How to Get Outdoor Wood Furniture Looking Natural Again

Soon it will exist fourth dimension to drag the outdoor furniture from hibernation or, if yous live in sunnier climes, add it to your spring cleaning list to go prepare for dining al fresco. Don't know where to start? Here's our cheat sheet on how to make clean and care for outdoor wood furniture.

(If your outdoor article of furniture is wicker, see our cleaning and care tips at Hardscaping 101: Wicker Furniture Care.)

To a higher place: Weathered teak and metal outdoor article of furniture dusted off and ready for bound. (Meet how the Gardenista Team planted this patio.) Photo by John Merkl.

Furniture Covers

Above: A Veranda Lounge Chair Encompass is bachelor in four sizes at prices starting at $34.93 from Classic Accessories. Inexpensive generic outdoor piece of furniture covers are also plentiful through Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe'due south, and other piece of furniture retailers.

Protective covers are often available for specific lines of piece of furniture,  such as Brown Hashemite kingdom of jordan'south covers and Custom Fit Outdoor Article of furniture Covers from Restoration Hardware, for an verbal fit.

Atmospheric condition Resistant Woods

To a higher place: Designed by Aurelian Barbry for Skagerak, a Plank Demote is about threescore inches wide; $1,248.30 at Finnish Design Shop. For more, run across 10 Like shooting fish in a barrel Pieces: Garden Benches.

The key to longevity of outdoor wood furniture is to commencement with good quality pieces fabricated with wood that is appropriate for outdoor utilize. Teak, cedar, white oak, and even the less expensive acacia woods are naturally rot resistant and durable enough to withstand all kinds of weather condition conditions.

How to Clean Outdoor Furniture

Above: Photograph past Erin Boyle.

Light cleaning of forest outdoor furniture is best done with a cloth moistened with water or a mild soapy solution. For deeper cleaning at the offset and stop of each flavor or in the case of tougher stains or mold, you can scrub with a soft brush and a mix of water and dishwasher detergent or oxygen bleach. Scrub in the direction of the forest grain. Remove challenging stains by lightly sanding (over again, with the direction of the grain) and rinsing the surface.

Silverish Patina for Outdoor Furniture

Above: Weathered teak loungers with a silvery patina tucked amongst the greenery ofVanity Fair art director Julie Weiss' Manhattan Garden. Photo by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

To a higher place: A well-loved set of outdoor wooden furniture has developed a mossy patina over fourth dimension on Greatcoat Cod. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.

The maintenance needs of outdoor forest furniture primarily depends on the look yous're afterwards. Left untreated nigh forest develop a silver weathered patina, and because of their natural rot resistance, require piddling budget.

Sealants

In a higher place: From Scandinavian blueprint house Skargaarden, a 79-inch teakDjuro Trestle Table has a slatted top and is $two,600 from Horne.

If you want to go along the wood looking like new, it can be treated with a sealant to preserve the colour and provide added protection. Generally sealants need to be reapplied every few years depending on weather conditions and wear and tear. To practice so y'all volition need to wash, sand, and reapply the sealant. Consult the manufacturer for recommended products.

Above: Gardenista editor Michelle Slatalla created an outdoor room in her California backyard with the help of a teak futon from Terrain.

Care and Cleaning Tips

• Ever showtime with a lite cleaning, sweeping surfaces every bit needed with a soft brush or cloth. And so appraise if further care and cleaning is needed.
• When it comes to cleaning products for outdoor furniture, non-detergent liquid lather (call up dish soap) is your friend. It volition clean just not damage your furniture and its environs. For tougher stains and mildew, employ water and white vinegar.
• Read the manual. Unless y'all inherit or purchase vintage pieces, outdoor furniture should come with instructions about care and feeding.
• Sunscreens and bird droppings should exist cleaned off your furniture as soon as possible. They can be peculiarly damaging and cause permanent stains and corrosion.
• Consider covering your furniture when not in use for long periods of time (and during long bouts of choppy atmospheric condition). Even if it can stand up to the elements, cleaning will extend its life and make maintenance easier after the outdoor flavor begins again. And, use breathable covers to avoid creating a mold incubator.
• If you lot live in an surface area with especially harsh winter weather, attempt storing your furniture indoors if possible.

N.B.: This post is an update; it was commencement published April 2017.

For a deep dive into the different types of wood used in outdoor furniture, head over to Bob Vila.

Are you because an outdoor article of furniture purchase? See some of our favorite pieces at:

• x Easy Pieces: Picnic Style Dining Tables.
• Upkeep Friendly Unfinished Wood Piece of furniture.
• 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Folding Chairs.
• The Gardenista 100: Best Rattan Lounge Chairs.

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Source: https://www.gardenista.com/posts/hardscaping-101-how-to-clean-care-for-protect-cover-wood-outdoor-furniture/