Things That Can Make Your Patio Furniture Dirty

Patio furniture was supposed to be additional appointments to accentuate the already-astounding countryside backyard vibe of your patio, as opposed to a breeding ground for nasty grimes and other unknown foreign objects. Granted that your patio fittings are all weatherproof and can pass the test of time, it doesn’t make these chairs and tables prone to dirt and other speck.

Little did you know that most of these common patio pollutants not only can smear an unappealing aura to your outdoor trappings, but it can also degrade your furniture’s quality and pristine condition. Sounds awful? Then, it’s time to think about buying a resilient cover for your outdoor assets.

But before that, here are 5 of the most common things that can make your patio furniture dirty:

1. Dust Particles

   – There is no denying that this is most common contributor of dirt to your patio furniture. Of course, this is a given, considering you are practically outside the house. These dusts usually come from the landscape residuals and erosion coming from the garden itself, as well as from the accumulated coal ash coming from the grill.

2. Food Stains

   – Speaking of barbecue, another factor that can make your patio furniture look like a homeless’ hub is food stains, typically barbecue. Not only it can bring nasty stains to the upholstery, it can also produce residual stuff to the surface. Not to mention, it also brings that familiar funky smell that will make you not want to sit there anymore.

3. Water Drop Stains

   – Pair this with number 1, and you’ll get grime. Water stains are tricky to clean, as it leaves a map-like stain on your furniture (especially foam) as well as mold and mildew. It also leaves a foul, musty smell mainly because of humid air and moisture.

4. Nectar/Sap

   – These are sticky extracts produced by a plant, flower or a fruit to attract pollinators. These extracts are also notorious for heavily staining your outdoor furniture. Or worse, this gooey stuff could leave unwanted damages and blemishes to your fittings, as insects tend to feed on plant nectar.

5. Animal Droppings

   – And since you are enjoying the nature through your backyard, it is no excuse for you and your furniture to get the occasional “lucky doo-doo” from different animals, most frequently birds. This stuff may leave unpleasant spots to your furniture that will eventually harden, making it more difficult to clean.

Buying and maintaining an outdoor furniture set is not easy. That is why you have to take extra effort in keeping its mint condition by constant cleaning, washing (if necessary), as well as getting a reliable and durable covers for topping your patio investment.

Choosing the Right Furniture for Your Patio

Just because you have the right furniture covers for your patio chairs, tables and other fittings, one cannot simply appoint an all-leather Barcalounger with steel details on a roofless courtyard alongside your barbecue equipment. Given that the particular sofa sets perfectly complements the countryside vibe of your patio, you must also consider its use and versatility when it comes to ever-changing outdoor conditions.

When it comes to deciding, the first thing to consider is the materials. Never pick a furniture set that is extremely vulnerable to weather conditions such as cushioned and leather finished, especially for patios without the aid of any shade.

The bottom line here is to get your money’s worth. Know the right furniture for your patio.

Your Butt will Tell You the Right Furniture

Regardless of aesthetics and overall design considerations, rule of thumb when buying furniture set – in this case, for your patio – is comforting, otherwise what’s the use of setting up tables and chairs there, right? Get to know the chair better by sitting on it, then let your “behind” do the decision-making. If you see (and feel) yourself being stuck there for 3 hours straight, reading a book while having coffee, and still feel good as opposed to feeling all cramped up; then that’s the perfect furniture for you.

Materials Matter

It’s fine to pick a way more expensive patio furniture set. But if you’re on a tight budget, going for a sturdy and low-maintenance set that can outlast extremities such as humidity, sudden rain and mist is definitely a best-buy. Metal and wood can give you the lasting firmness, but of a pricey deal because of its intricacies in design and timely maintenance.

On the other hand, wicker, especially the synthetic ones, can be used to uphold the homey, classy garden look of your patio while maintaining its durability overtime because of its weather-resistant characteristics. Also, reinforced plastic (polyurethane and polypropylene) is an advisable choice for outdoor furniture because of its durability, portability, all-weather formidability and cost-effective characteristics. Maintenance-wise, these materials are easier to maintain than metal and wood.

