How to care for your garden furniture

Exactly how you care for your outdoor furniture depends on what material it's made of. However, some general advice applies to most types of outdoor furniture.

• Wash your garden furniture every spring, when you bring it out for the season. Follow the advice that applies to your type of garden furniture.
• At the same time, check if the screws are tight and tighten them if necessary; it sometimes happens that something loosens a little during the winter.

• Give the furniture a wash now and then, to keep it clean and looking good throughout the season.
• If you want to maximize the lifespan of your furniture, you can cover it with a cover when it's not in use. If the furniture is under a tree or near the sea, it gets dirty faster – a cover can also save you a lot of washing.
• A good cushion box is worth its weight in gold for protecting loose cushions from both rain and sun fading.

• Wash down the garden furniture and let it dry thoroughly before you put it away for the season.
• Store garden furniture under cover in winter, for example in a shed, garage, carport or greenhouse. It is also possible to winterize under a furniture cover. In that case, make sure the cover is clean and dry, and that you do not tighten so much that the furniture does not get air. If it gets too tight, mold can form.

How much or how little maintenance is required depends on the materials the garden furniture is made of. Furniture in artificial rattan, non-wood, glass, and metal needs minimal care, while furniture in wood needs a little more care to stay looking good over time.

Artificial rattan, also known as poly rattan, synthetic weave, and poly weave, consists of synthetic fibers woven together in various patterns. Furniture made of poly rattan withstands both heavy rain and strong sun, maintains its shape and color well, and requires very little maintenance. Perfect for outdoor use!  

• Wash the furniture with a soft brush and mild soap, every spring and fall. Remember to rinse thoroughly before letting the furniture dry, and avoid high water pressure – use the garden hose, not the pressure washer.  
• Artificial rattan can melt if you place very hot items directly on the material, so use pot holders and keep the furniture away from the grill.

Natural rattan is made from palm trees. Furniture made from this material is not as strong as furniture made from artificial rattan. Natural rattan furniture is therefore best suited for covered patios.

• Clean the furniture with a damp cloth every spring and fall.
• Store the furniture in a dry place in winter, as high humidity over time increases the risk of mold growth. If you store the furniture under a tarpaulin or furniture cover, make sure there is air circulation around the furniture.

Many furniture pieces are made of aluminum and steel, with surface treatments that make the furniture as resistant as possible to weather and wind, while also keeping them looking good year after year.

• Wash the furniture with water and mild soap every spring and fall. Be sure to rinse away all the soap before letting the furniture dry, and use the garden hose – the pressure washer can do more harm than good to the furniture.
• If you see cracks in the material, you should repair them as soon as possible. Feel free to consult with a local paint store for advice on how to fix the furniture in the best possible way.

Glass tabletops need to be washed often to keep them looking good, but apart from this, no maintenance is necessary.

• Wash the tabletop as you wash the window, with water and mild soap. Feel free to use a squeegee to remove the water.

It looks like wood but is actually plastic. Non-wood requires very little maintenance and is just as perfect for outdoor use as artificial rattan.

• Wash the furniture with a soft brush and mild soap every spring and fall. Remember to rinse well before letting the furniture dry.
• Non-wood can melt, so use pot holders if you are going to put something hot on the table.
• Do not place glass directly on non-wood furniture in direct sunlight. The heat that occurs when the sun hits the glass can cause melting damage. To avoid this, you can use a placemat or similar.

The textilene are one of the strongest materials for outdoor chairs and sun loungers. The material is made of synthetic fibers that are woven together, and it gets a special surface treatment that makes it flexible and comfortable to sit on.

• Use a soft brush to clean the furniture every spring and fall. Feel free to skip the water; it is usually easier to remove stains from this material when it is dry. If there are stains left after brushing, you can use a little mild soapy water, just make sure to rinse off all the soap at the end – soap residue on the fabric can appear as white spots.
• Clean the furniture regularly throughout the summer with a wet cloth to avoid stains and the material drying out and cracking in the sun. You can also use a furniture cover when the furniture is not in use.

Polyester is the most common material for outdoor cushions on sun loungers, lounge sofas, and hanging chairs. It doesn't absorb water and dries quickly when the sun returns.

• Wipe down the surface of the cushions with a wet cloth and mild soap, every spring and fall and otherwise as needed.
• Some cushions have removable covers, which can be machine washed. Remember to follow the instructions on your cushions!
• Even though polyester doesn't absorb much water, it's not a waterproof material. Storing the cushions in a good cushion box, or indoors, is therefore best. But if the cushions have gotten wet, you must let them dry before putting them in a tightly sealed box – otherwise mold will easily form.

Teak furniture is wonderfully beautiful in the garden, and with proper care, you can enjoy it for many years. However, wooden garden furniture is a natural product that lives and changes with the weather. Small cracks and movements in the wood are normal, even if you treat the surface according to the instructions. Teak is among the woods that are best suited for garden use, due to its natural oil content.

• Tighten screws every season so that the furniture stays nicely together.
• Oil the furniture regularly to refresh the oil content in the wood. The surface will then become shiny honey-brown again. If you do not use oil, the wood will eventually become silver-gray and continue to darken as time passes.
• Before oiling, the furniture must be washed and dried thoroughly. It is also recommended to wash the furniture with wood cleaner at regular intervals to prevent discoloration of the surface.
• Teak garden furniture should be stored dry and frost-free when not in use, preferably indoors.

Acacia wood is a popular type of wood for garden furniture, and often a little cheaper than other wooden furniture. The wood has a naturally low oil content and must be treated annually to maintain its brown color.

• Wash the furniture with warm water and soap every spring. Rinse well and let it dry completely. If the surfaces are not completely smooth, you can sand lightly with fine-grained sandpaper before treating the furniture with oil. Start by giving the entire piece of furniture a good coat of oil, and let the wood absorb it. Apply another coat, and continue in the same way until the wood no longer absorbs the oil. Finish by removing excess oil with a dry cloth.
• Acacia wood garden furniture should be stored dry and frost-free when not in use, preferably indoors.

With their tropical vibes, bamboo furniture has become more and more popular in recent years. Bamboo is also one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, a big plus when considering the environment and sustainability. Bamboo furniture is best suited for a winter garden, a greenhouse, or a covered patio, as the material cannot withstand heavy rain and direct sunlight over time.

• Clean the furniture with a damp cloth every spring and fall.
• Bamboo furniture should be stored in a dry and not too cold place in winter.

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