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 cushions before cleaning the frame. We suggest using a cleaner designed for fine finishes, like the McKinnon and Harris Furniture Wash we provide in our Care & Maintenance kit. This premium cleaner is specially formulated to remove tough dirt and grime without damaging the finish. 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.

Following cleaning, we recommend using the McKinnon and Harris Protective Spray, to add an extra layer of protection and keep your furniture looking its best between deep cleanings. The Protective Spray may also be used as a spot cleaner.

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.

Vacuum regularly to keep loose contaminants from embedding into the fibers. Never clean Protective Covers while on your furniture if using a bleach solution. Protective
Covers should never be machine washed.

General Or Light Cleaning:
1. Brush off loose dirt.
2. Hose down.
3. Prepare a cleaning solution of water
and mild soap such as Woolite or
Dawn dishwashing liquid.
4. Use a soft bristle brush to clean.
5. Allow cleaning solution to soak into
the fabric.
6. Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue
is removed.
7. Air dry.

Heavy Cleaning For Stubborn Stains:
1. Prepare a solution of 1 cup of bleach
per gallon of clean water.
2. Allow mixture to soak into fabric for
up to 15 minutes.
3. Clean with soft bristle brush.
4. Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue
is removed.
5. Air dry.
6. Repeat if necessary.

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.

Regular care and maintenance is very important and the secret to keeping cushions pristine. When cleaning our 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.

Regular Maintenance with Soap & Water

Vacuuming and removing any loose dirt from the surface will keep your fabrics like new. Our reticulated foam is marine grade – meant to be cleaned with soap and water. Do not clean cushions with dry cleaning chemicals, carpet cleaning chemicals, patio cleaners, exterior house wash, or other solvents as these may damage the foam inserts. We recommend cleaning our outdoor performance fabrics with natural soap, such as Meguiar’s®, in lukewarm water. Sponge briefly and rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove dirt and debris. After thoroughly rinsing, let air dry.

Tougher Stains with a Diluted Bleach Solution

100% Acrylic fibers do not support mildew growth, but mildew may grow on dirt or residue that has not been removed from the fabric. A solution of chlorine bleach and water is acceptable for cleaning mildew, along with more stubborn stains. 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. We recommend starting with highly diluted solutions, and increasing the bleach to water ratio to 20% bleach, or 3 cups bleach per gallon of water, if needed. Higher concentrations of bleach, strong chemicals or harsh detergents must be avoided, as they will increase the likelihood of unwanted chemical residue and eventually affect the strength of any fiber, cloth or foam insert.

Gently dampen the soiled area 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. 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. 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.

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.

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 UV rays, frost, heat, scratching and abrasion.

Stains created by food and substances generally used in kitchens are easy to remove. It's crucial to act quickly when removing stains. Clean the affected area immediately to prevent the substance from drying and becoming more difficult to eliminate.

A damp microfiber cloth and pH neutral liquid detergent are recommended for everyday cleaning. For stains that are difficult to remove, we recommend using a melamine sponge. We suggest carrying out a preliminary test on a small area before fully cleaning.

It is not advisable to use waxes, abrasive sponges, steel scourers, stiff brushes or detergents containing hydrofluoric acid when cleaning the Technical Stone Top.

It is best to avoid impacts at the edges and sides, as these areas are fragile and prone to chipping. Any damage can be repaired using a color-matched epoxy resin.

Regular cleaning is encouraged. Sealing one time per year, and covering when not in use will ensure that the stone and grout live long and beautiful lives.

Mosaic tables are a "living" product and finish. Stone and grout will patina and age over time. Minor grout cracks may form and can be refurbished locally by a professional.

Minor “lippage” from stone to stone is to be expected as the mosaic is all cut and laid by hand.

Avoid locations in freeze/thaw environments, and bring indoors when freezing weather conditions are expected.

Clean stains as they occur with mild detergent, warm water and a clean soft cloth. For stains that are difficult to remove, we recommend using a mild abrasive paste. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks.

All of our natural stone has already been sealed, but will need to be resealed every 3-5 years to prevent water and salt incursion. Using a protective cover can extend the length of time between sealing. We suggest using the Natural Stone Sealer provided in our Care & Maintenance kit.

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 vacuumed regularly to remove debris and 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. While McKinnon and Harris furniture cushions are specially designed to drain well and dry quickly, they do absorb water. AquaLeather may slightly deboss when in prolonged contact with edges (of outdoor furniture) or other hard surfaces. These indentations may become less pronounced over time.

Please note that a variety of clothing and accessories may contain dyes that could transfer to lighter Aqualeather® Fabric, depending on the temperature and humidity. Some natural substances, such as pollen, tannins, or insect residue, may create permanent blemishes and should be quickly removed.

Vacuuming and removing any loose dirt from the surface will keep your fabrics like new. We recommend cleaning our outdoor fabrics with natural soap, such as Meguiar’s®, in lukewarm water. Sponge briefly and rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove dirt and debris. After thoroughly rinsing, let air dry.

100% Acrylic fibers do not support mildew growth, but mildew may grow on dirt or residue that has not been removed from the fabric. A solution of chlorine bleach and water is acceptable for cleaning mildew, along with more stubborn stains. We recommend starting with highly diluted solutions, and increasing the bleach to water ratio to 20% bleach, or 3 cups bleach per gallon of water, if needed. Higher concentrations of bleach should be avoided, as they will increase the likelihood of unwanted chemical residue.

Thorough rinsing is imperative. Please note that chlorine bleach is never recommended as a stain remover for printed fabrics that are not 100% 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 colorfastness 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.