Wash Away Winter

So, you didn’t put away your outdoor furniture during winter, and you forgot to cover it, and now your chairs, patio table, and patio umbrella look fugly.  Feeling bad?  Don’t.  Cleaning and some new paint will make them look good as new.

Whither the wicker? To clean woven furniture, you’ll need to get into and around those intricate weaves, and that requires a variety of brushes:

• a new, rather than used, toothbrush (stiffer bristles)
• a small paintbrush with bristles cut down by half, to make them stiffer but not sharper
• a bristle brush with medium bristles.

Some experts recommend sharpening a dowel to pick out bits of dirt and debris, but the best tools are already sharpened – the wooden skewers used to make shish kabob.
After you’ve gotten the gunk and grime out of the weaves, vacuum a wicker piece thoroughly. Then wash using minimum amounts of a solution of two tablespoons of ammonia to two gallons of water. Clean in sections from top to bottom, then dry the wicker quickly to prevent it from warping. Lay the piece on a clean canvas drop cloth; tip it so the tighter weaves are on top and the looser on the bottom, so the moisture runs down and away quickly. Keep the weaves straight, so they don’t shrink.

If mere cleaning isn’t enough, sand and repaint (follow the manufacturer’s suggestions). Depending on the piece, spray paint may give better coverage in faster time.

Attend to the aluminum: For regular aluminum chairs, grab a plastic scrub brush and dishwashing detergent at full strength and then scrub, scrub, scrub. Rinse thoroughly, then let dry.

For coated-aluminum pieces, experts also recommend full-strength dishwashing detergent, using a sponge instead. Rinse completely, dry with a soft cloth, and then rub on car wax to polish, avoiding the fabric. If you get wax on the fabric, clean it quickly. Buff the metal after it dries.

Ponder the plastic: Take a look at your old plastic furniture. Is it worth keeping another year? If the chairs cost $2 each 10 years ago, you can find sturdier and nicer ones for about the same price today. But if you opt to keep them, wash the pieces with three tablespoons of powdered laundry detergent (or oxygenated bleach such as OxyClean) mixed in a gallon of warm water. A scrub brush will work, but avoid stiff bristles, which can scratch or gouge the plastic surface. Let the solution soak in for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly, then dry.

Cleanse the outdoor cushions: Check the label for the manufacturer’s suggestions. If cushions or seat webbing are washable, use warm, soapy water or a foam cleaner. Apply with a sponge, rinse and dry quickly.

Repair the rust: Wrought-iron furniture tends to rust, which is why it should always be covered if left outside in winter. If corrosion has already begun, use a wire brush on the metal lightly, to remove the rust but not the paint. Naval jelly, available at home centers and hardware stores, also can dissolve rust; some products become a primer that lets you apply protective paint in 24 hours. Rust stains can be removed with fine steel wool dipped in kerosene. Wear protective gloves and safety glasses and apply in the open, away from fire. To get into the joints, disassemble the furniture.

Mind the mildew: Got a mildewed patio umbrella? Open it and lay it on its side, then clean with oxygenated bleach in warm water – though you should check the manufacturer’s care suggestions (chlorine bleach will fade acrylics). Use a soft-bristle brush on one section at a time; rinse with clean water and let dry.

With a little care, you’ll be enjoying The Patio Life again.

Why Patio Shoppers?

The National Association of Home Builders have estimated that since 1970, the average home has increased in size 2300 square feet, an increase of 55 percent. Alot of that new space is the outdoor room, otherwise known as your patio.

It’s important to note that expenses for your patio can actually increase the value of your home as you recoup your investment by up to 72 percent of expense, yet increasing the worth of your home between 5 to 10 percent.

However, patio expense shouldn’t always be tied to value. Whatever you wish to spend for your outdoor room should firstly depend on what you want to do with your patio. Since your the homeowner, your patio should reflect what you desire, while keeping an eye on your rate of return.

So before you go patio shopping, think about what you want to achieve for yourself and your family.

Do you want to relax?
Do you want to entertain?
Do you want to reflect your interior decor?
Do you want to create a whole new environment?
Do you want furniture, or a shade structure?

Since patio living is moving more towards an all year round event, it’s important the you consider what you do with your patio.

All-year outdoor living. Alfresco entertaining and unwinding are increasingly year-round options with the popularity of patio kitchens, compact hot tubs and exterior fireplaces, say industry analysts.

Design Trends on Tap for 2008 – Chattanooga Times Free Press

So keep an eye for good investments, but first invest in your home, not your return.

Starting a Patio Garden

Suggestions for starting a patio garden:

Select the right container.

• Go for a combination of style and function.
• Moisture is all important — beware adding too much or providing too little.
• Try self-watering containers, and size your pots properly so plant roots have enough room to develop.

Mark the spot.

• Most vegetables require at least six hours of sunlight per day. Salad greens and herbs can usually get by with somewhat less.
• Tomatoes, peppers, beans and other sun-lovers will appreciate as much sun as they get
• Make growing containerized vegetables a movable feast.
• Place your pots on a cart, in a wagon or find growing boxes with wheels. That way you can shift them around the patio or deck to follow the sun.

Organize.
Organize your gardening chores, doing one each day or so to keep a beautiful patio garden looking good all the time.

