Keeping an aesthetic and clean look of your outdoor furniture is important, especially since they’re exposed to harsh outdoor conditions like rain, sunlight and dusty winds.
That’s where your outdoor furniture covers come in handy. These patio covers are affordable, available in multiple colors and removable so you can clean them separately.
Outdoor furniture covers are useful in keeping your furniture clean and dry, while protecting against fading.
Are Outdoor Furniture Covers Machine Washable?
Covers for patio furniture are designed specifically to withstand extreme weather conditions. These fabrics will certainly get dirty much more quickly since they are left outdoors.
Additionally, outdoor covers are designed to be easy to clean, so they’re usually made from specific materials, such as:
Nylon
Polyester
Polypropylene
Vinyl
Ideally, all these materials are quite durable and water resistant, and therefore, they can withstand machine washing.
However, since every fabric is unique and some may become harmed by machine washing, it's essential to check the label or tag on the cover to make sure they’re good to go.
While some fabrics can be washed in washing machines, drying them in a dryer is usually not advised
This is because dryers use excessive heat to dry the fabrics quickly, which can shrink and damage them, which may prevent them from fitting nicely over the furniture.
Instead, you should typically allow the covers to air dry, so that the process is stretched over several hours, protecting the fabrics from shrinking and getting damaged.
Using a Washing Machine
Throwing your outdoor furniture covers in the washing machine saves you a lot of effort and time while cleaning them.
Ideally, this method should be reserved for highly durable fabrics, especially if they are heavily soiled because excessive machine washing can fray the fabrics and fade the colors:
Step 1: Check the Label
Start by removing the covers off the furniture and checking the label to find the care tags. If the care tag indicates that the fabric is not machine washable, you’ll want to skip to the next method of hand washing.
If the tag indicates that it can be machine washed, you can follow the next steps. However, always heed any specific machine washing instructions indicated by the manufacturer.
Step 2: Use Suitable Detergent or Cleaner
Choose a relatively mild detergent or a cleaning solution to clean the cover unless it’s very heavily soiled.
This is because harsh detergents can fray the fabric and also irritate the skin if not washed properly. Ideally, you should go for non-dyed laundry detergent for most types of covers.
Step 3: Choose the Proper Washing Cycle
After loading the covers into the washing machine, choose the suitable temperature and settings for the washing cycle.
To increase the efficiency of the washing cycle, it’s highly recommended that you choose a mild temperature that isn’t too high or too low depending on what is indicated on the label.
Step 4: Allow it to Dry
When machine washing is finished, bring out the washed covers and allow them to dry by hanging them in a relatively dry and breezy spot.
The drying process may take up to 12 to 24 hours, it is highly recommended not to rush the drying process to prevent shrinkage and damage.
You can finish up the cleaning process by applying an optional coat of UV protection spray to prevent sun damage.
Sincerely,
Obi Van
Blogs Writer
Team patio cover
