As summer comes and you are ready to enjoy the great outdoors, or at least your back porch, you may notice that your patio furniture is not as bright and attractive as it once was. The sun, wind, and dust that your patio furniture is exposed to on a daily basis do quite a number on its looks. If you are looking to learn how to clean patio furniture, here are some tips you should know.
Cleaning Resin or Plastic Patio Furniture
To clean resin or plastic patio furniture that is light in color, make a solution that includes 1-gallon of warm water, ¾-cup of bleach, and 1-tablespoon of laundry soap. If there is any coloring on the furniture, test a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure it will not damage the color. If the color brightens but does not become discolored, you can clean the entire piece.
Use the solution and a scrub brush with soft bristles to clean the entire piece. Then, leave the water solution on the furniture for around 15 minutes. Then rinse it thoroughly.
If the furniture is colored, use a solution made out of 1-gallon of warm water and 1-tablespoon of all-purpose cleaner. This eliminates the bleach, which can damage the coloration of the colored furniture. Again, after washing let the solution set on the furniture for around 10 to 15 minutes and rinse completely.
Unfinished Wood Patio Furniture
Unfinished wood furniture is really abused by the elements. One problem you face when cleaning unfinished wood is the fact that it tends to absorb excess water, which can cause it to warp or crack. To avoid this problem, make a solution out of a gallon of water, 1 cup of ammonia, and ½ cup of vinegar. Scrub down your wood furniture with this solution, and then rinse it completely. After rinsing, use towels to take up any excess water.
Cleaning Patio Furniture Cushions
The cushions on your patio furniture are probably one of the most likely items to need a good cleaning. Most patio furniture pillows and cushions are washable, but check the label before you attempt washing them. If they are, wash them with soapy water and a sponge. Make sure that you rinse them well and wipe them as dry as you can.
Cleaning a Patio Umbrella
Patio umbrellas often grow mold. This happens because they get wet and then sit closed in the warm weather, making a moist, warm environment for mold to grow in. Not only is mold unsightly, but it is also a health hazard, so you need to deal with it.
To clean the mold off of a patio umbrella, make a solution with 1-gallon warm water, a squirt of liquid dish detergent, and ¾-cup of bleach. Test the color first on the inside of the umbrella. If it reacts well to the bleach, open the umbrella, don some rubber gloves, and scrub the umbrella using the solution and a brush with soft bristles. As soon as you are done, rinse the umbrella. If you find that the solution fades the colors on the umbrella, look on the tag to see what cleaning agents you can use. Always let the umbrella dry completely before you close it, as this can cause new mold to develop.
Aluminum Patio Furniture
To clean aluminum furniture, scrub the piece down with a plastic scrubber or steel wool using dish detergent. Put in plenty of elbow grease to make sure you get it good and clean. Rinse the furniture completely to remove all of the soap.
If the furniture is baked on aluminum, use a sponge instead of the plastic scrubber. Soak it with the dishwashing detergent. Work the sponge and the cleaner into the outdoor furniture and rinse. Dry it using a cloth and then finish with some car wax. Make sure the car wax does not get on the fabric or webbing on the piece of furniture. This will preserve the finish the furniture.
Just as you take pride in the design of your home’s interiors, so, too should a patio design be the showcase of your outdoor area. A patio is practically an extension of your home or a transition area between the home and the garden, so a lot of planning should go into patio design.
First of all, you have to create a theme for your design. If your home makes use of decor using natural or earthy materials, then your creation should also reflect this theme. It’s disconcerting to move from the inside of your home through a patio using modern materials and then on to your garden which again consists of natural elements.
It’s best for your patio to serve as a segue between these two areas. If you have a preference for wood, don’t hesitate to plan your patio around it. Wood can now be treated to withstand different weather conditions and is timeless in terms of design.
It can also be easily combined with fabric to soften its look. Wood naturally blends with the outdoors, so if you want the vegetation outside to connect to a home with modern furnishings, then you can create a design using large wood furniture or a wooden patio cover accented by modern pieces of decor.
Another natural material that you can utilize for your design is wicker. Although not as resistant to moisture as hardwood, wicker is preferred by some for outdoor furniture use because of its look, its lightweightness, and its inviting appeal.
