As we get closer and closer to summer, the garden furniture is going to come out, and the BBQs will start. However, the last thing you want is for your furniture to be worn and weathered by the time that summer has finished. You need to make sure you have a good maintenance routine in place to protect your items. This does not require a lot of effort! With that being said, continue reading to discover three pro tips to keep your garden furniture looking as good as new.
Treat your wooden garden furniture
The first tip that we have is for wooden garden furniture. You should apply a protective treatment over your wooden garden furniture every summer. This will keep it look as good as new while making sure that your furniture is protected. So, how do you go about applying a protective treatment?
The first thing you need to do is use some hardwood cleaning fluid or hot soapy water to clean your furniture. Do this at the start of the season so that your furniture is rejuvenated for the summer months. You should make sure you check for the weather, though. If it is too wet, cold, or hot, it could impact the quality of the finish.
Before any of the wood furniture is treated, you should make sure the surface is lightly sanded and cleaned. Any dust should be brushed away afterwards. Use a natural-bristled, long-haired brush to apply your first coat of oil. Paint it on in the direction of the grain. Before you start, stir the oil so that any variations in colour are avoided.
You may need to do a second coat. If this is the case, make sure you leave the first coat to dry for at least one hour before you move onto this. This will keep your furniture protected throughout the summer months, and it will be ready to use around 48 hours after you have finished applying the treatment.
Caring for your metal garden furniture during the summer months
The good news is that your metal garden furniture is not going to require a lot of attention at all. In most cases, you will simply need to grab a non-abrasive cloth and use some hot soapy water to give it a good clean. You may also want to use a pressure washer to clean your metal furniture. However, if you do this, make sure it is on a low setting and avoid using it on parts that are more fragile, for example, glass tops.
Should your garden furniture be made of steel, you are going to need to make certain that any scratches on the furniture that leave bare metal exposed underneath are treated so that rust is prevented. You can use some steel wool to remove any rust that may have already set in. then, use an exterior metal paint of the same colour to touch up the area that has been impacted.
What about if your garden furniture has been made from aluminium? If this is the case, it can end up suffering from some form of aluminium oxidation. Over time, the colour of the metal can change because of this. However, it does not impact the strength and durability of your furniture. In fact, it actually makes the metal stronger. But how can you make sure the original colour is retained? It is simply a cause of making sure you clean it on a regular basis and then cover your furniture or put it away in storage once the summer months are over.
Protecting your outdoor furniture from fading
Third and finally, we are going to deal with one problem that a lot of people worry about in the summer months, and this is their furniture fading. There are a number of different steps you can take to prevent this from happening. The most effective option is applying the product in order to prevent your garden furniture from getting faded. These products live up to their namesake through protecting surfaces and fabrics from UV light, which is what causes the fading. Like sunscreen, it has been designed to reflect the UVB and UVA light from the sun. if you block out these rays of light, which would otherwise be penetrating, UV protectant is going to be able to prevent your furniture from fading.
UV protectant can be used on a wide range of different types of furniture. This includes wood, fibreglass, rubber, vinyl, and plastic. You can also use it on rattan furniture. However, the great thing about rattan furniture is that it has naturally UV resistant qualities. Moreover, it is really easy to use, as most of the UV protectant products that are on the market today simply are packaged in a spray bottle form. Just spray the product over your furniture’s surface, and it is going to be protected from the UV rays from the sun. Nevertheless, the impact of this is going to wear off, and that is why you need to make sure you apply the UV protectant once every few months. This includes during the winter months if your outdoor furniture is going to remain in the garden and uncovered. After all, even if the weather is not warm outside, the sun is still out, and there are still UV rays, and this means that the furniture you have needs to be protected.
So there you have it: some pro tips on how to keep your garden furniture looking immaculate this summer. From cube sets for patio use to beautiful summer benches; no matter what furniture you use in your garden, if you follow the tips that have been provided, you can keep it looking as good as new. It only takes a little bit of effort. But you know what they say; a little bit of effort goes a very long way, and that’s why these tips are important.
