How To Keep Your Garden Furniture Immaculate After A Long Winter

Spring is springing, the birds are singing and, despite some questionable weather, the UK public is already looking at sprucing up their outdoor spaces. But the wet winter weather can leave our garden furniture looking worse for wear. Cobwebs and old leaves can pile up, but the damp can also cause rot, rust and moss. But fear not – there are lots of ways to protect and prolong the life of your outdoor pieces that won’t break the bank. Homes and gardens experts Furniturebox provide the best cleaning hacks to have your outdoor furniture looking spotless and stylish in no time at all.

Google Trends shows the search term “garden furniture” is up +191% between November and February,

Searches for cleaning and revamping garden furniture up +117% from January to February.

Garden spring cleaning is clearly in the public’s mind right now, with people looking mend and fix rather than buy new.

Laura Rich, Product Design Lead at Furniturebox, says:
“Cleaning and revamping garden furniture is a hot topic, with many of us reluctant to just buy new amid the cost of living crisis and the impact on the environment that can have. There are plenty of ways to clean and style your existing outdoor furniture that are cost and eco-friendly!”

Give Some TLC To Your Garden Furniture – Six Expert Tips

Laura sets out her six easy cleaning hacks to save pennies and the planet, from quick wins to longer-term preservation tips, for all types of existing outdoor furniture to get it in tip-top condition ahead of garden party and BBQ season.

1. Scrubs Up Well: Best Practice For All Garden Furniture Is To Go Gentle
The first tip applies to any garden furniture, regardless of its material. Give it a good dusting to brush off and remove general dirt, dust and cobwebs. Use a soft bristle brush – an old but clean washing-up brush is ideal, as it won’t scratch the material. Wipe everything down with a soft, damp cloth and avoid using abrasive cleaning products, including bleach on any outdoor furniture, even on white plastic as these chemicals can corrode surfaces.

2. Keep Wooden Garden Furniture Moss Free And Avoid Splintering
Wooden outdoor furniture is always a timeless look, meaning it will last through cycles of trends, making it more planet-and-pocket-friendly option than plastic or ‘fast-fashion-furniture’ pieces, but its organic nature means it is more susceptible to damp-rot and moss. You can wash off solid wooden outdoor furniture with a garden hose and some soapy water followed by a good scrubbing. Use a pressure washer to get rid of more stubborn moss. Be careful not to get too close, a powerful hose or pressure washer can cause flaking and splintering of older wood if not careful. Once clean and dry, you can prolong the life of wooden items by applying a protective oil or stain which will help prevent flaking. Lightly sand the surface first, wipe down to remove dust, and then apply your chosen protective oil or stain in the direction of the wood grain.

3. Get Plastic Garden Furniture Gleaming With £1 Household Hack
For a budget-friendly hack that uses household items that be purchased for around £1 from most supermarkets, mix 1-part baking soda with 16 parts warm water. For more stubborn spots, sprinkle baking soda then rub in a gentle circular motion. Wash and wipe down. Mildew spots can be treated with a spray of undiluted white vinegar. These ingredients are also far less harmful to the environment than many other cleaning products with harsher chemicals, so you can wash these down the drain without worry.

4. Combat Rust On Second Hand Metal Garden Furniture
Metal garden furniture is usually designed to be a little more hardwearing, which is always great for the environment but it can benefit from some extra love to prolong its life, especially if you’re upcycling secondhand furniture. Use steel wool to remove rust and wipe away any debris. Then apply anti-rust paint for exterior use to the furniture, taking extra care on any areas where scratches might have gone through the existing top layers of paint. You can even use a clear anti-rust spray as a sealant if you want to preserve the existing lived-in patina. Once dry, add a layer of car paste wax with a soft cloth to provide extra weather-proofing protection and a bit of shine.

5. Don’t Camp Out With The Cushions
Avoid leaving your cushions out on the furniture and always store them in a cool, dry place when not in use, as many outdoor cushions are only splash-proof. If cushion covers can be removed, they should be washed in a cool 30°C wash to avoid shrinkage. This will not only help preserve your cushion covers but is a lot friendlier to the environment while still ensuring the job gets done. Don’t use bleach or iron them as this can weaken the fabric and warp the shape, making it harder to get the pads back inside the covers. Don’t wash any foam cushion fillings as this can lead to mould and mildew. Prevention is better than reaction here! You can prolong and protect cushion seat covers with some outdoor fabric protector - go for a non-toxic and environmentally friendly option that doesn’t contain PFAs, petroleum or harmful aerosols. Silicon dioxide is a naturally occurring and more eco-friendly ingredient to look for. It’s also worth investing in a weatherproof cover to go over the entire outdoor set to add another level of protection to your furniture.

6. Revamp and Revitalise With Some Reupholstery

Reupholstering outdoor cushions is always an option, with a little patience and some creative elbow grease. If you’re a dab hand at sewing, give a new lease of life to faded or holey cushion covers and buy yourself some new weatherproof material from a craft or fabric store. If new to sewing, there are lots of online tutorials you can follow, but a sewing machine will make life easier than hand-sewing, especially for thicker fabric. If you’re looking for more sustainable options, consider using offcuts of outdoor fabric that can create a fun and mismatched maximalist look. Alternatively, you can buy replacement cushions and cushion covers. Just make sure you’ve got all your measurements triple-checked to avoid any disappointments.