No matter what kind of wood your patio furniture is made from, it should be cleaned once a year to keep it in top shape. Here’s a simple recipe:
- Mix one tablespoon of bleach, five tablespoons of a gentle dish washing liquid, and a gallon of water, and softly rub the surface of your wood furniture with a soft bristle brush. Wash the solution from the furniture, and allow it to dry completely in the sun.
- Repainting or restaining wood furniture could be indicated at this time to cover and protect any worn or damaged areas.
Caring for wood furniture goes beyond giving it an annual scrub down, though. All woods are susceptible to
rot and decay if left in damp, humid, and shady areas for a long time. Wood that becomes saturated with rain water is more likely to warp and rot, so using protective
Outdoor Patio Furniture Covers when your furniture is not in use is strongly advised to keep your wooden patio furniture in good shape.
The bases of furniture legs are definitely the most susceptible when it comes to
water damage. If wood furniture is kept in the grass, at the poolside, or on a surface that collects even a small level of rain water, the legs can become easily saturated and damaged. Covering the bottoms of each furniture leg with rubberized material or small sections of cedar fencing material will help protect your furniture from rotting from the bottom up.
Additionally,
exposure to chemicals including solvents and chlorine, and exposure to common items such as alcoholic beverages, plants and flower nectar, and hot items (off of a grill, for example) can permanently
stain and damage wood surfaces. Moreover, it is vital to prevent plastic objects, like plastic table cloths, toys, place mats, and appliance covers, from lying on wood furniture for a long period of time because plastic can discolor wood. Plastic can also stick to and damage a wood finish.
The lifespan for any wooden patio furniture depends greatly on the type of wood used and the weather it is exposed to. Properly maintaining your outdoor wood furniture can make it last for many years and maximize your investment. Outdoor wood furniture makes a natural and beautiful addition to any backyard, deck, patio, or garden, and with care, it will continue to make a great impression for years to come.
Furniture made from different materials require different ways of maintaining them to keep them long-lasting. And with wood, one thing to keep in mind is to keep too much moisture from getting in contact with wood. Wooden furniture is classic and timeless, so extra care should be given to make the furniture last.