It’s that time of year again. Fall is upon us and we are getting ready to hunker down and cozy up for the winter. As we turn towards the indoors, it’s important to remember to prepare our outdoor spaces for the winter. Our outdoor furniture can take quite a beating in the Marin and San Francisco rainy winter season if it is not properly protected. The mold and algae from damp conditions, sap from your trees, rotting leaves and rodents will permanently damage outdoor fabrics. Outdoor cushions are made with very durable fabric, but this fabric won’t last long if exposed to those conditions year round. Properly cared for, outdoor cushions should last for many years, but neglect can cause deterioration in just a few seasons, and they are difficult and costly to replace.
The best possible scenario for your outdoor cushions is to get them out of the elements and store them somewhere indoors during winter (even the mild winters we have here in the Bay Area.) A lot of folks don’t have room inside for a huge stack of patio cushions, but finding a cleaner who offers an outdoor cushions storage service is a great way to overcome that obstacle.
Alternatively, it is always an option to cover your patio furniture with waterproof covers. This is a reasonable option, and a great value for the money as most covers are not very expensive, but in our experience it also provides a very comfortable place for small animals to nest and get out of the elements, and is a great spot for them to use as an outhouse – a private and cozy spot to poop and pee. We’ve cleaned many a set of cushions with holes in them, stains from remnants of food and feces from squirrels, raccoons and rats.
Whichever your choice, it’s never a good idea to head into the winter with dirty cushions, so now’s the time to get them cleaned and (fabric) protected for next season. Putting cushions away for the winter full of their summer grime will guarantee those stains and dirt to set – meaning they will never clean up well again. So don’t delay!
Best practice is to clean your cushions, add fabric protector to make them easier to maintain next season, and get them in storage for the winter! (Did you know that protector makes fabrics much easier to vacuum and wipe down – keeping them cleaner throughout the season as well?!)
Then in the spring, when it’s time to uncurl, uncover and venture back outside, simply call your cleaner to deliver your clean and fresh cushions just in time for your first outdoor BBQ!
And if life gets in the way of that perfect storage scenario and the weather or the rodents got to your cushions because you didn’t store them inside – fear not- Mother Nature’s Cleaning can remove urine and feces, repair holes and clean them up for you in the spring too! We’ve all been there and we’re at your service!
Happy Cleaning!
