Tips for maintaining garden furniture

If you maintain your garden furniture regularly and give it the care it needs, you extend its lifespan. That’s not only more sustainable, it also saves you money because your furniture lasts longer and you can postpone a new purchase.
It’s fairly quick and easy to do, but you do need to be willing to stick with it and consistently give your garden furniture the right kind of care.
So how do you maintain your garden furniture properly, how do you make it last longer, and how often should you do maintenance? That depends on the material your furniture is made of. 
These days there are many different materials, with wood still being very popular thanks to its beautiful, natural look. There are also various types of wood, each of which needs a different treatment. Wood can last longer than you might think, but only if it’s well maintained.
Below you’ll find a description and advice for each material on how to look after it properly.

Wooden furniture: teak, hardwood and softwood

Teak and other hardwoods are popular choices for garden furniture. This is partly due to the knots and little cracks you see in the wood. Hardwood naturally contains more oil and therefore doesn’t have to be treated. If you leave this type of wood untreated, its colour will slowly change into an attractive silvery grey. You can prevent this discolouration by treating the wood twice a year with a special teak sealer. Clean it with water, soft soap or a dedicated garden furniture cleaner and a soft brush. Don’t use a pressure washer, as it will damage the wood’s natural wax layer.
Softer woods, such as spruce and pine, are less durable than teak. To prevent drying out and mould, it’s important to treat these types of wood with a special varnish. And after summer, store this wooden garden furniture in a dry place.

Rattan & bamboo garden furniture

Rattan or bamboo is perfect if you want to give your garden a natural look. These materials are not only popular but also very durable. They create an exotic, tranquil vibe, turning your garden into a place where you can really relax. 
The difference between rattan and bamboo is that rattan comes from the rattan palm and is essentially a type of long liana. The stems have a diameter of 5 to 7 cm, which makes them very suitable for garden furniture. For example, they’re woven together to create an attractive pattern. In appearance, rattan and bamboo look very similar. However, bamboo is hollow, while rattan is solid.
The advantages are the low weight, the natural material, minimal maintenance and durability. The only downside is that the furniture will grey over time. This happens because they are natural materials; you can prevent it to some extent by varnishing the furniture. 
You can easily clean rattan and bamboo furniture with soapy water and a brush or soft cloth.  You’ll also benefit greatly from bringing garden furniture made from these materials indoors during the winter months. 

Plastic garden furniture

Plastic is not only very light in weight, it’s also low-maintenance and durable. On top of that, plastic garden furniture is relatively inexpensive to buy. 
You hardly have to worry about it, because plastic needs very little care. An occasional clean with water, soap and a dry cloth or brush is enough. Plastic is resistant to many weather conditions. To prevent weathering, it’s advisable to bring the furniture indoors during winter.
One of the most popular types of plastic for garden furniture is wicker, i.e. furniture made from synthetic rattan. Wicker also requires little maintenance and is easy to clean with water. 

Aluminium furniture

You can leave aluminium garden furniture outside all year round, saving you heavy lifting and storage space. Besides the modern, sleek look of aluminium furniture, this material has even more advantages. It doesn’t rust, is extremely strong and, thanks to its low weight, is easy to move. Just be careful in full sun; the material can get hot. Otherwise, it’s very low-maintenance. You only need to clean it occasionally with water, soft soap and a soft cloth so that dirt doesn’t stick to the surface. Many aluminium pieces also have a powder coating for extra protection. So don’t use aggressive cleaning agents and/or a pressure washer, as these can damage the material.

Getting your garden furniture ready for winter

In addition to proper, regular maintenance, it’s important to protect your garden furniture well against rain and frost during the winter months, so you can enjoy it again in spring. If you can’t, don’t want to or don’t need to move and store the furniture, the best thing you can do is cover it with a cover specially made for your garden chair, table or lounge set. These offer perfect protection, so you can enjoy your garden furniture year after year.

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