No garden design is complete without the perfect set of garden furniture, but how do you keep it looking its best? Find some handy tips to protect your garden furniture, whatever material.

Wooden garden furniture is a stunning choice for a garden but requires treating to keep it looking its best.
Bring the classic beauty of wood to your garden, but be sure to treat it.

Wooden Garden Furniture

Wood makes a stunning addition to any garden, with its classic feel and organic touch. However, because it is a natural product, it generally needs more regular care than other materials to make sure it remains in the best possible condition. A yearly, or more, application of wood oil helps prevent rot. For teak wood furniture, however, experts advise that oiling is not required.

At the beginning of the season, give your wood a general clean with some hot soapy water, or a hardwood cleaning fluid. If your wooden furniture has seen better days then you can lightly sand it after cleaning. Be sure to brush away any dust, and then oil or paint your furniture.

Do not use a pressure washer on soft woods like eucalyptus, as the strength of the water jet can cause damage. For teak furniture you can use a jet washer but use it gently, as you would when pressure washing a patio.

When you have wooden furniture, there are a few options available to you after cleaning. You can let your furniture age naturally to a beautiful silver. Alternatively, for creatives, you can use wood paint to add a splash of colour and rejuvenate your garden. Finally, you can keep your furniture looking brand-new with a staining oil. The choice is yours.

Sleek and stylish, metal garden furniture is ideal for modern style gardens and requires minimal maintenance.
Beautiful and contemporary, metal garden furniture is a stylish choice for a garden and doesn't require much maintenance.

Metal Garden Furniture

Metal garden furniture is a popular option when it comes to choosing outdoor furniture. does not require much attention to keep it looking its best. In most cases a simple clean with hot soapy water and a non-abrasive cloth will do the trick. You can also use a pressure washer on metal furniture. However, be sure to be using a low setting, particularly on fragile areas like a glass table-top.

For steel garden furniture, any scratches that expose bare metal will need to be treated to prevent rusting. Any rust that has set in can be removed with steel wool and then touched up with an exterior metal paint of the same colour.

Aluminium garden furniture is rust-proof. However, it can be affected by aluminium oxidation. This changes the colour of the metal over time but will not affect the strength of it. To keep your aluminium furniture looking its best, be sure to clean it regularly and keep it covered during the winter.

Another great tip for metal garden furniture is to polish it with car wax after cleaning.

Rattan garden furniture will add luxury to the garden, whilst its synthetic material mean it requires minimal maintenance.
Add an elegant feel to the garden with rattan garden furniture, its synthetic material makes in a low-maintenance product.

Rattan Garden Furniture

Rattan garden furniture is a synthetic material that’s UV- and weather-resistant, and therefore doesn’t require much looking after at all. Just wash your rattan furniture down with soapy water as and when you need to. Be sure to give the frame underneath some attention. Most frames are metal and will need the same care as you would give to metal furniture, mentioned above. For those looking for the garden furniture needing the lowest amount of maintenance, rattan is the perfect choice for you.

Outdoor furniture covers

Even though you can safely leave the above materials outside year-round, we would still recommend keeping your garden furniture covered when not in use. Garden covers will stop your furniture from collecting dirt during the winter months, as well as protecting from falling leaves and bird droppings which require careful cleaning.  Choose covers in breathable material, to allow for the free flow of air that prevents mould or mildew setting in. 

Cushions, even weather-proof ones, should be stored indoors when not in use. This will keep them looking their best, improve their longevity, and reduce the frequency you need to clean them.

General guide to how to clean garden furniture without a jet wash

Follow these simple steps:

  1. Remove all cushions.
  2. Clean off loose dust and soil. You can do this in several ways. Either use a handheld vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, or even just a dustpan brush.
  3. Use a bowl of warm, soapy water and a garden hose to wash down the furniture.
  4. With a soft cloth, wash the rattan surface.
  5. A toothbrush is the perfect tool to get into cracks and crevices.
  6. Hose off any remaining bubbles.
  7. Once the furniture is all cleaned place it in the sun, or a well-ventilated area outside and allow it to dry thoroughly.

Post updated: July 2023