Know Your Dirt.

• Go with “soilless dirt” or fluffy commercial compost rather than a heavy potting mix that will compact and dry quickly.
• Add sphagnum peat or water-absorbing polymers to the container to reduce the amount of time spent watering.

Know Your Vegetables.

• Vegetables planted densely in pots, hanging baskets or small raised gardens need frequent feeding with a soluble, all-purpose fertilizer.
• Containerized plants are watered frequently, and every time they’re watered, nutrients are washed out of the soil.

Plant Combinations

• Choose plant combinations with similar characteristics.
• Blend beans, carrots and squash,eggplant and beans; tomatoes, basil and onions; lettuce, herbs and spinach, chard and onions.

If all the planting prep seems too much of a bother, you can shop around for a finished product. A great many people are going beyond planting in containers, because today you can buy pre-planted containers and simply set them out on your patio.

Indoor And Outdoor Furnishings

Mixing indoor and outdoor furnishings in or around the patio is an excellent way to your home and your garden. Some ideas, taken from interior design, can give outdoor furniture an important decorative presence.

In season, it’s great to see a patio or porch as furnished as fully as an indoor room. For instance:

• Living-room seating grouped to encourage conversation.
• Large separate dining area.
• Furniture painted one shade of green to visually unify a variety of materials
• Carpeting is made of a natural fiber.
• Draperies made from an outdoor awning.

Quick Tip
Wicker can be a pretty hard to keep clean because dust tends to settle in its crevices. Vacuum pieces regularly using a soft-brush attachment.

Discount Patio Furniture

Buying discount patio furniture is an economical way to obtain quality furniture for your patio.

Many department stores offer patio furniture at discounted prices towards or at the end of the summer season. Many people can obtain quality teak or cedar furniture to enhance their patios by watching the advertised sales from department and hardware stores.   You can save yourself hundreds of dollars by just waiting a month or two for that special piece of patio furniture you have always wanted. You don’t have to buy the cheapest furniture just to be able to enjoy your patio.  There are also disadvantages to buying discount patio furniture. Ensure the quality of the workmanship of the pieces you buy so that you are not buying junk furniture that will fall apart the first time anyone sits on it.

When shopping for discounted patio furniture:

• You should always look for chairs or benches made from solid wood. This kind of patio furniture is durable and well worth the money you pay.
• Solid wood patio furniture never goes out of style and matches any decor. Having wooden patio furniture, discounted or not, makes a statement about your patio without you saying a word.
• Buy discount patio furniture at moving sales. Many people get transferred in their jobs and cannot afford to take all their patio furniture with them, or they may simply not have the room for it at their new location.
• The internet is a fiercely competitive battle ground that often pushes retailers to offer their goods at interesting prices. You can often find discount patio furniture at prices that even the end-of-season sales at your local store can’t beat. The thing to know here is to have a good idea of what you want before your start surfing. Just don’t sacrifice quality when making your decision and you shouldn’t have any problems.

Whatever the method of getting discount patio furniture, it will be even more enjoyable because you know that it hasn’t stretched your budget.

Patio Furniture for Your Outdoor Space

When choosing a patio set it is important to first ask many questions to determine which patio furniture is best for you. Patio furniture is available in many different styles, sizes, shapes, and materials for outdoor living.

Questions:

What will I be using the patio furniture for?
Homeowners use patio furniture to entertain friends and family or to simple enjoy the outdoors alone.

What size should I get?
Patio furniture is available in many sizes which can accommodate as many as 20 people or more, or as little as a small bistro patio set for two guest.

What is my budget for buying patio furniture?
Price is another concern for homeowners when deciding on a patio furniture set. Naturally, the larger the patio furniture set, the more expensive the purchase price. The material your furniture is made of can play a part in the price as well, which leads to our next question.

What material should my patio furniture be made of?
Patio furniture comes in a variety of materials with each material having its own unique benefits and disadvantages. Popular materials include: Teak, wicker, and wrought iron. Teak looks great and is very weather resistant, but it can be expensive. Wicker patio furniture provides a very stylish look and is lightweight for easy moving, but it can be delicate if not taken care of properly. Wrought iron brings a very elegant look to your outdoor area, but it can rust and tarnish in moist environments.

Will I be required to store my patio furniture?
If you live in an area that has several months of winter weather, you should think about getting patio furniture that can be stored away easily or covered so that it does not feel the effects of winter. Plastic and wicker are both lightweight materials that you can easily carry off your patio to your garage for the winter months. If you live in an area where winters are mild and your furniture is less likely to feel the effects of harsh weather, heavier furniture such as wrought iron and teak are not concerns.

Patio Stuff, in January?

Yes, patio stuff in January.  Why?  Well, I’ve been in the patio industry for about 15 years, and I love the industry.   In my industry, there is design, fashion, financial changes, international trade, shipping, and global finance.  But it’s so overlooked. 

I know, patio stuff can be boring.  But what if I told you that there are materials such as wicker than have undergone major changes?  What if I told you that fabrics are designed by Ralph Lauren, or Versace?  That’s some interesting stuff, I think. 

But since this is my first post, and first blog, and I’m really just starting, I’ll just introduce myself as Edward LeMey, the Cushion Guy.