How to Clean & Care for Garden Furniture
April 12, 2024
When the sun is shining, what beats spending time in your garden? Soaking up the sun on a lounger or bench, having a barbecue with family and friends, or simply nodding off on a day bed is the order of any summer’s day.
The winter months can often leave our garden furniture needing a little TLC to keep it looking its best. But how exactly should you clean your furniture? Our experts offer their top tips to help keep your outdoor furniture in top condition year after year.
Why is it Important to Clean Your Garden Furniture?
Maintaining the cleanliness of garden furniture benefits more than the overall appearance. Regular cleaning extends the lifespan of your outdoor furniture as it prevents the buildup of dirt, mould or mildew that could cause wear and tear - especially for wooden garden furniture.
There’s no blanket approach to caring for patio furniture due to the different materials and designs of each piece. Whilst a bowl of soapy water often does the trick, our experts have highlighted their top tips for effectively cleaning each garden furniture material.
How to Maintain and Clean Wooden Garden Furniture
Wooden garden furniture is a top choice for many due to its natural and rustic appearance, which is full of charm and character. But to keep it looking nearly as good as new, year after year, we’ve set out our top wooden garden furniture treatment options.
Caring for Hardwood Furniture
Hardwood furniture is the most durable with its abundance of natural oils to protect it from the elements. Cleaning hardwood garden furniture is a breeze as it only requires a yearly scrub with soapy water followed by a rinse - think of it like an annual spring cleaning job.
Our most effective hardwood garden furniture treatment is to use an appropriate exterior wooden oil, such as teak oil, which can help bring it to life if winter has left it looking slightly dull. Remember, if used when the furniture is wet, it may cause it to blacken.
One of the best teak oils for outdoor furniture is Ronseal Teak Oil. Long-lasting and restorative, it simply needs to be applied to the surface and allowed to dry. Use it regularly to keep your furniture in top condition.
Caring for Softwood
Softwood furniture needs a touch more TLC than hardwood furniture as it has fewer natural oils.
We recommend oiling your garden furniture at least once per year to avoid potential splitting and cracking when the weather is dry. There are many great furniture oils to use such as Cuprinol and Ronseal, or you could even go natural with a raw linseed oil. Find more in our exterior woodcare range.
Consider sealing your wooden furniture with a weatherproof sealant or varnish for added protection. It’s great for sealing the wood’s pores and preventing moisture from penetrating the surface, extending the lifespan of your timeless wooden furniture. When using a sealant, you must ensure it’s completely dry before enjoying those al fresco dinners.
How to Clean Metal Garden Furniture
For a seamless mix of style and reliability, metal garden furniture is a popular choice amongst many. The intricate detailing is enough to elevate any garden space without being overwhelming. But like other garden furniture materials, it’s important to care for your metal garden furniture in the right way to ensure it stands the test of time.
Cleaning metal garden furniture doesn’t require specialised cleaners - all you need is a mild, non-detergent soap in a bowl of water with a cloth or sponge. Just be careful not to use abrasive scrubbers as they can scratch the surface and expose the metal to moisture, causing it to rust.
Top tip: If you ever spot any bird droppings on your furniture, remove them as soon as you can as they’re highly acidic and can leave permanent marks!
Restoring Metal Garden Furniture
Metal outdoor furniture, like steel or iron, can rust if the paint or powder coating has cracked as the elements can weather the exposed metal surface. To remedy this, you’ll first need to remove any rust or mould with some sandpaper (or wire wool if sandpaper isn’t doing the job), and then add two to three coats of metal paint. If it’s a bubbled effect you’re sanding away, then make sure you remove all the paint in that area before you add another coat; repainting over old paint is often the cause of this bubbled appearance and can also cause the paint to chip off.
Aluminium garden furniture, on the other hand, doesn’t rust – but it can oxidise. To remove oxidisation or light stains on other types of metal furniture, wipe it down with a solution of water and a mild acid in equal parts, like white vinegar or lemon (avoid alkaline solutions as they cause oxidisation).
How to Clean Rattan Garden Furniture
With hardly any maintenance required, rattan garden furniture is a breeze to clean. Without regular cleaning, dust, mould or bird droppings can build up between the weaves, affecting the overall cleanliness of your rattan furniture, so a quick wipe after use can pay off in the long run.
To clean rattan garden furniture, simply give it a thorough wipe down with soapy water and a microfibre cloth. To get into the crevices, we’d recommend using an old toothbrush to clean away any dirt or potential mould from the cold weather.
If some of the rattan is dry, cracked or split, don’t worry – you can remedy this. Boiled linseed oil works well as it’s absorbed by the rattan and then hardens to protect it. Continuously apply the oil until the rattan won’t absorb any more and then wipe it clean with a soft cloth. It’s important to ensure the oil is boiled and not cold, as otherwise it won’t dry and harden.
Cleaning Plastic Garden Furniture
Plastic outdoor furniture is extremely easy to clean with a mild detergent, water and a sponge or cloth to scrub away dirt from the surface. For specific areas with tough stains, opt for a solution of vinegar and water as a DIY garden furniture treatment, as plastic is resistant to vinegar - helping it to look as good as new in no time. Be sure to rinse well and allow the furniture to air dry before using it again.
There might be cases where your plastic furniture has turned yellow and grey due to it being left outside for a long period. But fear not, as using a specialised plastic cleaner can lift these unwanted stains before the summer sun arrives.
Our Experts’ Tips to Maintain Your Garden Furniture
Inspect Regularly
Take the time to inspect your outdoor furniture regularly for signs of wear, damage, or deterioration. Looking for loose screws, cracked frames, or any other issues that may need attention, are key factors to ensuring your garden furniture is ready for each summer.
Protect Your Furniture From Harsh Weather
While outdoor furniture is designed to withstand the elements, prolonged exposure to harsh weather conditions can inevitably take a toll. Using garden furniture covers when caring for patio furniture can ensure it won’t be discoloured from excessive sun exposure or damaged from rain, snow and strong winds. Storing it properly in winter is another essential - for gardens tight on space, incorporating a garden storage shed is an effective and budget-friendly solution for many.
Tend to Your Outdoor Cushions
After being stored away for the long winter months, it’s important to give your outdoor cushions a thorough clean to remove any potential mould and mildew, or damp smells. After many al fresco dinners, there will inevitably be food and drink spillages, so removing the covers and throwing them in a wash will have them ready for the next sunny day.
Whether you’re deciding what type of garden furniture to buy based on how easy they are to maintain, or you want to clean a tired-looking piece that you’ve had for years, now you know that garden furniture care doesn’t have to be hard. Wood, metal, rattan and plastic are all pretty easy to clean and maintain, so you can soak up the sun in the knowledge that, whatever material your furniture is made of, you can easily keep it looking its best.
Shop our extensive garden furniture range to find the perfect set for your garden space.
