Keeping your garden furniture in tip-top condition throughout the Spring and Summer can be a real challenge. If you want to get your garden ready for those balmy evenings and fantastic barbecues, a lot will depend on the type of furnishings you have.
Regular cleaning is a good way to increase the longevity of your garden furniture as well as keeping problems such as mould and mildew at bay.
Here we look at cleaning tips for different types of garden furniture. Our first bit of advice is to do this when we have good weather. It’s important to pick a nice sunny day so that your furniture has time to dry out properly, especially when it comes to wood and rattan furniture varieties.
Wooden Furniture
Wooden chairs and tables in your garden can look very attractive but they do need regular maintenance, particularly if we have a damp summer.
Get a bucket of water and put in a small amount of washing up liquid. You will want this to be a fairly weak solution so don’t overdo the detergent quantity. The other thing you need is a soft bristle brush. Dip this in the water and give your wood furniture a gentle scrub and then rinse over with the hose or a bucket of clean water.
If you have wooden furniture that is looking a little worn, you can use a sealer to protect it over the summer. If the bare wood is starting to come through, it’s important to repaint or re-varnish as quickly as possible to avoid rot from setting in.
Plastic Chairs and Tables
The easiest items to clean in your garden are the plastic bits of furniture which is why many people opt for them. To clean these properly you should use a very weak bleach solution. This is because plastic can be porous which means simple detergent may not do the job properly. If mildew or mould has collected over the winter, you might need to give it a harder scrub to get rid of it all.
For little nooks and crannies that you find difficult, use an old toothbrush to reach these. Again, a good rinse over once you have finished cleaning should leave your furniture looking good as new.
Metal Garden Furniture
When it comes to metal furniture, whether it’s cast iron or aluminium, you should always put it away for the winter. Remove any accumulated dirt with a relatively soft brush and some warm water with detergent in it. Rinse it off with the hose and let it dry in the sun. The next step is to quickly check for any areas of rust or where the paintwork is coming off.
You need to stop rust in its tracks, if you find areas where the paint has flecked away deal with it sooner rather than later. Sand these damaged parts and then use a suitable paint, either with a brush or spray, to repair the rust spot.
Rattan Furnishings
Rattan chairs and tables are very popular and can look absolutely fantastic in the garden but cleaning them can seem like a complete nightmare. The trick here is to be gentle and take your time. First take a soft bristle brush, the one from your dustpan and brush set is ideal. Sweep away cobwebs and debris, now you’re ready to clean. You need a very small amount of detergent in your water and a soft cloth. You can also use a soft, natural bristle brush but avoid anything that seems abrasive as it can damage the surface.
Work with the cloth and the brush to get any dirt out of the rattan weave. Once dry, go over again with a cloth that has been sprayed with ordinary furniture polish. This should bring your rattan or wicker chairs and tables back to reasonably pristine condition.
And Finally…
Now you have pristine garden furniture, it seems only right you should test it out. Pour yourself a glass of your favourite beverage, put your feet up and enjoy your handiwork!