Color Coordination

This is important because, let’s face it. Nobody wants to see a dull, “offensive” furniture set fitted in a welcoming patio. Know your color palate and don’t just resort to playing safe by taking a neutral-toned furnishings. After all, you’re in a vibrant space and might as well spruce it up with color. But take note: DO NOT OVER-DO IT.

Weigh its Usability

The patio is one of the most versatile part of the house. Ergo, it requires a dependable set of outdoor furniture. House chill out activities ranging from barbecuing, family lunch, Saturday poker with friends to plain newspaper and coffee time every afternoon. Choose a furniture set that can do most of these jobs done, whether for just plain relaxation or for accommodating a party of 10.

Reciprocate by Taking Care of Your Set

Once you’ve purchased the right set of furnishings for your patio, perhaps it wouldn’t be much of a thing to give an extra effort in taking care of your chairs and tables by cleaning it every once in a while. You may consider storing it properly during winter season or put a dependable outdoor cover when not in use to say the least.

How to Store Your Golf Cart Cover When Not in Use

Taking care of your golf cart by means of cloaking it with your dependable golf cart cover is one thing. Safekeeping your cover when not in use is a different story. Keep in mind that this large protective piece of layering is part of your investment, and therefore should be treated with care as well. And stuffing it inside a duffel bag does not stop there.

So how should you properly house your golf cart cover when it is not in use? This blog post will show you some tips on how you should do it.

Fold It and Slip It In with Care

As said earlier, safekeeping your golf cart cover is not just about a simple fold-and-store, then forget about it. The materials used in making these covers are tough; however, still prone some vulnerabilities and serious damages – especially the windshield – when proper organization is not considered very seriously. Rule of thumb when it comes to this is that to fold the cover and slip it properly inside the storage box or bag.

Leave it Dry

Before thinking about bagging up your cover, always make it a point to remove excess water and moisture from it. One method is to wipe the water off with a clean dry cloth. Another is by hanging it outside and sun-dry it for 2 to 3 hours.

Place it in a Cool and Dry Place

Room temperature, if you may. Materials used in most covers are prone to deterioration if constant steam and moisture are involved. Best way to avoid this is by storing it somewhere with just the right room condition. Granted that your golf cover proves to be resilient by guaranteeing no damage even in extreme conditions, it is advisable to keep it in room temperature anyway, just to be sure.

Zip It In

If duffel bags or any other storage bag is available, you may also want to consider using large resealable air-tight bags. This preserves the integrity of your golf cart cover by deterring excess air, as well as water which is the primary cause of the moisture.

Silica Fantastica

Silica gels are very useful when it comes to storage. This desiccant in the form of granulated silicon dioxide absorbs moisture, as it also controls humidity to prevent degradation caused by the said determinants. Thus, putting silica gels inside your cover’s storage will most definitely provide protection from deterioration caused by excessive moisture and humidity.

Golf cart covers serve as your buggy’s armor. And it is safe to say that it is fair enough to give the same importance to it as you do with your vehicle. Following these tips will certainly extend the lifespan of your cart and above all, your golf cart cover.

How Many Seats Should My Golf Cart Have?

Before, the use of golf cart is limited to one purpose and one purpose only: To stroll around the fairways with a fellow golfer, restricting to only 2 passengers allowed on each vehicle. Other than that, these buggies are promptly being stored in their own respective parking lots, cloaked in their heavy-duty golf cart covers until the next tee off comes.

Fast forward to today, golf carts are now being credited as an all-around vehicle, built for myriad of uses such as for short-distance travel, leisure, and even as a utility car in various work areas and businesses. No wonder non-players, business owners, and even old people are opting to buy one and ride the golf cart bandwagon. Here’s a question: How to decide on buying a golf cart, in terms of seat capacity? 

To answer, having the knowledge of what will be the intended purpose is important, especially for determining the seat capacity that you’ll be requiring in a golf cart. Here are a few points to look at:    

Institute a Sense of Urgency

As said earlier, knowing the purpose for buying the golf cart is essential for determining the seat capacity you’ll be needing, so institute a sense of urgency, (e.g. “I need to get a 4-seater cart to accommodate my dogs for a quick ride to the park.”)

