Care & Maintenance

Weather conditions, climate, and environmental factors will determine how frequently the outdoor furniture will need to be washed. Furniture exposed to salt air prevalent in coastal areas will require more frequent washing. A good rule of thumb is to treat the furniture finish as you would treat your car, and to regularly wash it to prevent salt spray buildup.

We highly recommend removing any custom cushions before cleaning the frame. When cleaning the furniture we suggest using a cleaner designed for fine finishes. We recommend using Meguiar’s Gel Wash®. This premium car and boat wash contains rich ingredients which will protect and enhance the finish. Unlike harsh dishwashing detergents, this cleaner will not strip off wax protection. Use a microfiber towel, soft rag, or sponge (the same thing that you would use on your car or boat) to clean the frame. Work into a rich lather and rinse away.

We offer Protective Covers for all of our seating pieces and tables. They are lock stitched with high strength thread and tailored to lend an elegant note when the furniture is not in use. Our custom covers for outdoor furniture are intended to withstand daily exposure to sun, rain, and snow, protecting the furniture frame and cushions when not in use. The protective covers are water resistant, will keep cushions dry and allow air to circulate. Back cushions without snap ties should be laid down when the cover is in place.

Just like us, our all weather outdoor furniture likes to be pampered from time to time. At McKinnon and Harris, we don’t take your furniture to St. Barth’s for a couples retreat, but we do take care of your installations. At our spa, we strip your furniture to bare bones, repair any imperfections, replace hardware, recoat, and bring it up to the most recent, high caliber standards. We ship the furniture back to you looking like the day you first received it. This is a sound investment to keep your furniture looking pristine. While you are getting a relaxing massage, let us take your furniture on a vacation of its own.

Water spotting on the finish is likely a result of mineral and salt deposits in the water. The water spotting can also be a result of pollutants or salt in the rainwater. The problem can easily be remedied by using an automotive wax. This would promote “beading” of the water without allowing surface dirt to dry on the finish. It will also make the outdoor furniture easier to clean when it becomes dirty. We recommend Meguiar’s Quik Wax®. Water spotting may be more pronounced on darker frame colors and in particular coastal areas. Although the water spotting may re-occur after an extended period (just as a car gets dirty), the water spots can be removed easily by hosing off the furniture.

Small scratches and scuffs can often be removed by using a rubbing compound or automotive paste wax. For chips in the finish, please use our touch-up kit. Our touch-up paints are custom formulated to match our standard colors. Simply shake the touch-up bottle for over 60 seconds. Shake time is essential as the paint must properly blend. Clean the area affected with an alcohol swab and let dry. Open the paint bottle and gently paint the scratch or chip with long even strokes. Do not over apply paint to the surface. And voilà, it’s like new! If the imperfections are too big or you want professional help, feel free to give us a call and inquire about our furniture Spa Treatment.

When cleaning custom outdoor furniture cushions, leave the fabric cover on the foam interior. The zippers on your cushions are solely to help our sewing workroom close the cushion and are sewn shut for a purpose. Please do not tamper with the zipper.

Our reticulated foam is marine grade – meant to be cleaned with soap and water. Regular care and maintenance is very important and the secret to keeping cushions pristine. Please DO NOT bleach cushions in place on the furniture frame. Chlorine bleaches are very aggressive and corrosive. They will damage the furniture frame finish. When using chlorine bleach, the cushions should be removed from the furniture frame and washed separately.

A solution of chlorine bleach, automotive or boat wash, and water is the most effective mixture for cleaning stubborn stains. Two part water to one part chlorine bleach is the best dilution (2:1). Diluted chlorine bleach is acceptable for stain removal as it will not affect the coloration of solution dyed acrylic fabrics. Custom cushions in a light or white fabric are popular, and many clients have concerns that these will not stay clean and sparkling white. Nothing is further from the truth. This solution can be very successful on solid cushions of every color, including white, which have come out looking brand new. Members of our family have found great success in removing the most stubborn stains on our own McKinnon and Harris cushions.

