How to clean garden furniture
Cleaning garden furniture regularly is necessary to keep it pristine and prolong its life. After all, after making the investment you want to be able to enjoy it for many years to come!
Below are a few tips on how to clean your chairs, tables, benches and rattan sets.. of course this differs depending on what they are made from!
Wood
Scrub with hot soapy water using a soft bristle brush. Teak or other hardwoods can also be cleaned using a pressure washer. Don't use a bristle too firm or it may damage the wood.
Metal
Wash with hot soapy water using a soft cloth. If galvanised steel ensure it is fully dry after to prevent rusting issues.
PE Rattan
Sponge clean with warm soapy water. This is a super low maintenance option. If steel frames ensure as dry as possible to prevent rust. This is not an issue with aluminium framed garden furniture.
Plastic
You can use a pressure washer or garden hose to wash this material garden furniture. If you have stubborn hard to remove stains, baking soda works wonders! Don't use anything too firm, as it may scratch the plastic and look unsightly!
It is best to thoroughly clean your garden furniture at the end of the season and before the Spring. Of course, you can give cleans in between too!
We recommend cleaning garden furniture twice a year, once at the start of the spring/summer season and again at the end.
Protect your garden furniture from the elements
Due to the turbulence of Britain's unpredictable weather, this can cause severe damage to garden furniture. For example persistent wet periods can cause steel framed garden furniture to rust and wood to rot. Sunlight can also fade colours. It is essential to protect from the elements.
The best way to do this is with garden furniture covers. Our covers are 600D fabric, amongst the thickest to provide the protection you required.
Check any metal for rust or corrosion
We have already discussed the differences between garden furniture made form steel vs that made from aluminium. Aluminium framed garden furniture offers much greater weather resistant properties.
Steel can be affected by rust and corrosion. Over time this can loosen the connection points and make it look unsightly.
Rust and corrosion look unsightly but can also eat through metal, making furniture dangerous and causing irreparable damage. So, it's essential to check all metal parts regularly.
Rust looks like red, black or white deposits on the metal’s surface. If you have decking or a patio, it can also create unpleasant stains on here too. Remove it using rust removal methods, there are many available methods upon a quick google search!
To prevent rust from returning, polish your metal garden furniture with car wax to make it water-resistant or use a rust resistant paint.
To avoid this, you can opt for aluminium framed garden furniture.