How To Care For And Prolong the Life of Your Patio Furniture

Jun 15th 2020

The sun is out and you can finally sit on your patio enjoying the nice summer weather. Like many people, you bring out that same furniture year after year. Sometimes we invest a lot of money into favorite pieces. It’s easy and convenient, but we often forget one important thing, caring for our patio furniture. Here are a few tips to help you make your investment furniture pieces last!

How to Care for Popular Types Of Furniture Finishes

Patio furniture comes in a variety of finishes. The majority of patio furniture now is made with aluminum, wood, or wicker.

Aluminum

We all know that aluminum rusts over time. However, there are a few things that you can do to keep your furniture looking good. First, make sure you clean it thoroughly several times over the summer. Strive to wipe it down once a week. Second, automobile wax helps prevent unsightly rust, so adding that to your furniture will keep it in good condition.

Wood

If you’re thinking that your wood furniture is too old to save, you may be surprised. Yes, wood furniture can always benefit from a good scrubbing throughout the summer. However, you can also consider sanding your furniture and adding a nice coat of patio furniture protectant. This will make it look brand new and protect it from the elements. Another idea is adding a colorful coat of paint. That will change the look entirely and save you money.

Wicker

Wicker is an extremely popular choice for outdoor patio furniture. These beautiful and stylish patio furniture pieces come in both natural and synthetic wicker finishes. You may need to protect the beautiful look of the natural tone wicker furniture from bad weather by bringing it indoors. If you have the synthetic finished furniture you can use water and soap to clean those dirty spots no one wants to see. We recommend you clean wicker furniture once a week for the best results.

Treating Your Patio Furniture Fabric Care

Now that you have your furniture looking good, it’s time to clean the cushions and pillows. The last thing you want to do is spend a summer night relaxing on moldy, dirty furniture cushions. Spend a few minutes doing a light clean or more in-depth clean and see how much of a difference it makes.

Light Cleaning

A quick light and spot clean can really help the look of your cushions and pillows enhancing the overall look of your patio. To do this, simply follow the steps below and see your patio furniture fabric transform.

Remove the cushions and brush off any loose dirt.
Lightly rinse them with water removing any dirt and debris that didn’t come off.
Let them air dry outside.

Removing Mold and Spot Cleaning

As much as we don’t like hearing the word mold, we can’t avoid it when it comes to our outdoor patio furniture cushions. Luckily, there are a few ways to touch up your fabric if you need to tackle some mold. You can always pay someone to tackle this large product and get great results. Or you can try it yourself at home.

For spot cleaning to remove mold, prepare a mixed solution of 1 cup of bleach with ¼ cup of water.
If possible, use a spray bottle to target spots on the cushions.
After letting the solution sink in for about 20 minutes, use a soft sponge and water to work in the solution. We recommend rinsing off your sponge numerous times throughout the process.
When done, rinse the cushions thoroughly and let air dry.

There you have it! Your patio furniture is now in great condition and will last a few more summers if you continue to use these tips.

And, since windy days can wreak havoc on our outdoor living spaces, here are some ideas on how to keep your patio furniture from blowing away.

Visit the blog on our sister site, Pool Central, for more information on pool maintenance, pool safety, pool toys, backyard recreation and patio and garden decor.