Wicker furniture, when combined with comfortable cushions in your design, can be very inviting. Its natural colors of ochre and light brown mirror the hues in your garden and its designs reflect the natural patterns of plants, such as intertwined vines and twisting branches.
Using wicker furniture also echoes a traditional because these were used during the colonial period and therefore also exude an old world charm.
Wrought iron is another popular choice. Although furniture made from wrought iron can be quite heavy, they can be left out in the patio despite sleet, thunderstorms, or strong winds, so there’s really no need to carry the furniture inside when the weather isn’t fair.
The hardness of wrought iron can be softened by other elements in your design, such as curtains, delicately-patterned cushions, vases of freshly-cut flowers, or soft lighting at night.
How about a patio design to reflect your fondness of le vive moderne? Aluminum is associated with a contemporary theme, and so is glass and plastic, such as resin. Using these materials will satisfy an art deco design, and you can have fun playing up on this theme because most modern decor can be affordable, compared to natural materials which cost a lot due to their scarcity.
Aluminum can last for several years and is low-maintenance. Plastic, though, can fade over time and could be damaged by extreme heat. Furniture made from it are thus best kept out of direct sunlight.
When you’re looking for patio furniture you’ll want to choose furniture that is compatible with the design of your garden and the decor of your patio. Since there are so many different types of patio furniture to choose from you should have an idea in mind of exactly what you want before heading out to the store. If you don’t have a firm idea of your needs you could end up looking at patio furniture and liking everything that you see, further adding to the confusion. The first thing that you need to decide is what you want your patio furniture to be made of. The choices provided by manufacturers include aluminum, wicker, wood, resin, or iron. You’ll even be able to find patio furniture that combines some of these materials, such as an iron and wood furniture set. Consider how often you’re going to be using your patio furniture. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors on your patio you’ll want to think about spending a bit more for your patio furniture than if you’re only going to be using your patio on weekends.
Another thing to take into consideration is the amount of care that you want to apply to your furniture. If you purchase wooden patio furniture you’ll have to reseal it every year to protect it from the elements of the weather. If you live near salt water you’ll find that your iron patio furniture will rust and needs care to keep it looking nice. Don’t forget that you have to store your furniture during the winter months so you may want to buy something that is easy to put into your garage or other storage area. If you’re buying cushions for the seats of the patio chairs keep in mind that you’ll have to store these as well. Buying patio furniture isn’t an exact science but the above guidelines should give you some tips so that you make some of the right decisions.
Furniture industry in Indonesia has boomed since the 1998 Asian crisis. The main reason behind this boom was the weak rupiah, availability of abundant teak garden furniture plantations and no or very little competition from outside. Furniture buyers from all over the world took advantage of this cheaper teak garden furniture wood furniture prices including a lot of big global hypermarkets. The result was the availability of Indonesian teak furniture in almost every part of the world. Plenty of small furniture manufacturing firms start entering this furniture boom to provide cheap teak furniture to the global market, which benefited everybody at that time. There is no denial that the growth in number of enterprises and the number of jobs in furniture sector did rose dramatically but since then other internal and external factors had slowed this Indonesian <b>teak</b> furniture boom.
Indonesian teak furniture industry is suffering from the scarcity and cost of the raw materials. The illegally logged timber is not available the way it used to be few years back. This made the small furniture enterprises, which had benefited earlier with the abundant use of illegal logged wood very difficult to sustain and most of them have even stopped their operations. The prices of teak timber for viable source (PERHUTANI) has almost tripled in last 7- 8 years and the buyers from outside still want to pay the same or even less. They don’t want to increase the prices at which they used to buy as they are selling their goods cheaper in their markets compared to 7 years back. This has forced many small enterprises to lower down the quality of <b> teak timber used </b> in their furniture. This has resulted in the evolution of treated teak furniture in the market. Treated teak timber furniture is made of very low quality timber which is then chemically treated to make sure that furniture has the homogeneous color.
