Maintenance of outdoor furniture in the farmhouse
Outdoor furniture helps you enjoy your time in the garden. They are always popular with gardeners and homesteaders, and are particularly relevant in the warmer seasons. It is not only beautiful and comfortable, but also functional. And to make sure that the furniture you love lasts as long as possible, you need to maintain it regularly. Simple steps will help to extend the life of our garden furniture.
Proper maintenance depends on the material of the outdoor furniture. Rain, sun, birds, insects and many other factors can affect not only the appearance but also the functionality.
Hardwood outdoor furniture
Hardwood (oak, ash, larch, beech, hornbeam) is one of the best materials for outdoor furniture. Hardwood furniture is durable and long lasting. Hardwoods also contain a high content of natural oils, making garden furniture less susceptible to wear and tear. This is why hardwood furniture can be left outdoors during the cold season, but only under shelter. It is easy to maintain.
• The legs of tables, chairs and benches should be kept away from damp soil to prevent the wood from rotting;
• Hardwood furniture can be washed with soapy water, cleaned with a plastic or natural brush. This will help to remove dirt, moss and lichen layers;
• It is recommended to cover wooden furniture with durable, water-resistant covers when cold weather approaches;
• If you want to lighten damaged wood a little, you can apply teak oil. But only apply it to dry wood, otherwise it can blacken.
Sprucewood outdoor furniture
It should be noted that outdoor furniture made of softwood requires more careful maintenance than furniture made of hardwood. The problem with maintenance is that soft soft softwood does not contain as many oils. But if cared for properly, this furniture can last up to 10 years or more.
Untreated wood is better stained with special oils (linseed, etc.). Softwood furniture can also be treated with a protective varnish. If you want to remove any surface damage (stains, scratches), you should sand the areas of damage with sandpaper and then varnish or polish.
• It is recommended that softwood outdoor furniture should be placed in a dark shady area and avoid the open sun;
• It is recommended that softwood should only be painted or stained in dry weather;
• This wood is susceptible to rotting and should be treated with a fungicide;
• It is possible to wash softwood furniture with cleaning agents, but this should not be done more than once a year. And after the cleaning wash, the surface will need to be painted or varnished and stained.
Plastic outdoor furniture
Plastic furniture is the easiest to maintain because the material is protected against weathering, but even so there is a risk of colour fading. It is therefore advisable not to leave it in the sun for long periods of time or to cover it with special covers.
It is recommended to move plastic furniture indoors for the winter. It is best to wash plastic products with a soap solution.
Wiping off dust with a damp cloth from time to time is sufficient. A mixture of baking soda and dry mustard, as well as various kitchen cleaners, will help remove stubborn stains.
Wrought iron outdoor furniture
Wrought-iron furniture is often characterised by intricate patterns with many nooks and crannies. This makes them a little harder to keep clean. To avoid the accumulation of dust and dirt, it is recommended to use a vacuum cleaner with a special brush attachment as often as possible for cleaning. It is also recommended to get rid of rust and cracked paint before cleaning wrought iron furniture.
Use a special paint scraper to remove larger pieces of paint. Wipe the furniture with a wire brush to remove small paint residues.
Use sandpaper to remove rust stains and smooth uneven surfaces.
It is important to carry out the repainting procedure immediately after removing old paint or rust. If you leave the iron exposed in the fresh air, the furniture will rust quickly. It is recommended to coat the surface with an anti-corrosion primer before painting. If the furniture has a lot of patterns or intricate twisted details, it is better to use spray paint.
Simple metal outdoor furniture
Most metal furniture is easy to clean, but each metal has its own special maintenance requirements:
• after rain, be sure to wipe the furniture with a dry cloth to prevent moisture build-up;
• use a brush regularly to remove dust and dirt;
• check for cracks in the metal, because if water penetrates them, it will definitely cause rust;
• to ensure the weather resistance of metal furniture, it is recommended to repaint it every few years;
• if metal furniture has moving mechanical parts, do not hesitate to oil them.
Natural stone outdoor furniture
Stone furniture does not need protection from adverse weather conditions (rain, wind, heat, etc.) and stone can be washed straight from the hose. Moss and lichen are better removed with a stiff plastic brush with a special spray-on anti-moss chemical.
Artificial rattan
This artificial material does not require special care. When artificial rattan furniture gets dirty, it can be cleaned with any detergent solution and rinsed with clean water directly from the hose. Small stains can be removed by simply wiping the surface with a damp cloth. Heavy stains can be removed using special detergents. However, artificial rattan should not be cleaned with a wire brush, as this will damage the fibres of the material.
Natural rattan
The main rule for the care of this material is to avoid frost and prolonged exposure to water. Natural rattan furniture should be cleaned using a special nozzle on a vacuum cleaner and also wiped with a mild salt solution. After cleaning, natural rattan must be thoroughly dried, otherwise it may be damaged or even broken.
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