Basic Information in Maintenance for Outdoor Furniture

Keeping outdoor furniture requires just a bit of maintenance to identify potential problems.

Changes in temperature such as rain, sun, snow, steam and other external events can cause our beautiful furniture to begin to lose color, shape, and even crack. That’s why we will show you a basic maintenance guide for outdoor furniture; so your patio, the garden, the balcony or the terrace look beautiful, cared for, and new!

Depending on the manufacturing material, the use and the location where our outdoor furniture is located, it’s necessary to offer specific care to put them in better condition and make them look attractive.

The most used materials regarding outdoor furniture are natural fibers, for example, we have the rattan as the most classic option or metal and plastic furniture. However, nowadays, there is a range of options, trends of materials, and forms of outdoor furniture.

In conclusion, this furniture spends much of their time outdoors, and this causes irreparable damage. Only if we act on time and maintain a constant routine of care and pampering, we will keep it in its best condition.

To begin with, you should consider having a basic kit at hand for care and maintenance of outdoor furniture which consist of brushes (with fibers adapted to the type of material of the furniture), a vacuum cleaner, and some products for polishing or cleaning the furniture. Always keep in mind the materials that make up our outdoor furniture.

Maintenance basics

Wood furniture: this furniture needs a constant revision and maintenance of its parts (except for furniture made with teak wood, which is much more resistant than the others). Humid climatic conditions can induce the material to lose consistency and cause irreparable damage. So to avoid this inconvenience, it’s necessary to clean the accumulated dust with damp cloths and neutral soaps. If possible, make applications of natural oils derived from the woods themselves to maintain the brightness and natural color of the wood.
Natural fibers furniture: in the case of rattan or wicker furniture, you can clean them with a brush with natural bristles and water with a little neutral soap. In many cases, dilute in the water with soap a little ammonia (three drops of this substance) for deeper cleaning.
Metal furniture: although its material is resistant, it will also need a revision at least every two years. In this case, start by removing the possible rust spots with a metallic brush, then apply an anti-rust product on the entire surface of the cabinet. But, if the iron furniture is very rusty, you must resort to clean the areas attacked with oil or a deoxidizing liquid and only after this step you must apply a transformer product of oxide.
Plastic furniture: this furniture withstand outdoor climates very well, but over time, like most objects left in open spaces, this furniture begin to lose their bright appearance and become whitish. In this case, some products remove its surface. The best thing for this case is to keep them in areas where the sun doesn’t reach directly to the plastic furniture.
Resin and aluminum furniture: definitely, the most comfortable for their maintenance. It’s only necessary to clean them with soap and water before storing them under the covers.
Upholstered outdoor furniture: in this case, this furniture outdoors will depend on the type of material and fabric used for its manufacture. If it’s the case of natural fibers, you can remove the covers from the cushions and wash them in the washing machine (note: always check the tags to know if this type of material is suitable for the washing cycle). Now, for synthetic fibers or waterproof, you only need to clean them with a wet bath to remove accumulated dust or dirt. After that, use a solution of liquid soap and water to clean further the damage that the material presents.

Occasionally, this material is more susceptible to occur with rains and humidity mold areas, but don’t worry, you just have to remove with a dry brush the mold areas after passing the dry cloth to take dust and the remaining mold away. Then you can clean and wash according to the specifications of the type of material.

In any of the cases, there are different ways of caring for and preserving it. But we also advise you to use furniture covers, especially if in the area where you live the winter climates are extreme. This is the best way to take care of your furniture during the cold months.

Follow these simple tips and necessary information, and we assure you that your outdoor furniture will remain full of color and light over the time. If you have doubts about the care, the cleaning products to use or the type of outdoor furniture for your home, don’t hesitate to contact our experts.