If you are going to use this for driving around town and attend to some quick errands or for the usual hunting trip with your buddy, then the 2-seater buggy will do the job. Some 2-seater golf carts usually have a small compartment at the back (initially to cradle golf club) can be exploited for transporting grocery items, tools, equipment and small bags, as well as for transporting machineries in the work area.

Be Practical. Know your Driving Pals

Who will be riding with you? That’s one of the basic questions you’ll need to answer in considering your buggy’s seating and even weight capacity. Remember, efficiency goes hand-in-hand with practicality. If you normally stroll around the block all by yourself, then it’s not advisable to get a 6-seater cart.

For transport services just like in most retirement homes and airports, a good 3-seater to 4-seater golf cart would suffice the need, while 6-seaters would be most appropriate for small VIP tours of large facilities such as country clubs.

Where To Go?

Knowing the proximity of common destinations or frequently-visited places will help you in deciding the number of seats your golf cart should have. Most 2-seaters have lower horsepower. Hence, performance would be limited as compared to larger carts. If you plan to use your golf cart off-trail, then it only suggests that you should go for the larger, 4 to 6-seater golf cart. 

Taking Care of Pet “Accidents”

Given the fact that cats and dogs are territorial, both are also not capable of, shall we say, “putting the call of nature on hold”. Hence, most of the time, they experience these sudden accidents”, and by that, we meant your pets taking number 1 or number 2, or even worse, throw up right in the comfort of your own living room, or at times, in your car.

Too bad, you must have forgotten to put on the covers, huh? Well, calm down, as things like these do happen every once in a while. And we, as pet owners, are responsible for cleaning after your beloved Pissy-Cat and Poopy-Pooch’s leavings. 

Listed are some tips on how to take care of your pet’s accidental drip-&-drop-&-disgorge. In other words, pet pee, poop, and puke on your furniture:

For Cat and Dog Urine

-          Rule of thumb: Dry it while it’s still fresh. Dog and cat urine are notorious for its musty, ammonia-like smell so make sure not to let it dry by itself. First thing to do is to blot the affected area with an absorbent cloth.

-          After which, treat the spot with vinegar or club soda to eliminate the “essence” of the urine. Continue to absorb the liquid using a thick absorbent cloth. Another workaround is to use vacuum to extract the remaining moisture from the upholstery.

-          Apply baking soda and let it stand for about an hour to neutralize the smell. You may also use commercial deodorizers to alleviate the urine’s sharp, funky odor.

-          For stain removal, squeeze an ample amount of lemon juice to the affected area. It is also advisable to use commercial stain remover or other cleaning solutions.

-          Dry out the affected area using hair blower. Take precautionary measures when using flat iron drying out moisture within the area

But just before you do the dirty work, make sure to put on rubber gloves and facial mask to protect yourself from bacteria. As for your furniture, always remember to keep your pet covers handy to prevent unexpected pet-related disasters such as this.

For Cat and Dog Poop

Cleaning pet poop can be tricky and may require a lot more work.

-          For dry, solid poop, simply scoop the fecal matter as soon as possible.

-          Vacuum of brush off the affected area to remove small loose bits.

-          For runny, diarrhea-like poop, absorb the watery fecal matter with thick paper towel. Never use old newspaper, as the ink could stain your upholstery even more. Repeat until excess waste are all cleared up. Do this exact same procedure with pet vomit.

-          Blot the area with a thick cloth, then brush it with detergent and water. You may also consider adding disinfectant to the solution.

-          After which, blot the spot with a thick cloth, then rinse it with warm water. Repeat the process if necessary. Never rub the affected area with the cloth, as it may leave unwanted stain on your upholstery.

-          For stain removal, it is better to use commercial stain remover to ensure no stain marks will be left untreated on the upholstery.

-          Apply baking soda and let it stand for about an hour to neutralize the smell. You may also use household deodorizers if necessary.

-          Dry out the affected area using hair blower. Take precautionary measures when using flat iron drying out moisture within the area.

But just before you do the dirty work, make sure to put on rubber gloves and facial mask to protect yourself from bacteria. As for your furniture, always remember to keep your pet covers handy to prevent unexpected pet-related disasters such as this.