The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Your Outdoor Upholstery

Welcome to our cosy corner of the world where luxury meets practicality. Today, we're diving into the art of maintaining your outdoor upholstery, ensuring that your space remains as inviting and stunning as the day you first fell in love with it.

At EXTEX, we know a thing or two about designer outdoor textiles. After all, we've been crafting them with love and integrity for generations in our family business. So, let's get started on this journey to keep your outdoor sanctuary as dazzling as it deserves to be.

What makes EXTEX fabrics stand out?

First off, let's talk about what makes our luxury outdoor fabrics so special. Our in-house design team meticulously creates an array of fabrics that not only boast an extensive colour palette but also feature innovative textures and patterns — like Outline and Camber.

Our upholstery fabrics are a testament to our commitment to elegance and durability. From the robustness of our heavy-duty chenille to the soft pastel shades of the Mull range, each piece is a blend of quality and style.

The importance of proper care for outdoor upholstery

Outdoor fabrics are the unsung heroes of your garden or patio. They brave the sun, rain, and everything in between, yet they remain ever so stylish and inviting. But even the mightiest need a bit of care, right?

That's where you come in. Proper maintenance doesn’t just keep these fabrics looking great; it extends their life, ensuring that your outdoor space continues to be a haven of comfort and style.

Routine maintenance of outdoor fabrics

Regular care is key. For daily upkeep, a gentle vacuum with a soft brush attachment or a wipe-down with a dry cloth does wonders in keeping your outdoor upholstery fabric looking fresh.

This is especially true for our chenilles, where regular and gentle brushing will help maintain the plushness of the pile. And guess what? All of our fabrics (except our Alpine range) are crafted with stain and water-repellent properties, making this task a breeze. They're designed to shrug off spills and resist stains, but a little love from your end goes a long way in keeping them pristine.

Washing and tumble-drying

The most important thing to remember with the care of EXTEX fabrics is that any heat or chemical treatments must be very carefully administered. The synthetic nature of the yarns dictates that any heat treatment must be limited to a maximum of 40°C, and for Alpine, 30°C.

The stain-resistant coating also limits the type of cleansers you can use, as harsh chemicals will attack and break down the stain but also damage the water-repellent barrier.

It’s best to hand or machine-wash your EXTEX fabrics in lukewarm water using the delicate cycle. Always use natural or mild detergent, and do not pour it directly onto the material. Most importantly, never use bleach.

We recommend air-drying your outdoor fabrics in a shady area or tumble-drying (except Alpine, Haze and Wave ranges) on a very low-temperature setting — max 40°C. If you’re taking your outdoor fabrics (except Alpine) to a dry cleaner, they can use perchloroethylene solvent on a short cycle.

Dealing with stains and spills

Accidents happen, but there's no need to panic when you're armed with the right know-how. If you have outdoor fabrics from EXTEX, liquid spills or a light shower will not soak into the cloth; instead, they will bead up on the surface and roll off, so with prompt action all that is needed is a clean, dry cloth to absorb any residue. It’s also worth noting that dry soil can be brushed off easily.

If you have our Alpine range, despite not having the stain and water-repellant treatment, it is inherently resistant to mould and bacteria and resistant to liquid stains — including sun cream for those sun-fueled days. As with all other EXTEX fabrics, frequent vacuuming or light brushing to remove dust and dirt is ideal. Remember that most dirt and stains can be cleaned when promptly treated!

Seasonal care and storage

Your outdoor fabrics need different kinds of TLC depending on the season. In the summer, keeping them out of direct sunlight when not in use can prevent fading.

Come winter, if you're not planning to brave the cold, storing your fabrics in a dry, clean space will keep them safe from the elements. Think of it as hibernation for your luxury outdoor fabrics. They'll thank you for this by looking fabulous year after year.

Repair and restoration

No matter how durable, sometimes life throws more at your fabrics than they can handle. When wear and tear sneak past normal use, it's okay to seek a professional's touch. At EXTEX, we stand by the longevity of our designer outdoor textiles, but we also know the importance of timely repairs to maintain their luxury appeal.

For specific soiling or restoration queries, please contact us for detailed cleaning instructions…we’ll do our best to help!

Find your outdoor fabrics with EXTEX

We love seeing how you bring our fabrics to life in your spaces. Take a look at our fabric collections or drop by our network of sales outlets.

Let's keep enjoying the beauty and resilience of luxury outdoor fabrics together.