Nothing is more annoying than finding out that your garden set is dirty when you actually want to use it to sit in the garden. Fortunately, depending on the material of the furniture, there are plenty of options for refurbishing the furniture as can be read below.
After a long winter, nothing is better than being able to sit in the garden again and enjoy the spring sun. One of the chores that this involves is putting the garden furniture in order. Certainly when the garden furniture has been outside, there is sometimes a lot of work to be done before the garden set can be used. In this article, a number of tips and cleaning methods are mentioned per type of garden furniture material that can be used when cleaning the furniture.
Plastic garden furniture
Although plastic garden furniture is sold less and less, it is still in the garden or on the balcony with many people. Maintenance and cleaning of the furniture keeps the furniture beautiful and prevents you from having to buy new furniture regularly.
- Do not use abrasives such as scouring sponges or sandpaper on the plastic furniture, you will make small scratches in the surface in which dirt can easily accumulate.
- The use of a high-pressure sprayer is also not recommended because the hard jets in combination with dirt have the same effect as abrasives.
- Wash the garden set with soapy water based on warm water and soda or with green soap, then rinse the set well with water.
- As a last resort, you can use special plastic cleaners, but the disadvantage is that this is quite pricey and labor-intensive work, so you may be better off purchasing new furniture.
Wooden garden furniture
Wooden furniture is naturally sensitive to weather influences, which is why it is important that it is well treated and maintained in order to continue to enjoy a beautiful garden set.
- Brush lightly soiled furniture with a soft brush, if necessary this can be done with soapy water based on water and liquid soap. Then let the furniture dry thoroughly (preferably 24 hours). Then grease the furniture well with garden furniture oil (follow instructions on the packaging).
- For weathered furniture it is necessary to brush it well first with a hard brush to get the real wood color back. Sandpaper or a sanding brush can be used if necessary. Then grease the furniture well with garden furniture oil (follow the directions on the packaging).
- Check any hinges or screw connections for rust spots, grease them well for protection and better functioning.
Metal garden furniture
Metal garden furniture requires little maintenance, it is important that it is regularly checked for dirt and rust.
- Remove dirt with lukewarm water and a soft brush, do not use abrasive products as this will damage the surface and increase the risk of rust.
- Minor damage can be touched up with touch-up pens normally used on cars. As with cars, it is also advisable to provide the furniture with a wax layer once in a while.
Wicker garden furniture
The wicker furniture that has become popular in the last few years is relatively easy to maintain, provided a few basic rules are followed.
- All that needs to be done is to wipe the furniture with a cloth or soft brush in combination with a soft soap solution (absolutely do not use chlorine or all-purpose cleaner, this will affect the material). Rinse the furniture well with water.
- Note that the material is more tense in cold than in heat, so that damage can occur more quickly.
- In autumn it is important that leaves are removed quickly to prevent mold.
- If there is little storage space, at least try to store the cushions safely, they are not resistant to weather influences.
General Tips:
- If you don’t have a place to store your outdoor furniture, check out the larger hardware store for a cover or tarpaulin. In this way you can still protect your garden furniture against the elements relatively cheaply and enjoy it longer.
- New garden furniture can be quite pricey, so check second-hand sales websites or visit a thrift store. If you search carefully, you will certainly be able to find a beautiful garden set that meets your expectations.
- Fold the garden chairs and place them at an angle under the garden table so that rainwater can easily drain away and not remain on the chairs.