How to keep your garden furniture in tip-top shape
Whether you have wooden, metal or rattan garden furniture, our little wins will help you get the most out of it and keep it in great shape so you can enjoy it for years to come!
How to choose the right garden furniture
Before we get on to looking after your furniture, here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding what kind of outdoor furniture to get for your garden:
Plastic furniture
- Easiest to look after, however if you choose to go for plastic furniture be sure to store in a shaded area of your garden to avoid colour bleaching from the sun
- You may need to either weigh or anchor your plastic furniture down, to help prevent movement
Wooden furniture
- It’s more hardy than plastic furniture, but will need more maintenance and care than plastic
- Be sure to treat it regularly (according to the type of wood). If it starts to look a bit tired, check out our blog on How To Spruce Up Your Garden Furniture
Metal furniture
- It’s generally made from corrosion-resistant metals like stainless steel and powder-coated aluminium
- Metal furniture is a great choice if you’re looking for something hard-wearing that you’ll get plenty of years from
Wicker furniture
- Synthetic wicker used in rattan-style furniture is a very popular choice now
- It’s durable and requires minimal maintenance
- However as with plastic furniture, you need to store it in a sheltered spot to avoid colour bleaching from the sun and keep it anchored down to stop it from being blown around in bad weather
Cover it up
Picked the right furniture for your garden or outside space? Great! Here are a few things you can do to help keep it in tip-top condition.
- The easiest way to keep your furniture looking shiny and new is to keep it covered from the elements when you are not using it
- No matter what type of furniture you’ve gone for, and how well it resists the weather, protecting it from the elements when you can will help extend its life
- There’s a whole range of garden furniture covers available, choose one that is right for your furniture and provides adequate protection against harsh weather conditions. Outdoor furniture covers will mean less rust build-up and less cleaning!
Keep it clean
It may sound obvious, but regularly cleaning your furniture will help keep it in better condition for longer. Here are some tips:
- The faster you act on spills, grease and dirt, the more you’ll help prevent staining or further damage
- All it takes is some warm soapy water, or you can use plastic-free antibacterial outdoor cleaning wipes to help
- You may want to invest in a pressure washer for metal furniture – just be sure to keep it on a low setting and avoid using it on fragile parts of the furniture.
Don’t forget the cushions
Most rattan furniture comes with comfy cushions! Don’t forget to take them inside or tidy them away in outdoor storage to prevent them from weather damage.
- Most outdoor cushions are water repellent, but this doesn’t mean they are fully weather resistant – too much rainfall and it’ll soak through
- If the patio cushions do get wet, be sure to give them time to dry out before properly storing them away, to avoid mould or musty smells
- When storing for a long period, give the covers a good wash, but remember to check the washing label first!
For more on making the most of your outside space, visit www.wilko.com
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