White stains on your outdoor cushions? Could be excess Fire Retardant
All garden furniture in the UK has to comply with fire regulations and as such a Fire Retardant coating is applied to all cushions and weave. Occasionally excess coating is applied and this can wash out of the fabric if cushions are left out in the rain, leaving a white stain. It is a very rare occurrence, only happening to less than 5% of garden furniture sets.
The manufacturers recommend washing the cushions in lots of warm soapy water, at least a bucket full per cushion. Just scrub gently with a soft to medium brush. Rinse off with clean water and leave to dry naturally, not in the blazing sun.
Alternatively remove the covers and wash in the washer at 30C or less and only spin them very slowly. Once dry they will be just like new again. Once the residue has been removed it won’t recur.
It is recommended that you wash the cushion covers annually to remove any ground in dirt. When the cushions are not in use stand them upright with the zip to the bottom; this enables any rain to run through easily and also any excess Fire Retardant will wash out through the bottom of the cushion.
