There Are Black Spots On My Furniture!
Darrell PawsonOne of the main causes of concern when it comes to outdoor furniture is mold and mildew. Gross, yucky stuff that no one wants to deal with, that undoubtedly you have seen ruin a good number of household items in your life.
When it comes to high-quality outdoor furniture - HAVE NO FEAR!
High-quality outdoor furniture and fabrics will be extremely resistant to mold and mildew. Keep in mind, that mold and mildew are organic living fungi that are easily killed and removed with chlorine bleach. These living fungi cannot feed and live on synthetic materials such as Sunbrella Fabric (100% Acrylic) or synthetic wickers (High-Density Polyethylene). Any mold or mildew that you see growing on your furniture is actually living in between the individual threads and feeding off of pollen or other dirt and debris.
If you are thinking that all furniture will mold and mildew this is certainly not the case. We most often see mold and mildew on furniture that is either left dirty for extended periods or receives a great deal of moisture and very little sunlight. High-quality outdoor furniture that is in full sun for a few hours a day will very rarely have any issues with mold or mildew. Keeping the organic matter (dirt, debris, pollen) off of your furniture also prevents the fungi from having anything to feed on!
If you ever see any black spots on your fabric of furniture a spray down with a bleach and water solution and a good rinse with a garden hose will have your furniture is looking new again!
How to clean your furniture/fabric:
1. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL DEALER TO MAKE SURE YOUR FURNITURE CAN BE CLEANED WITH BLEACH.
2. Move your furniture to a safe place away from plants and anything that bleach could kill or damage. (think about your clothes as well)
3. In a garden sprayer mix 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water.
4. Liberally spray down the furniture or fabric and allow the solution to sit for about 10 minutes (sunlight speeds up the process)
5. THOROUGHLY rinse your furniture and fabric.
6. VOILA - GOOD AS NEW!
6. If black spots still remain. You have most certainly killed the fungi, however, sometimes a bit of pressure is needed to knock the dead organisms out from between the fibers. This can be done with a pressure washer, at low pressure, or by maintaining proper distance. If you don't have a pressure washer, just a few days in the sun and a few rain showers should take care of the rest.
CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO ON HOW TO CLEAN YOUR SLING PATIO FURNITURE