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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU garden furniture cushions

61 replies

mofro · 30/07/2020 06:58

This is a total first world problem :) Please help!

Recently bought our first ever Rattan Garden sofa sofa set with cushioned removable seating.
DH is driving us mad as he insists the cushions need to go come inside the house every single day – rain or shine.

I’m sure the whole point of this furniture that they are outdoor and waterproof?

Makes sense to store them away in the winter, but right now it’s too much hassle to keep taking taking off all the seating lads and backs inside and outside so we actually ended up not using the seating very much because you constantly have to take the seating cushions in and out!

What do you all do?

OP posts:

Callmecordelia · 30/07/2020 07:46

Just to be clear, I wash the cushion covers, not the enormous sofa covers.

And it's the sofa covers that aren't particularly waterproof. Or, whatever the manufacturers say, very UV resistant. That's why they're the consumable in our experience.

I need more tea.

MaskingForIt · 30/07/2020 07:51

What do you all do?

Have teak furniture and avoid all this hassle!

WendyImHome · 30/07/2020 07:53

We put them in the shed, but if we know it’s not going to rain we just leave them out

BackInTime · 30/07/2020 08:20

I feel your pain OP but have to admit that I am very precious about my set as it cost such a lot of money. So it's cover on base set outside for winter and rain in summer and cushions inside. I have seen SILs set go discoloured and get funny brown streaks from damp and that's enough for me to make the effort.

WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat · 30/07/2020 08:20

It's bird poop that's the main problem. The birds seem to get up early, do a bit of target practise and then sneak off into the trees to watch effect. I'm sure I've seen a pigeon grinning at me.

Laiste · 30/07/2020 08:34

God i'd stress about this as well OP. It's part of the reason we've never gone in for too much furniture outside. (First world problems indeed!) This country is so changeable weather-wise.

I stress about the big (cream) patio umbrella - is it getting too windy? Is it getting bird pooy? Are spiders going to fall on my head when i open it?

I stress about the (cream) stone patio - will the grass stains come off? Will the purple bird poo stain? Will the drag marks from the loungers come off?

We have those zero gravity loungers and i like to fold them up at night in case of - you guessed it - spiders and bird poo!

What with all this and the daily emptying and shifting of the bloody great paddling pool that DH bought for DD so that the grass doesn't rot underneath it ...... the thought of having sofas and cushions out there as well is too much!

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 30/07/2020 08:37

we have a set like this on the communal roof garden - the cushions get taken in most nights, but most people only seem to take out what they need to sit on,

MaryShelley1818 · 30/07/2020 08:46

I'm absolutely shocked people are taking these in each night! Our come out at Easter, then get cleaned and put away in October. They're outdoor cushions!
Bought in 2014 in ASDA and still in really good condition.

bendmeoverbackwards · 30/07/2020 08:51

We've just got a similar set. Agree the cushions are a bit of a pain but it's worth it.

@mofro is that cover from Amazon?

bendmeoverbackwards · 30/07/2020 08:51

We've just got a similar set. Agree the cushions are a bit of a pain but it's worth it.

@mofro is that cover from Amazon?

KingOfDogShite · 30/07/2020 08:55

We purposefully bought one that could be left outside all year, cushions included. Most rattan ones we saw said the cushions were only water resistant so they would eventually rot.

mrsbyers · 30/07/2020 08:57

Waterproof cover here too

Spandang · 30/07/2020 09:09

We take them in because good cushions can be really expensive to replace.

For years we had rubbish ones that, if I’m honest, I couldn’t stand sitting on for more than 30 minutes.

Jayne35 · 30/07/2020 09:17

We left ours when we first got them as the weather was lovely but on about the third night a fox had used the rattan set as a bed and they were filthy! Won't ever leave cushions outside again.

MatildaTheCat · 30/07/2020 09:27

We pile them up under the parasol for a bit of light rain expected but bring them in for torrential rain. Have had them soaked masses of times and they are still fine after 8 years.

Icequeen01 · 30/07/2020 09:30

My DH takes the cushions off each night and puts them in a storage box on our patio. He then puts a cover over the actual furniture. The reason we take the cushions off even though we cover it is because my 3 cats and half the neighbourhood cats like to get under there for a little snooze. I then have to hoover all the fur off!

Bluntness100 · 30/07/2020 10:18

For me it’s not if they get ruined if they get wet, more if they get soaked then you can’t use them until they are dry.

minipie · 30/07/2020 10:31

Waterproof cover for nice weeks in summer when we want to use the set most days

Bring them inside in winter or for long rainy stretches

Have to admit though we bought the set without thinking about cushion storage, it is a bit of a pain! But soooo comfy so it’s worth it

BackInTime · 30/07/2020 11:33

I remind DH that we paid as much for our outdoor furniture as we did for our indoor sofa and I wouldn't leave that out all night

Original poster

mofro · 30/07/2020 12:33

@bendmeoverbackwards

We've just got a similar set. Agree the cushions are a bit of a pain but it's worth it.

@mofro is that cover from Amazon?

@bendmeoverbackwards yes! Amazon, Delivered by next Friday so another week of questions in and out till then 🤣🤣

OP posts:

Original poster

mofro · 30/07/2020 12:35

@MaryShelley1818

I'm absolutely shocked people are taking these in each night! Our come out at Easter, then get cleaned and put away in October. They're outdoor cushions! Bought in 2014 in ASDA and still in really good condition.

@MaryShelley1818 That’s what I thought my life would be with a nice garden set that I cold enjoy on sunny days or non rainy days

But turns out that DH had other ideas 😩

OP posts:

Timesdone · 30/07/2020 12:37

Yep, DH insists they come in every night. I bought a gazebo recently & he was dead opposed to me buying weights to keep it in place, I bought them anyway. Thank god I did, without them we would have been bringing that in every night too. I don't even know why he was so buying anti them, they didn't cost much. He just gets a bee in his bonnet about things, sometimes I indulge it, like the cushions, but other times, like the weights, I just ignore him.

Timesdone · 30/07/2020 12:42

DH will also be making noises about covering it up for winter as soon as we hit September and then trying to delay uncovering it in April, saying we won't need it til May at least. What does it matter? We have these discussions every year.

ProfYaffle · 30/07/2020 12:44

I find that, although the covers are waterproof, water seeps in through the zips. If there's prolonged rain the cushions can get sodden. We have a gazebo over the set though so if there's rain in the forecast we just make sure the chairs are pulled far enough under it to be protected.

In the winter the cushions are packed away in the garage and a waterproof cover goes over the frames.

Hullabaloo31 · 30/07/2020 12:48

We chuck ours in the garage overnight, takes minutes.

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