Top Tips For Looking After Your Garden Furniture
You have found your ideal garden furniture set, and now you want to make sure that it is kept in great condition so it will last for many years. The type of garden furniture you have, whether it be weave, aluminium or wooden will determine how you care for it.
Wooden Garden Furniture
Wood by its nature will produce natural oils but still requires some attention. We suggest warm water with soap, if the wood has gathered dirt or moss, you may want to clean it with a brush or even lightly sand it. Another option is to use a pressure washer, but just make sure the pressure is not too high or it could lift the grain off the wood or any protective varnish you may have previously applied to the surface.
Once you have finished cleaning your wooden garden furniture, you can let it age naturally and provide a hardwood oil which will preserve the wood, be sure to apply two coats! The second option is to have a complete makeover, there is a wide range of wood paints available, not only will your wooden garden furniture look like new, the paint will also provide protection.
The final option is to simply apply stained oil, this will preserve its original look and keep it looking like new! Before treating any wood, firstly remove any debris or dirt and then check the weather forecast to ensure there is no rain on the way to wash away your hard work! Then apply coat one, let it dry and apply the second coat. From there, all you need to do is invite some friends around and create happy memories!
Aluminium/Metal Garden Furniture
First off, metal or aluminium garden furniture is very robust and doesn't need much care at all, so good news if you chose metal garden furniture! Again, hot soapy water is your friend here and a non-abrasive brush. A pressure washer can also be used, but again be careful that the pressure is not too high. If your furniture is made of steel, there is the chance some rust may appear, this can be removed using some steel wool followed by metal paint to cover up the affected area.
Whilst aluminium garden furniture won't rust, what is known as aluminium oxidation can set in, which in plain terms means that the colour of your garden furniture may change over time. This won't affect the strength of your furniture. For aluminium garden furniture, it's quite simple. Make sure you clean it regularly, store it away if you can during the winter or keep it fully protected with one of our garden furniture covers.
Weave/Rattan Garden Furniture
Rattan or weave garden furniture comes in two forms, synthetic or natural. Synthetic rattan furniture is extremely low maintenance because it is specially made to face the outdoor elements. Furniture of this kind won’t need much looking after – simply wash it with soapy water whenever you need to. Do keep a close eye on the frame, it will be most likely metal or aluminium. If so, refer to the advice relating to metal or aluminium in this article. During the colder, winter months, it is normal for synthetic rattan furniture to stiffen. This is nothing to worry about as it will become soft again once the weather begins to warm.
Natural rattan furniture is a popular choice for indoor and outdoor settings due to how appealing it looks. Keep in mind that natural rattan garden furniture is not weather-proof and sun and moisture exposure can cause damage. In wintery months, be sure to store natural rattan furniture away in a try environment to prevent water and even mould damage.
Useful Garden Furniture Products
Having the right tools and equipment is essential, you don't need to break the bank, but below are some of the basic products that we recommend here at Johnstown Garden Centre, depending on the type of furniture you have will determine which of these products you need;
- Paint brush
- Sandpaper
- Steel wool
- Wood preserver
- Sponge
- Bucket
- Pressure washer
- Garden furniture covers
- Metal paint
- Rags
- Anti-rust treatment
Summary
Hopefully, you will have picked up a few useful tips from our garden furniture experts. If you follow these basic tips, it will ensure that you get the most out of your purchase. Got a question for the team at Johnstown Garden Centre? Talk to our garden furniture experts by clicking here or click on the useful links below if you would like to shop our range of garden furniture online.