of the boating industry, and the durable, high-quality materials were easily adopted as sail covers and boat tops. By the 1980s, Sunbrella had easily transitioned into outdoor furniture upholstery. Their award-winning formula of high-performance, durable material with the look and feel of cotton makes the perfect outdoor upholstery, and is the choice of furniture manufacturers and upholsterers across the nation and abroad. (more…)