As summer comes to an end, we have often found ourselves lacking real knowledge in outdoor furniture care!
As an outdoor furniture manufacturer and supplier, we can help you with this. Below are some general guidelines regarding all types of outdoor furniture as well as some more specific pointers for challenging situations.
- First and foremost, read the manufacturer’s guidelines. These pesky little papers contain gems of information that we often disregard.
- Light cleaning mild dish-washing soap with warm water go a long way! Use a sponge or soft brush, rinse and then pat dry with a lint free cloth.
- Cover, cover, cover! Covering your patio furniture adds years of usage to them as well as preserves the craftsmanship from the elements and even some accidents.
- DO NOT: Power wash, use chlorine bleach, use pine oil. These methods are often too extreme for your garden furniture, never use unless indicated in the manufacturer’s guidelines. If you absolutely have to use them, try testing them on a hidden area of the furniture and see how that goes.
How to take care of outdoor furniture with different materials?
Flicker your Wicker
Wicker furniture is tricky in the sense that it allows for dust and pesky particles to make their way through the frame and nest inside. The tangled nature of the frame is a haven for such particles and pests.
To maintain your wicker in good condition, vacuuming is a long time secret! Vacuuming helps take the unwanted dust particles and such out of the nooks and crannies of wicker surfaces. A quick wipe-down with a damp cloth would be ideal after passing the vacuum. Ideally, you want the cloth to be dipped in a solution of mild detergent with warm water (1/4 detergent vs. 3/4 water). For hard stains or defections, use a soft brittle brush dipped in the same warm water/detergent solution.
For extreme situations when you own natural wicker and you see it drying out and splitting, mist/spray your wicker frame and leave it to air dry in the shade on a breezy day. Be careful not to do it more than twice a year as this might weaken the glue of your furniture!
Tweak your Teak
Being one of the most organic aspects of furniture, teak is very prone to mildew. Thorough scrubbing is a must! Once a year, scrub it thoroughly with a bristle brush. Why once only? Teak has this wonderful auto-rejuvenating power; this is why it is so sought after!
Teak naturally has an oily nature, and depending on the quality, it can maintain itself for longer periods without your assistance. Many owners think that teak should be oiled often, but this is not always the case. Different teaks and different finishing dictates whether or not your teak should be oiled. Consult the manufacturer for recommendations.
Meddle with Metal
Metal outdoor furniture varies differently, from steel to aluminum to chrome to others; here are some fool proof ways to protect them without going into details of each one.
Although most metal patio furniture is finished with a protective layer, your yearly maintenance can help prolong the duration of this maintenance.
A full inspection every spring can avoid long term damage on the long run. Look out for rust and bubbling in the varnish. If you see them, use sandpaper to remove the damaged area and then apply the manufacturer’s varnish or paint.
Bird droppings are highly acidic and can really damage the finishing, watch out for those all season long. It is also recommended to wipe everything down with a damp cloth a few times a year.
Being in the hospitality business, outdoor furniture for hotels, restaurants or beach should always be maintained in order to last longer and keep a positive image.