With summer and outdoor gatherings in full swing, outdoor furniture care is important to keep them functional and beautiful this summer. While some outdoor furniture requires little upkeep, some require yearly cleaning and treatment. While there are many types of outdoor furniture, we have a few care tips for a few of the most popular types.
Basic Care & Cleaning
Regardless of the type of wood or surface of your patio furniture, always start with a light sweeping with a soft brush or cloth to remove light loose debris. Bird droppings, sap, or other contaminants should always be brushed or removed right away to make sure they don’t stain. Before doing a deep clean, make sure you know the type of wood or surface you are working with – knowing this will ensure you use the proper cleaning and sealing products to use.
Normal sun exposure and inclement weather will cause some deterioration of your outdoor furniture. The best way to protect your furniture is to use covers, and be sure to store your furniture during the winter or heavy weather periods.
Teak Wood Furniture
Start with a light sweeping with a soft brush or cloth to remove light loose debris. If the debris is a bit thicker, try using a stiff nylon brush. For tougher stains, use a mix of water, light dish wash detergent, or oxygen bleach and scrub the teak wood in the direction of the wood grain. Light sanding for the extra tough spots is also okay. Once completely dry, apply up to four or five coats of Danish Oil or Teak Oil with a lint-free cloth. To keep the wood strong, durable and to restore its color, use Danish or Teak oil every two to three months.
Both Danish oil and Teak oil are very similar in application and use.
Danish Oil – Comes in various wood colors and dries to a more satin/semi-gloss finish. Great for water and weather protection.
Teak Oil – Dries to a matte finish, more of a “warm” wood grain look. Great for UV and moisture protection.
IPE Furniture
A quick sweep with a soft brush or cloth to remove light loose debris is good for the initial cleaning of IPE. If tree sap or mildew develops, a stiff nylon brush and soapy water should do the trick. For IPE furniture that gets a lot of sun exposure, applying linseed oil 2 – 3 times a year will help restore and protect the finish.
Metal Furniture
If you live in Tahoe, most of your metal furniture should not rust. But, if it is showing signs of rust, use a mild dish soap solution, scrub with a nylon detail brush, rinse, and dry. If you have heavy rust or mold, sand the area lightly with fine-grit sandpaper and re-paint.
HOT TIP: Metal and wrought iron surfaces can periodically be polished with automotive wax to protect and maintain their luster.
