Tips For Cleaning And Maintaining Your Hammock
Hammocks are a great way to escape your busy schedule and relax amidst nature. They help you to enjoy your free time while releasing all the stress from your body.
But as relaxing and fun as it sounds, you must maintain and clean them from time to time to get a comfortable and hygienic experience. Although you don’t have to clean the hammock regularly, using the wrong cleaning process can damage the hammock.
With proper care and maintenance, you can rest assured of the optimal quality of your hammock for years.
In this article, we’ll be guiding you on how to maintain the quality of your hammocks as well as how to clean them up if they get dirty.
Why Clean Your Hammock?
Even though hammocks can withstand tough elements of nature, it doesn’t mean they don’t need maintenance and clean-up from time to time. A laundry enhancer would be the perfect way to keep the result of a good wash longer.
Cleaning your hammock prevents any dirt or dust from settling down and leaving a stain. Moreover, it also ensures that there's no mold or algae formation on the hammock, which can be caused by humid and wet conditions.
Cleaning varies from hammock to hammock as some of them can be washed inside a washing machine like the Brazilian style hammock, because they don’t have wooden bars. Meanwhile, the rope or quilt knitted hammocks must be hand-washed as they have wooden bars attached to ropes which are hard to fit in the washing machine.
Now, you might be wondering how to clean a hammock using the correct method. Don’t worry, we will help you.
Cleaning a Rope Hammock
Take a small tub of water and put your hammock in it. if you don’t have a small tub. Next, lay your hammock out on a clean and tidy surface so that you have access to all the fabric. Keep in mind that the bars and metal rings don’t come in contact with water to prevent rusting.
Now, take some detergent or dishwashing soap and add it to the tub to create some foam. Furthermore, with the help of a soft-bristled brush, remove all the dirt and stains from your hammock. Make sure you don’t forget the ropes between the metal rings and wooden bars. Wash both the sides of your hammock so that no stain is left behind.
After you’re done scrubbing your hammock, rinse it using clean water thoroughly. To get the dust off from the wooden bars you can use a dry cloth. Afterward, you can either spread or hang your hammock out in the sun to let it dry.
Cleaning a Fabric Hammock
First, lay your hammock on a clean surface and use a soft-bristled brush to remove the hardened, dried-up dirt and stains. Perform this on both sides to make sure all the fabric is cleaned up. Give a nice shake to your hammock so that all the dirt and stains get off the fabric.
Now, with gentle hands, scrub the bed of your hammock with the cleaning solution. To make a cleaning solution, take a cup of borax, a cup of washing soda, a few drops of dishwashing liquid, and 7-8 cups of water to create a gentle yet effective cleaning solution. If the stain is too stubborn, you can go for hydrogen peroxide.
After scrubbing your hammock, let the solution sit on the fabric before rinsing it off. Moreover, you can use a garden pump to rinse off the solution. In the end, hang your hammock between any tree or pole to let it dry.
Maintenance
The first thing you should always keep in mind is that your hammock should be hanging in a space that is shorter than the length of your hammock. The height of your hammock is your personal choice, so you can adjust it higher or lower, whatever you like.
Secondly, getting on and off your hammock is very crucial. If you make a mistake in either of the processes, it can cause serious trouble to your hammock as well as you.
So, ensure you get on with the back facing the bed and then lifting off the legs. To get yourself comfortable on the hammock, it is advised to lay diagonally or perpendicular. In this regard, if you want to get off, take a single leg down and, sit on the bed of your hammock, and then plant both feet on the ground.
Next, when the hammock is not in use or might not be used for a prolonged period, make sure to store it in a cool, dry place to prevent mold or algae formation. Make sure it is stored in a well-ventilated place so that no amount of moisture can get trapped in the hammock.
Lastly, make sure to treat your hammock with some fabric protector after washing to maintain its quality. Make sure that your hammock doesn’t need to be washed every day, or it will lead to damage to your fabric.
Wash only twice or thrice a year so that your hammock remains in the best shape whenever you need it.
Conclusion
In the end, a well-maintained hammock will not only provide you with the best experience possible but also make you feel assured about its quality.
By following all the above instructions, you can clean and maintain your hammock with care to increase its longevity.
Remember, a small effort can help you restore the comfort and life of your hammock.
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