HOW TO: Maintain your outdoor living space this winter
We all like to keep our indoor spaces spic and span but what about our outdoor spaces? Our outdoor spaces tend to fall to the bottom of our priorities list, but it’s important to make sure that these areas are kept up with – not just for cleaner, clearer space for friends and family, but also for your sake of mind! To find out how to maintain your outdoor living area this winter, keep on reading:
Your GOSS Outdoor System:
Maintaining your GOSS Outdoor shading system is a key step in getting the most out of your system, you want to keep this luxurious system of yours looking it best! That’s why we have gathered some do’s and don’ts for maintaining your system from our maintenance guidelines:
Awning systems, Motorised Blinds, and Parasols
Do - Clean with a mild soapy water solution and remove any loose dirt regularly.
Don’t - retract the system whilst the system is still wet as this may damage the motor and the fabric. Please wait until the fabric is damp before retracting the system. Never clean the cover with a high-pressure cleaner (i.e. jet wash).
Retractable Pergola Systems
Do - Clean with a mild soapy water solution. Remove loose dirt regularly with a soft bristled brush. Be aware that any additional sides of the systems may have varied guidelines.
Don’t - Never clean with water above the temperature of 20 degrees Celsius (i.e. boiling water). Never clean the cover with a high-pressure cleaner (i.e. jet wash).
Bioclimatic Pergola Systems
Do - Use a high-pressure cleaner with the lowest mode to remove the cleaning agent and the loose dirt. Be aware that any additional sides of the systems may have varied guidelines.
Don’t - Never operate the cleaner on a heavy setting. The pressure of the cleaner and the distance between the nozzles and the membrane must be adjusted so that they do not damage the membrane mechanically.
To find out more about maintaining your product, take a look at our maintenance guide here!
You can also take a look at our weather warning guidelines
Your Outdoor Furniture:
The furniture you decide to accessorise your space with, is just as important as your system. That is why you should know how to properly store and look after your furniture. Most furniture providers will have specific guidelines so we advise that you always follow them thoroughly, however regular cleaning and an every now and then deep clean is recommendable – a general vacuuming and use of mild soap should do just the trick!
If your outdoor furniture is as weather ready as our gorgeous Ethimo collections, you can use a rain cover to protect your furniture as the weather starts to get a bit drizzlier and colder. Our Ethimo rain covers “are made of polyester (330g/m2) and are 100% waterproof thanks to a layer of PVC. The fabric is also resistant to UV rays and bad weather and it is also ideal for use in extreme environmental conditions or on boats. The seams are sealed with a hot–rolled waterproof membrane. Equipped with air intakes to ensure ventilation and an adjustable drawstring for closing.”
*Top tip: If you don’t have a rain cover, you can tilt and rest your furniture at an angle so that the rainwater will run down the furniture and not pool on top of it and risk ruining the furniture.
Patio & Decking
Now that the items on your patio are lovely and clean, it is time to clean your actual patio area!
Firstly, you will want to move any accessories that you can, this includes your furniture, any potted plants, and any other types of decor so you have a clear working space.
We then recommend that before getting into the nitty gritty cleaning work, that you brush away any residue of dirt, or leaves off your patio. (This is so then when you clean your patio nothing will stick to it due to moisture).
Now clean your area! You can use specific cleaning detergents made for the material used on your patio area – or you can use a mild soap detergent and warm water. Depending on the condition of your area you may want to use a soft bristle brush, or a soft sponge to clean your patio.
Take a look at our latest Case Study!