How to Clean and Care for Your Garden Furniture

It’s the right time of year to eat and drink in the garden. But before you open an outdoor beer, you should treat your guests to clean garden furniture. In this article, we’ll show you how to best care for your garden furniture to keep it looking as good as new during the summer and off-season.

In this article, we will introduce you to the five main types of garden furniture.

• Drinking
• Plastic
• Metal
• Fabric
• Willow rods

Preparation

Tools and products needed

• Dishwashing liquid
• basin
• Soft brush
• Oxygen bleach (chlorine bleach can be substituted but is not safe for textiles)
• medium paper
• garden hose
• dry cloth

DO’S and DON’TS

• Don’t wash your patio furniture with a pressure washer. At first glance, this seems like a quick and easy way to remove dirt, but this method can damage the structure of the furniture. For example, when pressure washing wood, the water penetrates the pores and removes some layers of the wood, especially the softwood.
• Pro tip: Hot water is more effective than cold when cleaning, but it can have a negative effect on surfaces, especially textiles.

Below is a guide to properly preparing patio furniture for outdoor meals and ensuring its longevity. (Some of the steps are repeated in other sections).

Cleaning your wooden patio furniture

Step 1: Scouring Cleaning

This step involves thoroughly cleaning the furniture to remove most of the dirt.

1. Mix dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water in a small bowl.
2. wet the outdoor furniture and apply this solution.
3. remove dirt and mildew with a soft brush.

Tip: Be careful to distinguish between hardwoods (such as teak and oak) and softwoods (such as cedar and pine). Hardwoods are quite scratch resistant, while softwoods should be brushed with a soft brush or the belly of your finger in the direction of their grain. If necessary, stubborn stains can be removed with a wire brush, but be careful as this can destroy the wood fibers. Try also: Sofa cleaning in Mosman

4. Finally, rinse with a garden hose.

Step 2: Stubborn stains

If stubborn or moldy stains remain.

1. Mix bleach, dishwashing detergent, and water in a bowl.
2. test the solution on a small area to see if there is a reaction.
3. if no adverse reaction occurs, let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes to foam and react with the stain.
4. remove the stain with a soft brush.
5. Remove any remaining cleaning solution with a garden hose.

Step 3: Dry

Wipe the furniture dry and let it dry in the sun or in a warm place like a shed or garage.

Step 4: Polishing

Water brings out the texture of the wood. Therefore, use medium-grit sandpaper to lightly sand the texture of the patio furniture. Wipe off any residue.

Step 5: Finishing

Here are some ways to make your outdoor furniture stand out even more.

– Treat wood furniture with a stain.

– Softwood stains are especially good because they block UV rays that can attack wood fibers.

Cleaning plastic garden furniture

Step 1: Scouring cleaning

This step involves deep cleaning the furniture to remove most stains.

1. mix dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water in a small bowl.
2. wet the outdoor furniture and apply this solution.
3. use a soft brush to scrub off dirt and mildew.
4. finally, wash the surface with a garden hose.

Step 2: Stubborn stains

If stubborn or moldy stains remain.

1. Mix bleach, dishwashing liquid, and water in a bowl.
2. test the solution on a small area to see if there is a reaction.
3. if no adverse reaction occurs, allow the mixture to bubble and react with the stain for about 15 minutes.
4. remove the stain with a soft brush.
5. Remove any remaining cleaning solution with a garden hose.

Step 3: Dry

Wipe the furniture dry and let it dry in the sun.

Step 4: Polishing

After cleaning, the plastic surface may look dull, lightly polish it with medium-grit sandpaper. Wipe off any residue.

Step 5: Finishing

To restore the shine on the plastic surface.

– For stubborn stains, use a general water-based paint.

– Apply 10% paste wax to a dry rag and buff the surface in circular motions. This will help repel stains.

Cleaning metal garden furniture

Step 1: Wash and rinse.

This step involves thoroughly cleaning the furniture to remove most of the dirt.

1. mix dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water in a small bowl.

2. Wet the outdoor furniture and apply this solution.

Remove dirt and mildew with a soft brush.

4. Finally, rinse with a garden hose.

Step 2: Stubborn stains

If stubborn dirt or mold stains remain.

1. Mix bleach, dishwashing detergent, and water in a bowl.
2. test the solution on a small area to see if there is a reaction.
3. if no adverse reaction occurs, allow the mixture to bubble and react with the stain for about 15 minutes.
4. remove the stain with a soft brush.
5. Remove any remaining cleaning solution with a garden hose.

Step 3: Dry

Wipe the furniture dry and let it dry in the sun.

Step 4: Polishing

Metal outdoor furniture is the most durable furniture on the market, but it is prone to rust. Lightly polish it with medium-grit sandpaper. Wipe off any residue.

Cleaning your metal garden furniture

If there is a manufacturer’s label, follow it. If mildew stains remain, check the label to see if the fabric is bleach compatible.

Read more: How to Maintain Your Sofa?

If there is no manufacturer’s label:

1. use a brush to remove excess dirt. You can also vacuum the cushion with low suction.
2. mix dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water in a small bowl (ratio 1:4 detergent to water).
3. Wet the garden furniture and apply the solution.

4. Carefully remove dirt and mildew with a soft brush.

5. Finally, rinse the garden hose.

You can also put the removed fabric in the washing machine, but do not dry it in the drum.

For more stubborn stains, you can proceed as follows.

1. mix the bleach, then washing up the liquid, and the water in a bowl.
2. test the solution on a small area to see if a reaction is possible.
3. If no adverse reaction occurs, allow the mixture to bubble and react with the stain for about 15 minutes.
4. scrub off any remaining dirt with a soft brush.
5. remove the remaining cleaning solution with a garden hose.

Cleaning wicker garden furniture.

Step 1: Scrubbing and washing

This step involves thoroughly cleaning the furniture to remove most of the dirt.

1. mix dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water in a small bowl (ratio 1:4).

2. Pour this solution on a soft cloth and wipe the wicker furniture with it.

3. Finally, rinse off the cleaning solution and dirt with a garden hose.

Step 2: Stains that are more difficult to remove.

For problem areas.

1. Gently scrub the rattan with a soft brush and lukewarm soapy water as in step 1. Rinse with a garden hose.

2. To remove mildew stains, make a solution of vinegar and water in a 1:4 ratio. Wipe the furniture with this solution and rinse off the cleaning solution and dirt with a garden hose.

For heavily soiled furniture, you can also use a hand-held steam cleaner. To avoid warping the fabric of your rattan furniture, always dry it completely with a hairdryer afterward. It is best to do this when the sun or wind is strong, as the rattan will dry faster.

Step 3: Drying

Place the furniture in the sun and let it dry. You can use a hairdryer for faster results.

More care tips for all surfaces

To ensure a longer life for your garden furniture, please follow these tips

• Store your cushions indoors when you are not using them.
• Please do not wrap cushions in plastic as this can trap moisture and cause mold stains.
• Invest in a cover for your patio furniture to protect it from dust, UV rays, and moisture. This will make it easier to clean.
• To ensure the longevity of your furniture, clean it regularly, regardless of its surface.