THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607190073
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vicki L. Friedman
LENGTH: 35 lines
YOU'VE PURCHASED the patio set of your dreams, and you've put it in your yard. No matter what you've been told, says Debbie Gordon, national sales manager at Kettler International, no furniture is completely maintenance free.
You wouldn't think of never vacuuming your sofa. Furniture subjected to all the outdoor elements requires care, too.
Charlene Barnett at Kettler International advises customers to put a coat of automotive wax, which acts a a sealant, on new furniture. With iron or steel, apply car wax a couple of times a year.
Beware of abrasive or chalky cleaners and opt for occasional soap and water baths instead. Sun screen can discolor vinyls found in strap chairs. Protecting the chair with a beach towel will prolong its life. Cushions also should be cleaned after coming in contact with sun screen.
Once a year, spray WD-40 oil on swivels, rockers and gliders.
Rain can lead to mildew in cushions and umbrellas, and, Gordon stresses, ``This is not covered by warranty.'' After a shower, remove cushions from their frames, put them on their sides and allow them to dry in the shade. After a rainstorm, open your umbrella and allow it to dry as well.
During the colder months, protect your furniture with a cover and put cushions in a box. Kettler sells an all-resin storage box for patio and pool supplies that can be doubled by joining the added-on extension to the basic box. Throw a cover over the box during warm weather and use it as an end table.
``Patio furniture is not something you're going to use once a year,'' says Cherry Durand of McBroom Great Atlantic. ``You are investing in something you're going to use daily.''
``If you care for it properly, it can last a lifetime,'' Gordon says. by CNB