Cleaning & Maintenance

SUNBRELLA™ FABRIC & QUICK DRY® FOAM CUSHIONS – 2016 ONWARDS

Westminster work with Sunbrella™, a fabric made of acrylic fibres with pigmentation added prior to extrusion, which ensures it will not fade or degrade. Even in the harshest climates Sunbrella™ provides years of low maintenance service and is quite simply a superb outdoor fabric that is guaranteed against the elements. The fabric can be left outside all year round and can be simply cleaned with a solution of water and bleach followed by a thorough soaking of clean water to remove any bleach or careful use of a high pressure washer in collaboration with bleach for stubborn stains. However, it's also important to note that Sunbrella casing and the Quick Dry Foam Cushions are NOT machine washable.

Click Here for detailed Sunbrella™ cleaning

MOULD AND MILDEW

Westminster fabrics do not promote mould or mildew growth, however, mould will grow on dirt or dust and other foreign substances if not removed from the fabric. Mould will obtain moisture from the air when the air is very damp. These conditions accelerate mould growth. Mould needs water to grow and decomposes dead organic material. Mould may have formed in the inside of the fabric, in which case fold outer case inside out and follow the procedure below. While using rubber gloves, prepare a mixed solution from a bottle of thick bleach, use 2 parts bleach and 1 part mild soapy water or plain water. Apply to entire fabric case area and allow to soak into the fabric for 10 minutes. Clean all surface areas with a bristle brush, followed by using a high pressure washer. While in motion keep the nozzle at least 2 inches away from the surface. In the case of mould forming on the FR treated inner side of the case, the bleach treatment should be left for 2 hours, followed by the use of a power washer to remove all soap residue. For difficult to reach areas, fill a bucket of solution and soak for 2 hrs then air dry. It is best to clean the entire surface area of the fabric to avoid water rings and stains, including external and internal cleaning of the outer case. Sunbrella™ fabric is an incredibly durable and weather resistant fabric. To ensure that your cushions/furniture continue to look their best, avoid using an all weather covers when cushions/furniture are still wet/damp. Ensure that cushions/furniture are dry before covering to avoid excess mould and mildew/algae which could permanently stain the fabric.”

Please note: Westminster cannot be held responsible for mould or mildew growth on cushions as these conditions are out of our control.

SLING

These materials require little maintenance. However, any household kitchen cleaner or bleach will quickly and easily restore the original appearance. A power wash can also be used while keeping the nozzle at least 3 inches away while in constant motion.

ALUMINIUM

By its very nature, powder-coated aluminium is an extremely durable material. Being almost impervious to the elements, it requires little maintenance. However, to maintain the look of your aluminium products we recommend that you periodically clean them with warm soapy water using a mild detergent. Alternatively a power wash can be used, ensure the nozzle is at least 6 inches away from the furniture surface.

SINTERED STONE TABLE TOPS

Sintered Stone table tops are easy to clean, with almost zero water absorption, making them frost and weather proof. Although dirt cannot penetrate the surface, we do recommended cleaning the surface in order to prevent the build-up of grease and contaminants with warm water and any kitchen mild detergent. Sintered Stone tops are highly scratch, UV/temperature resistant & easy clean.

GLASS (2015-2018)

Westminster glass is toughened safety glass with a pebble textured finish designed for use outdoors. Only water should be used to clean pebble glass tops. DO NOT use household detergents. Pebble glass will fade over time. When water-soluble salts are carried to the surface by water, which evaporates and leaves a powdery salt deposit on the surface, we called this white staining “efflorescence” which should be allowed to weather away naturally especially on new tops, Any deposit remaining can be removed or reduced by treatment with clean cold water. Since the deposits are water soluble, washing down may result in the solution being partially re-absorbed. This may be minimized by using a clean damp sponge, which should be rinsed frequently in clean water. Chemical methods should never be used for the removal of efflorescence. The underside of the Charcoal, Stone and Grey “Frosted” glass will eventually require re-application of matching exterior paint to be applied to the underside of the glass, this is usually to the outer edge of the table which is most exposed to the elements. Alternatively, please contact customer services where we maybe supply a chargeable replacement top. Ceramic/glass table tops include a treatment to help expel water from the surface, and require retreating once a year with a thin layer of WD40 applied with a dry cloth, which also alleviates any blemishes.

CUSHION BOXES

Whilst every effort is made to keep water from entering our cushion boxes, they are not waterproof. A minimal amount of water will permeate through small openings in the internal Perspex protection layer, especially in severe weather conditions. In this case, simply take out any damp cushions and allow to air dry naturally.

WOVEN

These materials require very little maintenance. If cleaning is needed, we recommend careful use of a high pressure washer, or a sponge clean with warm soapy water, this should be enough to clean the weave thoroughly.

TEAK

One of the endearing qualities of Teak is its amazing resistance to the elements. Teak can be left outside untouched and untreated for many years and over time, the original colour will weather to a silver-grey. To prolong the original look of your Teak furniture Westminster have developed a protector. This is a water-based treatment which is easy to apply and up to four times more effective than Teak oils. Westminster protector is a cosmetic application and therefore will not enhance your furniture’s durability or resistance to the elements. Teak can develop black spots, which can be caused by Teak oil (which we do not recommend), as well as metal particles commonly found in guttering, scaffolding and railway tracks etc. After a period of time Teak can show cracks, especially in the end grains. These are quite natural and do not detract from the timber’s strength or durability. If you wish to remove the silver-grey appearance and natural day-to-day grime, you can use a power washer or use an electric sanding machine to remove silver and marks, with fine sandpaper to smooth any raised grain. The sanding also brings back the ‘new’ colour.

FURNITURE COVERS

Aerocover breathable garden furniture covers are water-resistant, reduce condensation and help prevent the build up of mould. Please note: covers are liable to fade within the first year.

KADAI FIRE BOWLS

Kadai's handcrafted Cookware Accessories have a protective food safe coating that is applied for transportation and will require the traditional curing process prior to use:

1. To remove the coating heat the cookware accessory to a medium temperature and then thoroughly wash in warm soapy water
2. Dry, then apply a thin coat of cooking oil
3. Heat the accessory again, but to a hot temperature (the oil may smoke a little, but this is just part of the curing process)
4. Repeat this application process several times until an even 'black' coat is achieved

You can repeat the oiling process whenever necessary to keep your cookware accessory in optimum condition, as cooking or heating some foods may degrade the oiled finish. The more it is used, the better the non-stick finish becomes. Avoid cleaning in the dishwasher as this will remove the natural oiled finish.