Outdoor Furniture Care
Hammocks
Having
an outdoor hammock has long provided an
excellent opportunity to head outside and enjoy
the fresh air, either for a quick nap, the
reading of a book, or simply to relax.
However, how to care for a hammock, as far as
how to wash or store it, has long been a source
of trouble for hammock owners.
The following outlines the easiest and most
effective ways of cleaning (both by machine and
by hand) and storing your hammock.
Hammocks Without Spreader Bars
For hammocks without spreader bars (wooden bars
at either end of the hammock) machine-washing
your hammock is the best way to clean it. To
prepare your hammock for machine-washing you
need only to make a few preparations to insure
the best results and least amount of tangling to
your hammock.
First, fold the hammock in half by grabbing the
metal rings at either end of the hammock and
bringing them together. Use string to tie the
hammock together once directly under the metal
rings, again at the opposite end, and finally
once in the middle.
Place your bound hammock into a pillowcase and
securely tie this case closed. Use mild
detergent to wash (DO NOT USE BLEACH), then
untie the hammock, and finally hang it up
outside to dry. It will take an estimated one or
two days to dry, depending on the amount of
sunlight.
Hammocks With Spreader Bars
For hammocks that have non-removable spreader
bars, machine-washing your hammock is
unfortunately not an option; these hammocks must
be washed by hand. The easiest way to wash such
a hammock is to lay it flat on a clean surface
that can get wet (i.e. a deck, driveway, or
outdoor table).
To wash simply fill a bucket with warm water and
detergent and use a soft-bristle brush to brush
away all dirt. After thoroughly washing one
side, you will need to flip the hammock over and
wash the opposite side with warm water and
detergent. By washing both sides you not only
get a more thorough cleaning but also can
inspect the ropes for harder to remove stains
that may not have come off from washing the
first side.
Once you have finished scrubbing your hammock
hang it to dry, preferably in full sunlight if
the spreaders are wooden; the sooner the wood
dries the better as excessive dampness will
cause the wood to corrode. The drying process
should take somewhere between one and two days.
Storage
As far as storing a hammock there are many
things you can do to ensure its continued life
the following year. Prior to storing, it is
advisable to thoroughly clean your hammock and
allow it to fully dry.
To preserve your hammock, protective sprays are
sold in gardening and outdoor stores that
prevent the growth of mold or mildew and fend of
mice and other unpleasant creatures.
These sprays are highly recommended and are
generally applied by simply spraying the
chemical over the entire surface of your hammock
(detailed application information can generally
be found on the product itself).
Storing your hammock in a durable and breathable
storage bag is also highly advisable (if storing
your hammock outdoors, be sure to use a bag that
is also weather resistant). If you use both a
protective spray and storage bag the chance of
harm to your hammock during storage is
significantly decreased.
If however, you still find your hammock to have
any mold or mildew growing when taking it out of
storage it is highly advisable to wash it before
first use with the washing instructions provided
above.
If you learn to properly care for your hammock
and keep it clean, your hammock will generally
last much longer. |