Outdoor Furniture Care & Protection
Protect your outdoor furniture with these simple tips to extend its appearance, function and lifespan. Quality outdoor furniture is a substantial investment and regular care is critical to avoiding damage caused by harsh weather, salt spray, pollen and mildew.
Protecting Teak Wood Furniture
Teak furniture requires little maintenance. You can leave your furniture outdoors all year and teak will weather naturally over time into a beautiful silver-gray patina without concern. If you prefer a newer bronze appearance, apply a penetrating Teak Sealer once a year after cleaning.
​
Clean the frame twice a year with a dish soap water solution and rinse with a garden hose. If you live in a salt water environment, do this more often.
​
If your furniture is not protected by overhead shelter, use a quality cover that will not trap moisture when not in use.
Protecting Aluminum Patio Furniture
​
Aluminum is durable and has an excellent strength to weight ratio, making it the most popular material for outdoor furniture. Unlike iron-based metals, aluminum will not rust, rather it will “pit” without a protective coating. Therefore, caring for aluminum patio furniture is actually protecting the powder coat finish.
​
It's critical to touch-up scratches to prevent corrosion by using the manufacturer's matching touch-up paint.
Clean the frame twice a year with a dish soap water solution and rinse with a garden hose. If you live in a salt water environment, do this more often.
​
If your furniture is not protected by overhead shelter, use a quality cover that will not trap moisture when not in use.
Protecting Wicker & Woven Furniture
​
No matter the formulation – natural weaves like rattan, wicker and seagrass or synthetic wicker and rope, care is the same by keeping furniture clean and dry. This is mainly because organic debris collects in weave crevices overtime which can lead to mildew, potentially breaking down the fibrous materials (this isn’t as much of a problem with synthetic materials).
Periodically vacuum with a brush attachment to remove dirt and pollen, then gently clean with a dish soap warm water solution using a soft soft-bristle brush.
​
If your furniture is not protected by overhead shelter, use a quality cover that will not trap moisture when not in use.
Cushion Care and Cleaning
Patio furniture cushions are typically covered with a “performance fabric” from a textile company such as Sunbrella. These specialty fabrics are made to resist sun damage, stains, moisture and mildew. Before cleaning, determine which type of fabric you have. We don’t recommend deep cleaning non-performance fabrics.
Routine Cleaning: Periodically vacuum with a brush attachment to remove dirt and pollen.
Annual Deep Cleaning: Gently clean with a dish soap warm water solution. Use a soft-bristle brush, allowing the solution to soak into the fabric, then rinse with a garden hose to remove soap residue.
Some cushion covers can be removed; we only recommend this if the cushion is contained (not loose stuffing). Remove coverings and wash in a warm tub using a small amount of detergent. Soak and agitate by hand until visible soil is removed, then rinse with fresh water. Allow covers to air dry – Never use a machine washer or dryer!
Important:
​
Do not power-wash or apply the following to outdoor furniture: chlorine bleach, pine oil, abrasive cleansers or any harsh chemical. If frame or fabric becomes affected by a stubborn stain or mildew etc. spot test with a prescribed specialty cleaner in hidden area first. If you see an area of corrosion (typically due to a scratch) or you see other areas of concern, we recommend hiring a professional. If needing manufacturer recommendations, touch-up paint, teak sealer, protective covers or a replacement part, feel free to contact us.