As it’s often exposed to a variety of weather conditions, it’s no surprise garden furniture can look a little worse for wear if it hasn’t been fully protected against the elements. Therefore, in order to keep your garden furniture looking its best for years to come, it’s well worth taking a little time to ensure your furniture is properly cared for- whether that involves coating it with a special oil, cleaning it regularly or simply investing in a waterproof cover.
Essentially, the material of your furniture will determine the best way to care for it- and whether you own a wood, metal or rattan set, our guide is sure to keep it looking as good as new!
Plastic & Canvas Materials
Fabric chairs, parasols and cushions will fade and discolour when left outdoors, so make sure you move these into a dry shed or garage before the Winter weather arrives. Having said this, our patio awnings are excellent at maintaining their colour, irrespective of the weather conditions, as highlighted in this story of a patio awning that’s still going strong after seventeen years– with no visible signs of fading!
Wooden Furniture

As it’s a natural product, wooden garden furniture will produce natural oils, so although you can leave it outdoors during the Winter months, you’ll still need to look after it to make sure it remains resistant against the elements. For example, a stained oil is a great way to preserve your furniture and keep it in good condition. Using a paintbrush, apply at least 2 coats of oil, leaving an hour between coats and at least 48 hours for it to dry fully.
Metal Furniture

Metal garden furniture is really low-maintenance, and in most cases you’ll just need to give it a clean with some hot soapy water, using a non-abrasive cloth. You can also use a pressure washer, but make sure it’s on a low setting and avoid using it on more fragile parts such as glass tops.
Although aluminum garden furniture won’t rust, it can suffer from aluminum oxidation. This will distort the colour of the metal over time, but won’t affect the strength of it – in fact, it can actually makes it stronger. If you’d like to maintain the original colour of your furniture, make sure you clean it regularly, and either store it away or keep it fully covered during the Winter months. A great tip for extending the life of your metal garden furniture is to polish it with car wax after it has been cleaned as this will make it extra water resistant.
Rattan Garden Furniture
Although synthetic rattan is UV and weather resistant, you might need to pay a little attention to the frame underneath. For example, if it’s made of steel rather than aluminum you’ll need to follow the same care instructions as with metal garden furniture to make sure you keep it in top condition. Alternatively, if you would prefer to keep your furniture fully protected, our Outdoor Living Pod provides invaluable protection for garden furniture etc. (so there’s no need for furniture covers) along with allowing you to enjoy an alfresco lifestyle, whatever the weather.
