How To Take Care Of Outdoor Furniture

Maintaining your outdoor furniture is important to prolong its life and preserving its quality. Outdoor furniture is available in a variety of material, say leather, wicker, wood, metal, resin and fabric. Each of these is to be cared for in a different way. In other words, the maintenance of your furniture greatly depends on the kind of material used to make it. However, monthly cleaning is always important to take good care of your furniture that kept in the outdoors, as it is more exposed to dust, dirt and changing weather conditions. Explore the article to know some very useful tips on how to take care of your outdoor furniture, depending upon the material used to make the same.

Wicker furniture should be cleaned with the help of a hose or pressure washer. Do make sure to remove the cushions before beginning to clean and spray off the dirt and spills. You can also use a sponge, a mild soap and cold water to wash your wicker furniture, if it has gone too dirty. Once you have washed it, allow the furniture to dry completely. Thereafter, apply paste wax on your wicker furniture, to keep it shiny and water-resistant. Keep the frames covered in the off-season. There are some types of wicker which are weather-resistant as well and thus, they are easier to care for.

 

Wooden furniture that has been kept in the outdoors can be cleaned using soapy water, if it has been coated with an exterior grade varnish. Ensure that you rinse the furniture completely with clean water, after applying the soapy one. Touching up the paint of wooden furniture is also required to maintain it. For the purpose, apply a clear water repellant preservative, which contains a mildewcide. Barring teak and cedar, wooden furniture should be stored indoors in the winter season.

 

If your outdoor furniture has been made or covered with fabric, such as hammocks and cloth chairs, make sure to wash it (or the cover) in the machine, that too on a gentle cycle. Add a few drops of bleach to the water, for cleaning white items. Thereafter, hang them outside, to dry. Stretch the fabric back over the frame, before it is completely dry, to avoid shrinkage. Frames are to be cared for depending on the material. Fabric furniture has to be stored indoors in the winter season.

 

Metal furniture, when keep outside, requires regular deep cleansing. Wash your metal furniture with a gentle soap cleanser. Fine grit sandpaper should also be rubbed lightly on it, to remove any rust and rust or mold. Touch up paint may also be applied, depending on the requirement. After cleansing, apply an auto paste wax on the furniture, using a lint-free cloth, if required. Use silicon spray to lubricate moving parts.

 

When it comes to outdoor furniture, the least amount of care is required by resin furniture. You just have to spray some clean water on the furniture and allow it to dry in the outside air. Use a gentle abrasive to remove any scruff marks on the furniture. If you have to remove mildew, use a mixture of one cup bleach, two cups of detergent, and one gallon water.