There has been no government initiative to support this industry. Furthermore, low investment in machinery and training from small manufacturers has rendered such companies very stagnant. Most of the local manufacturers neither have marketing knowledge nor top management will to present their products directly to offshore customers. The big foreign trading companies are exploiting this situation. They are using local manufacturers to produce goods for them and market them at premium prices into their markets. These foreign companies are exerting lot of pressure on local manufacturers and demanding the cheapest price possible. This resulted in local manufacturers paying lower wages to their workers, using lower quality raw materials and do everything they can to keep their businesses profitable. This vicious circle has a bad effect on all sectors of the industry: labor, investment, social responsibility, quality of products and so forth.
Another challenge to Indonesian teak furniture Industry is the competition from countries like Malaysia, Vietnam and China. Malaysia is one of the major exporter of wood furniture to the global market, though it does not have plantation resources like Indonesia, still very good amount of teak furniture to the global market is exported from Malaysia. It is because of the fact that illegal logged timber from Indonesia still goes to Malaysia. Malaysia, Vietnam, and China export the teak furniture from their countries at cheaper prices than Indonesian though those countries still lack experienced and skilled craftsmen.
In nutshell, the Indonesian teak furniture industry has benefited a lot of people in Indonesia and abroad but the competitive pressures now from inside and as well as from outside, are dragging the industry into the race to the bottom. Teak garden furniture
Getting into the Great Outdoors has never been easier or more relaxing than with outdoor furniture and accessories! Outdoor furniture and outdoor accessories personalize your space; relaxing touches allow you to laze in your outdoor environment, knowing that you are truly ‘home’.
Finding out about Outdoor Furniture
Perfect in the garden; as a gathering and sitting area at BBQs, pool parties and get-together; or as your own little oasis in the middle of your backyard, outdoor furniture is social, sophisticated and multi-functional. Available in aluminum, wrought iron, the highest quality teak, bamboo and other woods, you can find outdoor furniture to complete any outdoor living space.
The range of outdoor accessories is staggering. These are often designed to complement your outdoor furnishings. Consider solar-power or electric lights to line a pathway or any number of awnings or other shelter structures on your property. Add candleholders atop your outdoor tables. Pick up picnic accessories, chair cushions, outdoor games – no matter what type of luxuries you enjoy indoors, you can enjoy them outdoors, too, with outdoor accessories to fit every taste and style.
Outdoor Sets
In general, there are three types of outdoor sets. All three are made up of tables and chairs, although the types of chairs and size of the tables vary greatly. Patio dining sets are ideal for larger outdoor spaces, such as large patios or back porches. Bistro sets are designed for smaller spaces, such as an apartment balcony. The third type of outdoor set you will find is called a conversation set. Conversation sets often include an outdoor sofa and a few chairs accompanying a coffee table. Conversation sets tend to be larger pieces of furniture and fit most comfortably in big spaces.
Outdoor Lounge Chairs
Outdoor lounge chairs are typically fashioned from metal – often wrought iron – although synthetic materials are on the rise and offer the sophistication of metal and iron at a reduced cost. Outdoor lounge chairs are also available in hardwood and teak.
Outdoor Benches
Outdoor benches offer seating for 2 or more, depending on the style. Available with and without backs, outdoor benches are designed to accent and blend, and are the perfect accompaniment to furniture already decorating the space. Some people choose not to use benches for seating at all, but instead place an outdoor bench in the garden as a showpiece and setting for their prized plants.
Outdoor benches are available in a variety of materials including concrete, wrought iron, teak and other metals and woods.
Some benches offer the added benefit of extra storage. These benches are usually all-weather safe, and come in neutral-colored plastics designed to camouflage into the background. These benches are great for the garden and pool area, as they provide extra seating and a lovely place to store your stuff.
Final Considerations for Outdoor Furniture
When shopping for your outdoor furniture, think about the space you will be filling and the people who will be enjoying it. Also consider the weather conditions where you live. Outdoor furnishings should fit comfortably into the space, so if you are in the market for something to go on a patio or balcony, be sure to measure the area you want to fill. Is this furniture for BBQs and pool parties, or quiet coffee conversations with intimate friends? Do you experience long, harsh winters where you live, or are conditions generally mild all year long? Answering these questions will give you the information you need to pick the best outdoor furniture to fit your life and your style.
