Garden furniture gets a lot of work throughout the year. It has to cope with rain, snow and sunlight, among other things. This can take its toll on its condition and appearance. Read on to find out how to care for your furniture so that it lasts for years and looks as good as new.
Don’t forget to remove dirt thoroughly
Whether your garden furniture is made of wood, plastic or metal, the first step in maintenance is to remove dirt. Throughout the year, pollen and dust settles on the furniture, and from time to time something spills on it. It all simply has to go. The best choice in this case is a high-pressure cleaner, which removes the dirt really thoroughly. If you don’t have a cleaner available, you can use a damp cloth, then add a cleaner designed for the material to the water.
Proper care depends on the material used
Apart from basic dirt removal, each type of furniture requires slightly different care. Here are the most used materials and their properties.
- Wooden furniture
- – it is more prone to damage, it does not do well with moisture or sunlight. So try to protect it as much as possible. Moisture can also come from the ground, so it is not advisable to have wooden furniture placed directly on the grass. The wood then needs to be impregnated regularly. Be sure to sand off any imperfections first, then reach for a special varnish or oil.
- Plastic furniture
- – is almost maintenance-free, regular dirt removal is sufficient and no further care is needed. However, it should be taken into account that plastic also degrades over time due to sunlight and can change colour.
- Artificial rattan furniture
- – it is popular for its easy maintenance as it requires no further care apart from regular cleaning. In addition, it is equipped with UV protection, so the sun’s rays will not cause the material to change colour or quality.
- Metal and aluminium furniture
- – you don’t have to worry about demanding care here either, metal and aluminium furniture is similar to plastic furniture in this respect. Again, regular dirt removal is sufficient, for which you can use a wire brush. For metal tables and chairs, just beware of any corrosion, which needs to be sanded down and treated with a special paint.
Beware of frost
It’s not just in summer that garden furniture gets a hard time. Winter frosts can be a real pain, so make sure you protect your furniture from them. After the season is over, you should always carry out final maintenance and winterise your furniture. Not all types of furniture need this, of course, so always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Sometimes it is necessary to place furniture undercover or inside, other times just basic protection from the cold is sufficient.
