Do you feel like your deck or patio is missing something? That “something” might be an outdoor rug. There’s no better way to add fun color and pattern to your space!

Why Area Rugs Are Important

Any interior designer will tell you that rugs are crucial to a room’s decoration. And that goes for outdoor seating areas, too, whether it’s a deck, patio, balcony, or sunroom. Rugs are:

• Warm and welcoming
• Beautiful
• Comfortable on your feet
• Able to visually “define” a space

When your outdoor seating area has a rug, it’ll instantly look more like home. You can choose a rug in a color that beautifully complements the design of the surroundings. It’ll be more comfortable to walk across your deck or patio, whether you have shoes on or you’re barefoot. And, it creates a cozy and welcoming seating area when the sofa and chairs are grounded with an outdoor rug.

Shopping for Outdoor Rugs

Luckily, there are lots of options when it comes to the style and appearance of your outdoor rug! But you’ll need to look beyond the colors and patterns and think about how the rug functions, too. When looking for a rug for your outdoor area, you’ll need to make sure that it’s:

• The right size for your space—measuring is your friend!
• Easy to clean
• Stain and soil resistant
• UV-resistant
• Durable in all weather

Cleaning Your Outdoor Rugs

Unfortunately, outdoor rugs can get dirty over time. Between pollen, fallen leaves, dust, dirt, mildew/mold, and foot traffic, it’s easy for your once-colorful rug to turn a shade of brownish-gray. Thankfully, most outdoor rugs are made of polypropylene—a type of plastic fiber—that’s easy to wash. Here’s a great way to clean your outdoor rugs with your pressure washer!

1. Lay it out on a flat (and relatively clean) outdoor surface, like your concrete driveway or patio.

2. Rinse it thoroughly with the power washer, using only water. It should already be looking much better!

3. Use a mild household cleaner (dish soap works great!) to loosen dirt and stains if needed.

4. If your rug has mildew, then you may also need to use a diluted bleach solution. Make sure not to get the bleach solution runoff on your plants and grass, though! Also, be sure to test the diluted bleach on a small corner of the rug to make sure it doesn’t ruin it.

5. Rinse any cleaner off the rug and, if possible, hang it up to dry. If you can’t hang it up, then just lay it out in a dry sunny area until it’s completely dry.

And there you have it! Your outdoor rug will look as good as new.

Find the Right Outdoor Rugs

Here at the Garden Gates, we love the quality of Treasure Garden outdoor rugs. They’re UV-resistant and fade resistant, easy to clean, and come in different sizes, colors, textures and patterns. These outdoor area rugs resist stains and dirt while holding up to outdoor weather. Shop outdoor rugs today at the Garden Gates!