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Summer is just around the corner which means lots of people will be starting to look at getting their gardens ready for the warmer weather. From mowing the lawn to painting the fence, there’s much to be done to get your garden in tip top shape for the warmer weather.
If you’ve recently started to get things in order and realised that your favourite sun lounger or best dining table is looking a bit worse for wear, you’ll likely want to try and fix it rather than buying a new one.
Furniture is expensive at the best of times, and garden furniture is no exception. Despite the fact it’s designed for outdoor use, lots of garden furniture can’t withstand the natural elements, so if you’ve accidentally left a chair uncovered over winter or forgot to wheel the barbeque away, it’s more than likely you’ll want to try and restore it through some TLC rather than fork out for a new one.
Whatever type of garden furniture you have that’s in need of restoration, we can help. Keep reading for some unbeatable tips on restoring your garden furniture in time for summer.
Wooden Furniture
Most people will have wooden furniture of some description in their garden. Whilst wooden benches and chairs are generally quite hardy in terms of the weather, they can fade over time and go a distinct silver colour. Not to worry, though! If your wooden furniture has faded and looks weathered, you can easily revive it.
The first step is to dust it down. Odds are, more than a few creepy crawlies will have set up home in the cracks and crevices, so you’ll probably need to get rid of several cobwebs and dead bugs.
The next step is to use a garden furniture restorer to revive the wood. This is a good alternative to paint that will inevitably chip because it brings the wood back to its former glory. You will need to work it into the wood, but it’s worth the elbow grease for the like-new finish it produces.
After this, you will need to apply a wood protector like Teak oil. If you really want to keep your furniture looking like new, consider applying a protector every year.
Metal Furniture
Wrought iron garden furniture is very sleek and Parisian, making it a very popular choice for many homeowners to have in their gardens. Whilst it looks lovely, it’s prone to rust which can completely ruin the appeal. Luckily, it is possible to restore your metal garden furniture.
If you’re wondering how to get rust off metal, you’ll be happy to hear it isn’t as complicated as it first seems. Depending on the scale of the rust, you might be able to simply scrape the rust off using a wire sponge. You could also soak the affected area in a hot water and citric acid solution.
After you’ve removed as much rust as possible, you will want to thoroughly clean the furniture and paint it using a specialised metal paint that can be applied directly to rusted areas.
This should keep your sleek dining set looking like new. To prevent rust moving forwards, you should look at coating your furniture in a protective coat of wax every year.
Woven Furniture
Woven furniture like rattan sofas and coffee tables can be found in most gardens. Sets are usually affordable and, paired with comfy seat pads, the seating options can provide the comfiest of all garden furniture solutions, making them an attractive purchase to those who like to sit outside frequently in the summer.
Generally speaking, woven furniture shouldn’t require too much effort in the way of restoration because it’s hardwearing by nature. That being said, it might need a touch of cleaning. To do so, begin by dusting the furniture off to get rid of any surface debris. Next, use a gentle cleanser and a hosepipe to rinse the intricacies of the weave. This should be enough to refresh your woven furniture and get it ready for summer.
Remove the covers from the seat pads and furniture and wash them and you’re ready to go!
When keeping woven furniture looking spic and span, you don’t need to put too much thought into it beyond remembering to remove the cushions and fabric. You will want to store these indoors to keep them away from the elements. Other than this, there’s not too much you need to do. You can choose to cover the furniture with tarpaulin, but this isn’t always necessary.
Summary
Taking notes of these tips will ensure that your furniture is ready in time for summer and looking its best for the warmer months. None of these tips should take longer than a day to execute, so there’s no excuse to not roll up your sleeves and get working to make your furniture look brand new.
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