American Woods 1305T Windsor Collection...
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Landscaping
Down and Dirty with Dave
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So your wife has talked you into buying that expensive (her word
“beautiful”) patio set. And after much talk of “we don’t
need it”, “what about that new shot gun I was going to buy”,
“didn’t we just buy a patio set 15 years ago” and my
all time favorite, “I like the old plastic set”…she gets her
way and you now find yourself loading the multiple yet easy to assemble (so
they say) set into the back of your truck.
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Well, now that you own it, you have to maintain it because nothing looks
worse (or will cause your wife to complain more) than having those expensive
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cushions mildew.
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Now for the education in cushion care 101:
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Many cushions are covered in either an acrylic or a polyester-coated vinyl
fabric. Acrylics, like Sunbrella, are coated with a moisture and stain-resistant
finish. Detergents remove this protective coating so clean with a mild soap.
If they do get stained or mildewed or if the water no longer beads up on
the surface, wash them with ½ cup of nonchlorine bleach mixed with 5
gallons of water. Then reapply an outdoor fabric finish (found at your favorite
home improvement center). Polyester-vinyl fabrics such as Textilene
do not need a protective coating. Brush away any dust and loose dirt
then clean with soap. For stubborn stains and mildew, use the same bleach
solution mentioned above. When at all possible, try to store your cushions
so they are protected from rain. If the cushions do become wet, stand them
on end to speed the drying time.
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“Whew”…..that wasn’t too painful……or was
it? Better go fishing just in case so you can relax from all your new
knowledge.
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