Treat your garden furniture

To keep your garden furniture looking great, feeling great and lasting longer, you need to treat your furniture with some love and attention once in a while.

We’re not suggesting your take your furniture on holiday or out to dinner. But there are some simple ways to care for your garden furniture, to ensure it becomes a good lasting friend rather than an brief acquaintance.

Cover up

A simple way to protect your furniture is to keep it covered. If the weather is forecast to turn nasty or if you won’t be using your furniture for a while, cover your furniture. Good garden furniture covers are waterproof, strong and washable, so they will keep everything beneath dry and clean.

It’s important to get covers that fit well. Otherwise they will blow off in high winds or leave areas of furniture exposed. Fortunately covers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes to protect everything from parasols to picnic tables. Several brands make covers specifically designed to fit their furniture ranges, but you can also buy universal covers.

Covers are an especially good option for large pieces of garden furniture, that are either too heavy to move or too big to store indoors.

Oils and treatments

With wooden furniture there are several furniture treatments and oils available for different types of wood. So make sure you get the right one for the type of wood used to make your furniture. Some woods such as Teak may require special finishes or re-oiling to help them cope with the elements and prevent them from drying out.

Whatever wood you may have, it is best to store it indoors during the winter months. If this is not possible try and cover it from the elements.

During the summer, keep an eye on how it weathers the sun’s rays, as natural light can affect its colour. By simply turning your furniture on a regular basis you can avoid this discolouration and keep it looking great.

Paint and polish

Metal garden furniture has a reputation of being hard-wearing and long-lasting. It’s true that metal requires less maintenance than wood, but you should still clean and protect it to avoid corrosion.

In order to keep it shining; simply clean it with soap, water and a soft cloth. Avoid using any chemicals and detergents as these may damage the metal.

If your metal furniture is painted it may experience flaking or chipping over time. Prepare the area you want to repaint by rubbing it with wire wool or a stiff brush before painting.

Other furniture materials

Contemporary garden furniture incorporates lots of different materials such as textilene, rattan, glass and granite. All materials need some form of protection, whether it’s a waterproof cover, sanding, oiling or re-painting. So it’s well worth investing a little time and money to get the best from your garden furniture.

For specific advise on how best to maintain your furniture, refer to the manufacturers instructions.

By looking after your garden furniture, you will ensure it lasts longer, shines brighter and becomes an excellent investment for your home.