How to Maintain Outdoor Furniture Properly

A patio is probably the biggest asset of a modern house. This open area provides you with an abundance of options – from preparing a barbeque to providing your children a safe playing area. However, patios need regular updating and you have to invest a lot of time, money and energy into them. This is especially true for your patio furniture. Since it’s in the open all day long, it’s more prone to damage and you must maintain it properly. Here’s how to do it in just a few minutes.

General Tips

Outdoor furniture consist of many individual pieces – they have to be combined in a proper way, so pay close attention to that when choosing your furniture – and each one of them needs special attention. Nonetheless, you can’t clean them all in the same way and should know how to approach and treat different materials adequately. But, before you do that, prepare your patio for the cleaning process.

First of all, make sure everything is clean. Use a broom and a soft-bristle brush, and top it all off with a bucket of warm water and some soap. Only after you’ve scrubbed the whole patio can you proceed with other maintaining activities. At the end, if you make a lot of mess, repeat this step once everything else is done.

Metal/Iron/Aluminum

The biggest problem with all metal furniture are oxidation and corrosion. These processes can’t be stopped or prevented, but can be controlled and their damage can be limited. Therefore, before even beginning cleaning, you must remove the signs of oxidation using a metal polishing paste, a commercial cleaner or a DIY vinegar-and-water solution.

After that, proceed onto the scruff marks on your metal furniture. These are easily made and you may not even notice them until it’s too late. The most effective way to treat them is with a nonabrasive product applied with a soft cloth. Another thing you have to take into consideration is the rust – the best way to deal with this serious matter is by sanding it off, but, unfortunately, you’ll have to sand off some of the damaged parts of the furniture as well. After that, apply new primer and paint, but try to find a more rust-resistant option.

 Wood/Wicker/Teak

Most of your patio furniture is wood-based and easily damaged, so this is something you have to know if you want it to last. Since wood is likely to get attacked by mold, small insects and pests, it needs more care than metal or plastic, claim pest inspection Sydney based experts. Due to that, you’ll need to clean it more often and with more care.

The basics are simple – a mild soap, preferably an oil-based one, and some warm water will do the trick. If you feel extra inspired, you could prepare a home-made solution consisting of ammonia and vinegar mixed with water. This is definitely a better option and prove to be gentler towards both your hands and the furniture. Finally, don’t forget to clean your wooden chairs and tables with water at least once a week – dirt has a nasty tendency to build up in furniture’s many crevices, so this is the only way to go.

 Plastic/Glass

Lastly, plastic and glass patio furniture is the easier to clean – all you need are good products, warm water and lots of patience. Plastic chairs and glass tables don’t look like a lot of work, but, if left unattended for a long time, they’ll give you hell. When taking care of the glass furniture, remember to remove debris first, and try not to scratch the glass while cleaning.That’s why paper towels are the safest solution, together with some microfiber cloths.

The same goes for plastic furniture, but here you can use several unusual cleaning products for better results – from washing soda to WD-40 and dishwasher detergent, and from bleach to vinegar and water solution. See what works the best for your furniture and what makes it sparkle the most.

Enjoying the Outdoors

Once your patio is clean and your furniture shiny, you can enjoy your outdoor area even more. Keep in mind that a well-decorated and equipped patio will bring you closer to nature and serve as your own personal sanctuary.

Author’s Bio: Lana Hawkins is a student of architecture and a blogger from Sydney. She enjoys writing about inspiring interiors and landscaping. Lana is especially interested in green architecture and sustainability, where she gets the most of her inspiration from.