If cared for correctly, wooden garden furniture is a great investment that will maintain its quality and appearance for years to come. It’s easy to get your favourite items of furniture looking good as new and ready for the warmer weather with a few simple cleaning hacks. Check out the following guide on how to clean wooden garden furniture in order to achieve the best results:
Remove & Wash Cushions
The last thing you want, when cleaning your outdoor furniture, is your lovely cushions getting ruined in the process. That’s why, before you start thinking about cleaning the wood itself, it’s crucial to remove any cushions, wash them and store them safely out of the way. If you’re using our Bramblecrest cushions, these can be easily cleaned as the covers are removable and machine washable.
Brush Off Excess Debris
The next step is removing any excess dirt and debris. This is particularly important if you haven’t used the furniture in a while, as the likes of moss, dirt and cobwebs are likely to have built up over time. You can do this by using a stiff brush, being careful not to scratch the surface of the wood. If you notice that the brush is starting to mark the wood then you may need to switch to a brush with softer bristles. Removing excess debris regularly from your furniture is important for preventing mould or stains from materialising.
Sand The Surface
Once you’ve removed any excess dirt and debris, you may want to sand down the wood. Whilst this isn’t an essential part of how to clean wooden garden furniture it does help to smooth out the surface for you to apply protective treatments, such as wood oils at a later stage. You can sand wooden furniture using sandpaper or an orbital sander. Make sure to wear safety goggles when doing this in order to prevent any fragments of wood from getting in your eyes.
Wash With Warm, Soapy Water
A key aspect of how to clean wooden garden furniture is avoiding harsh chemical detergents. These can damage the wood and ruin its lovely natural appearance. All you need to use is a mix of water with a mild (chemical free detergent) such as washing up liquid, and scrub with a sponge to remove any dirt. Next, rinse with a hose and leave to dry in direct sunlight if possible.
Treat With Oils
Once you’ve cleaned your furniture and left it to dry completely, the final stage in caring for your wooden furniture is to apply final treatments. Applying oil to wood outdoor furniture adds a protective layer to the wood that enhances its longevity and appearance. Rub the oil gently into the surface of the wood, following the grain, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next. Alternatively you can paint or stain the wood to add an extra layer of protection against the elements whilst giving your garden furniture a whole new look. With aluminium and rattan garden furniture we always recommend the use of protective covers, however with wooden garden furniture made with acacia or teak protective covers are not recommended. This is because the wood needs daylight and air in order to ‘breathe’ and covering it can actually lead to mould issues over time. Kettler specifically offers a selection of Kettler hardwood products that could, with the users discretion, be used across other brands too.