Saturate the cushions with the diluted, foamy, solution and let the bleach do the work. You don’t need to repeatedly scrub the fabric (because it can pill), although you may apply the bleach solution with a very soft scrub brush from a bucket. Adding natural soap to the bleach solution will help keep the bleach solution on the surface of the cushion. You will see the stains begin to disappear in a matter of minutes. If the stains do not begin disappearing, re-apply the bleach solution to keep the fabric wet. Thorough rinsing is essential. It is very important to COMPLETELY RINSE the bleach solution from the cushion. Without fully rinsing, the bleach solution can eventually affect the integrity and strength of any fiber or cloth.

Our Adams Table Tops can scratch if a rough or coarse object (such as a terracotta pot) is placed directly on top and then dragged across the surface. We highly recommend using our surface protectors (included in our Care & Maintenance Kit) on any table tops being used with coarsely textured objects.

Our Technical Stone Tops are resistant to stains, heat, UV rays, scratches, etc. Stains created by food and substances generally used in kitchens are easy to remove. Warm water and a microfiber cloth are recommended for everyday cleaning. It is not advisable to use waxes, oily soaps, or other penetrating agents when cleaning the Technical Stone Top. These agents will leave an oily film on the surface. If liquids are spilled, dry them immediately to avoid staining. It is best to avoid hitting the Technical Stone Top with blunt or heavy objects to avoid damage. Using a ceramic knife directly on the surface of the table top may scratch the Technical Stone Top; however, stainless steel knives will not scratch the surface.

AquaLeather™ is an outdoor, water resistant, leather-like material with a soft and supple feel. It has the unique ability to stay cooler to the touch than leather and vinyl. AquaLeather™ resists fading over extended periods of exposure to sunlight and is an ideal choice for tropical outdoor applications. Custom outdoor furniture cushions should be cleaned regularly with natural soap, such as Meguiar’s®, and water. Spills should be wiped up as soon as they occur. For stubborn stains, an alcohol-based cleaner such as Fantastik® may be used. To disinfect, use a five part water to one part bleach solution (5:1). Thoroughly rinse all solution residue with water and allow to air dry.

We recommend cleaning our outdoor fabrics with natural soap, such as Meguiar’s®, in lukewarm water. Cleaners such as Formula 409® and Simple Green® have also been used with success. Sponge briefly and rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove dirt and debris. Solution dyed acrylic fibers do not support mildew growth, however mildew may grow on dirt or residue that has not been removed from the fabric. After thoroughly rinsing, let air dry. Chlorine bleach will not affect the coloration of the solution-dyed acrylic fiber and is therefore acceptable for stubborn stain removal. Long term use of chlorine bleach, strong chemicals, or harsh detergents will eventually affect the strength of any fiber or cloth, so we suggest a diluted solution of two parts water and one part bleach (2:1). Thorough rinsing is imperative. Please note that chlorine bleach is never recommended as a stain remover for printed fabrics that are not 100% solution dyed acrylic or natural fibers (ie. hemp) as it will affect the coloration of the print or natural fiber.

The Batyline® Textile is used on our duVal Yacht Chaise, Fayette Yacht Chairs, and Beaufort Yacht Chairs. It requires minimal care and the composition of the coated yarns ensures long-term color fastness and stability. Batyline® Textile is resistant to mildew and other microorganisms and only requires gentle brushing using soapy water, or recommended Meguiar’s® car or boat wash. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow to air dry when finished. Please DO NOT use chlorine-based cleaners on Batyline® Textiles.

Please contact your fabric provider for specific instructions for your own fabric. We wouldn’t want to tell you something incorrect!

Tire replacements are available at a nominal charge. Please contact us to learn more.

Our glides allow the all weather outdoor furniture to move smoothly over hardscapes and due to such use, will wear down over time (which means they are doing their job). We are happy to replace these at no additional cost.