There’s nothing quite like spending time outdoors with friends and family, and if you’re fortunate enough to have a garden or outdoor space on your property, then you’ll undoubtedly want to make the most of it.
Outdoor furniture is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, and here at LifestyleGarden®, we provide customers around the world with leading outdoor furniture products that are durable and made to last.
However, sometimes outdoor furniture can suffer from wear and tear or become stained or damaged. This is particularly the case if you’re using it for outdoor dining, where dropped food and spilt drinks are common accidents.
In these instances, it’s important to know how to correctly clean the furniture to avoid any lasting damage.
In this article, the team here at LifestyleGarden® will take a closer look at some outdoor furniture cleaning tips, helping you to keep yours in the best condition at all times.
Outdoor furniture cleaning
The best method for cleaning your outdoor furniture will depend on the type of material it’s made from. To prevent damage always check with the manufacturer if you’re unsure which methods or products are best for your furniture.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common types that you’re likely to have in your garden.
1. Metal furniture
Many outdoor furniture products are made from the likes of stainless steel, aluminium and other types of metal. In fact, many of the products we stock here at LifestyleGarden® are constructed from quality aluminium that is typically used for boat building and water-sensitive applications.
This means they’re an excellent outdoor furniture option as they’re lightweight, robust and extremely durable.
Despite these benefits, it may sometimes be necessary to give your metal furniture a bit of a clean.
It’s fairly straightforward to do this, and you simply need to go over the metal elements with soap and water.
2. Plastic furniture
Here at LifestyleGarden®, we stock a whole host of responsibly sourced plastic outdoor furniture products. This includes ranges like Nassau which is made from recycled plastic.
To clean outdoor plastic furniture, again soapy water and a cloth is usually sufficient. You can also hose it down with a hosepipe or jet wash (on a low setting) before wiping it down using soap, water and all-purpose cleaners, however be careful for products that have wooden legs.
3. Wooden furniture
Wooden or teak furniture is one of the most popular outdoor furniture options due to the stylish aesthetics it can bring.
Use a brush to sweep away any dirt from the furniture, before cleaning it with water, soap and our wood products such as our Amazonia Teak Maintenance Kit .Wood should first be wiped with a damp cloth and sponge and lightly sanded before being treated with one of the above products depending on the desired result you’re looking for.
Furniture maintenance techniques
Outdoor furniture maintenance is the best way to keep your outdoor furniture safe and clean.
Many people use their outdoor furniture outside all year round, and while this is typically fine to do during the summer, when the colder and wetter months are upon us they are more likely to become damaged if not maintained. Please note, that cushions should always be removed or covered during periods of rain, no matter what the season, to avoid them getting wet.
We’d recommend that the outdoor furniture is brought indoors during these times or, at the very least, protect them with furniture covers.
Furniture cleaning products
If your furniture has suffered from damage or stains, then you may need to use products that offer slightly more than just the soap and water mentioned above. This is especially true if you haven’t covered your furniture during the winter and dark spots or mildew have begun to form.
For more advice on how to clean and maintain your outdoor furniture, or to find out more about our leading collections that are all responsibly sourced, get in touch with the LifestyleGarden® team today.
