Patio cushions are a wonderful accessory for your outdoor furniture. Regardless of what material your lawn furniture is made from, the proper patio cushion can brighten the overall appearance and allow much more freedom in decorating your outdoor area. Want to celebrate the beginning of spring? Opt for a bright, colorful print for your patio cushion fabric. Whatever you chose, it’s sure to help set your patio or garden area apart as uniquely yours.

After you have decided on the perfect design for your patio cushions, you’ll want to make sure that your cushions can survive being outside. There are many popular fabric options that will hold up to constant exposure from the elements while still being easy to wash and maintain. Some of the most common fabric choices for patio furniture cushions include Acrylics, Olefin, Vinyl, and Vinyl Polyester.

Acrylic was originally intended for use in awnings and boat covers. Because of this, acrylic is most likely one of the strongest and most durable fibers available for patio cushions. To keep your acrylic cushions clean, simply wash with a solution of warm water and mild detergent. For more stubborn stains, mix 1 cup of bleach with 2 capfuls of natural soap per gallon of water. Be sure to rinse the cushion thoroughly and then allow it to air dry.

Olefin (also known as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyolefin) is a synthetic weave that is known for its resistance to stains, mildew, abrasions, and fading caused by the sun. This makes it a well-loved material to have covering patio cushions. To keep Olefin patio furniture cushions in good condition, just wash them with warm water and a mild detergent. Make sure not to expose Olefin to bleach or temperatures above 100 degrees as that may damage the fabric.

Vinyl Coated Polyester (also known as Textilene) is a very durable fabric covered with molten vinyl to make it virtually waterproof. This process also gives it a high resistance to dirt, oils, salt, chemicals, mildews, and sun damage. If you’re not a big cleaning fan, this may be what you want. To clean patio furniture cushions made of this fabric, wipe with a mild mixture of 1 part bleach, 3 parts water, and just a dash of detergent then follow up with a clear water rinse. Allow this type of patio cushion to dry completely in open air and sunlight before use.

Regardless of what type of fabric you select for your patio furniture cushions, a little bit of foresight should help keep your patio cushions in great condition and cut down on how often they need to be cleaned. Many patio cushions are available with ties which will allow you to secure them to your patio furniture and keep them from being blown into the dirt or mud. With just a tiny bit of prevention and maintenance, your cushions will stay great to look. The better looking you can keep them through the season, the less time you will have to clean them and the more time you can enjoy relaxing on them!

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops like http://blog.morethanteak.com that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it’s your living, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous outdoor area by using elegnat, high-end outdoor patio furniture that beckons you to sit for a spell and truly relax.

Outdoor wicker furniture is appealing to many people because of its durability and easy maintenance. If cared for properly, outdoor wicker furniture will last for years. The most suitable type of wicker for outdoor patio and garden spaces is synthetic wicker, also called resin, viro or plastic wicker. Synthetic wicker is very high quality and often indistinguishable from natural wicker, but it offers the added benefit of being extremely durable, fade resistant and moisture resistant – making cleaning it a snap.

To keep it looking its best, outdoor wicker furniture should be cleaned regularly. To remove dust and debris, use the attachment hoses on your vacuum cleaner to clean the spaces between the woven fibers. The brush attachment is perfect for cleaning dust from hard to reach cracks and crevices. For stubborn dust, use a hard bristled paintbrush. Use a pair of scissors to cut the length of the brush bristles to about one inch long. The coarse brush fibers will usually dislodge stubborn dirt that your vacuum cleaner won’t touch.

Natural wicker furniture should be cleaned with water and mild soap. An easy solution can be made by filling a bucket with warm water and adding a few tablespoons of dishwashing detergent. Take any cushions off your wicker furniture and place them to the side for separate cleaning. Using a soft cloth, wipe each part of the furniture, being careful not to soak the fibers. Too much water can cause your wicker to sag and become warped. If there are mold spots on your wicker pieces, create a mild bleach and water solution and using a toothbrush, scrub the spots until they fade or disappear. Once the mold has been cleaned, rinse it completely and allow each piece to dry thoroughly before replacing the cushions. If the bleach and water does not remove all of the mold spots, you may consider calling a professional cleaning company.

Synthetic outdoor wicker furniture is much easier to clean. Simply remove the cushions and set to the side, then using your garden hose, spray the furniture down. The pressure of the water will remove dirt and dust from the weaves.

Once the outdoor wicker pieces have been washed, you can allow them to dry while you clean the cushions. Check the tags to determine if there are any precautions you need to take while cleaning the cushion covers. Many manufacturers now offer cushions that can be cleaned in the washing machine, which makes caring for wicker cushions quick and easy. Once the covers come out of the wash, hang them to dry completely before returning them to the cushions and replacing the cushions on your dry outdoor wicker furniture. If you don’t want to clean cushions very often then investigate a fabric called Sunbrella which is water tolerant, fade proof and mold resistant, it may be worth the extra dollars.

I hope you found theses methods helpful and you continue to enjoy your outdoor wicker furniture.

If you are thinking of upgrading or purchasing some wicker pieces you can find a great selection at http://wickerfurnituresite.com

Patios provide a space for outdoor relaxation – a cup of morning coffee, a lunchtime snack, a relaxing pre-dinner drink, a musical interlude with your iPod, a place to curl up with a book or magazine. Most of these activities suggest that you will need somewhere to sit, lounge or lie. Furnishing your patio gives the family shopaholic an excuse for a great workout.

You probably don’t want to spend time transporting furniture between your patio and indoors: so you will be looking for furniture that can safely stay outdoors for long periods of time. There is plenty available that is manufactured from materials that will resist exposure to sunlight, considerable heat, exposure to rain, and likewise considerable cold. The price range is wide, depending partly on whether you use synthetic or natural materials.

Among favored materials are teak, wickerwork, stainless steel, plastic and acrylics.

Teak is a highly durable timber with a fine reputation for outdoor use. However, it does come in more than one grade, and, like any timber, the quality of the processes it undergoes – such as kiln drying – can vary from one supplier to another. The standard of workmanship in manufacturing the furniture, right down to the quality of fixings used, can also vary. So if you opt for a bigger budget item like a teak dining suite, buy from a reputable firm offering an enforceable guarantee. Some environmental activists are opposed to this use of a resource that is rare and takes a long time to grow.

Wickerwork is a traditional material for outdoor furniture. It involves weaving thin, flexible twigs together. Traditionally, willow species provided the twigs. Over time as the twigs dry out they lose their flexibility and the woven object becomes rigid, while retaining the original shape. Treated with a suitable preservative, wicker furniture lasts a long time. Some people prefer not to be exposed to the chemicals found in such preservatives. Although durable, wickerwork is not particularly comfortable, so it is usually necessary to have cushions to sit on when using this furniture.

Stainless steel, often associated with glass in the case of a dining table, and acrylic seats and backs in the case of chairs, is a very durable, reasonably priced material. It has a distinctive modern look, and does not suit all home decors, looking out of place if it is used in a more traditional setting. In the right setting, it can look stunning.

Plastic furniture can be very cheap, and is functional. It comes in several different “grades”, depending on its exact chemical formulation. For this reason plastic furniture is sometimes quite rigid, and sometimes quite flexible. Many plastics will degrade over time if constantly exposed to the sun. There is patio furniture suitable for every taste and for every budget.

Article from Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site which offers free garden designs, patio ideas, and pictures. For even more landscaping and garden design ideas, visit http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/patio.