How to Maintain Your Outdoor Furniture Year-Round

Why do we love creating outdoor living spaces in our backyards? It’s not just a relaxation area; it’s the perfect spot for us to enjoy beautiful scenery and connect with nature. However, to truly savor all that your outdoor oasis has to offer, it’s crucial to keep your furniture in top shape.

Cleaning outdoor furniture goes beyond just making it look fresh by removing dust, dirt, mold, and even insect residues. It's necessary to prevent stubborn grime like moss and lichen from eroding the materials and compromising their durability. This is why understanding how to maintain your outdoor furniture is well worth your time. In this blog, we will highlight some practical tips for caring for your outdoor furniture. These methods are not only simple to follow, but will also effectively extend the life of your furnishings.

Important Notes Before Cleaning

1. Always clean your outdoor furniture during dry weather. This allows each piece of furniture to dry completely and gives any oil or stain (like those for wooden furniture) time to take effect.
2. Before cleaning, check for any cracks, damage, or rust on the furniture so you can take appropriate measures during the cleaning process.
3. Avoid direct sunlight: Try to clean your furniture in a shaded area to prevent cleaning solutions from drying too quickly, which can leave stains.
4. Choose the right cleaning tools based on the material of the furniture to avoid damage.
5. Unless specified, do not use pressure washers or cleaners like bleach, strong acids, or strong alkaline solutions, as these can damage the surface of the furniture.
6. After cleaning, make sure to thoroughly dry the surface of the furniture to prevent mold growth.

Cleaning Tools：

• Soft-bristle brush or vacuum cleaner
• Sponge cloth
• Pressure washer with soft-brush attachments
• Soap water or specialized cleaning agents

How Often to Clean Outdoor Furniture

Patio furniture should be cleaned at least twice a year—ideally once at the beginning of the spring gardening season and again in the fall as you prepare for winter. If you prefer, you can clean your garden furniture more frequently, but this depends on the materials, how exposed they are to weather, and how important their appearance is to you. Furniture that is left outside all year round will be exposed to various weather conditions, meaning it may get dirty more quickly and require more frequent cleaning. In the fall and winter, it's best to store garden furniture in a dry place, such as a shed or basement.

How to clean outdoor furniture with different materials

• Cleaning Wicker Furniture

Wicker is woven together and has uneven surfaces, making it difficult to clean dust that accumulates in the gaps between the materials. A vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment is a good choice for this.

By the way, if you have purchased wicker furniture made of PE (polyethylene) like Phi Villa, maintenance is even easier. PE wicker is UV resistant and weatherproof, which helps it withstand sunlight, rain, and other weather factors, and it cleans easily. Regardless of the material, outdoor wicker furniture can be cleaned as follows.

Cleaning Steps:

1. Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to remove dust and dirt, paying attention to the gaps.
2. Clean with a mild soap-water solution and a soft brush.
3. Rinse with clean water, avoiding too much moisture, and finally, dry with a lint-free cloth to prevent moisture from lingering in the gaps and causing mold.

P.S. If it’s natural wicker, try to minimize sun exposure and regularly use a specialized waterproof spray to guard against rain and moisture.

• Cleaning Wooden Furniture

Most woods used for outdoor furniture are naturally resistant to rot and can withstand the elements, making them easier to clean.

Cleaning Steps：

1. Wipe along the grain with a damp cloth to remove surface dust.
2. For stubborn dirt or mold, use a mild soap water solution or a dedicated wood cleaner with a soft brush.
3. Avoid excess moisture while cleaning, as it can weaken the fibers. Immediately dry with a cloth to ensure there is no moisture left on the wood.
4. Apply a protective finish: To maintain the restored color, you should seal the wood. Use wood wax or a wood preservative in the spring and fall to protect it from rain and sunlight.

• Cleaning Metal Furniture

Metal furniture is typically made of aluminum, iron, steel, and other metals and is usually coated with multiple layers of lacquer, paint, or durable powder coatings. High-quality pieces may use electroplating techniques, making the metal materials very durable and easy to clean.

Cleaning Steps：

1. The quickest way to clean pure metal chairs and benches is to use a pressure washer. With the additional cleaning brush attachment that comes with it, you can effectively remove pollen, stains, bird droppings, and insect residues. Regular sponges can also be used to clean metal furniture.
2. Clean with a mild soap water solution. If you find rust accumulating on metal furniture, use white vinegar to remove it.
3. Dry with a cloth after cleaning.
4. After drying, if you notice scratches or peeling paint, gently sand it down with fine sandpaper to remove any peeling paint and touch up as needed.

• Cleaning Outdoor Cushions

It's important to note that different cushion materials may have specific cleaning recommendations or restrictions. Therefore, please follow the guidelines. For example, some fabrics have waterproof or stain-resistant coatings that may be damaged by machine washing, so spot cleaning might be a better option.

Cleaning Steps：

1. Most cushion covers have zippers on the sides, making them removable. Depending on the material, you can choose to machine wash, hand wash, or spot clean.
2. If the covers are non-removable, you can clean them using a brush, sponge, or cloth for spot cleaning. Just add a bit of dish soap or detergent to some warm water and scrub the stains using circular motions, but don’t press too hard to avoid damaging the fabric surface and special coatings.
3. Allow the cushions to air dry in a well-ventilated area.

How to Store Outdoor Furniture

1. Cover your furniture with a protective cover when not in use to keep the dust away.
2. Store it in a cool, dry environment, such as a garage, storage room, or shed. You can also use a dehumidifier to prevent mold growth.