Garden Furniture

Making the most of your garden furniture...

It may seem like an obvious observation, but your garden furniture is exposed to extremes of heat and cold, rain, ice, blistering sun and the attention of garden inhabitants like snails and birds. When you first step out into your garden when winter has lifted, you might be forgiven for being a little disappointed to find that your table and chairs look faded and dirty.

If you're lucky enough to have a big shed or garage, storing your furniture is the obvious answer. For those with less room, a little light maintenance can go a long way to keeping your garden furniture in tip-top shape for when you need it.

Plastic Garden Furniture

Plastic is, handily, naturally waterproof so you can leave it out year-round with no worries about the effects of the traditional British rainfall. However rain water will collect at the back of chairs and in nooks and crannies and a surprising amount of dirt can form there. This can be easily removed using a plastic cleaner such as Minky Multi-Purpose Plastic Cleaner.

Constant exposure to bright sunlight can cause a degree of unsightly fading. Moving your furniture under shade is the easiest way to avoid this. If that isn't an option, try storing your furniture upside down, so that any fading takes place on the underside where it will be unnoticeable when in use.

If you find that your furniture has faded, there's no need to rush out to buy a replacement. A simple coat of plastic paint - available from all good DIY stores - will bring your plastic garden furniture back to life.

Wooden Garden Furniture

Wooden furniture can suffer through exposure to the elements, but with a little attention there's no reason why it shouldn't bring you years of pleasurable use.

Teak is generally considered to be the finest material for outdoor furniture. It naturally contains silica which makes it resistant to fungal decay, many of the effects of water - such as rot, swelling and warping - as well as chemicals. It is also resistant to fire, acid and alkalis.

If you've bought teak garden furniture then a yearly application of teak oil is the best way to keep it looking good as new.

In other woods fungal infections can make themselves known and cause a greenish discolouration - especially where feet are left on grass. A stiff brush can be used to easily remove it - as well as loose flakes.

Aluminium Garden Furniture

Cast aluminium garden furniture is robust and long-lasting. Despite that, agents such as suntan lotions, perspiration and car exhausts can eat away at the powder coating that protects it. To make sure your furniture lasts, clean it every couple of weeks with a solution of mild washing up liquid and warm water and rinse well.

Cushions & Covers

If you've bought cushions for your outdoor seating then these can get soiled through use or damaged by rain. When not in use, store them indoors - and launder them before the Summer starts again. For more stubborn stains, we've found a great fabric cleaner that we're happy to recommend - The Minky Fabric & Carpet Stain Remover.

When you have a garden, you have a wonderful place for family and friends to gather to relax and enjoy each other's company. It is also a wonderful place to get away, all by yourself to sip a cup of tea and read a good book.

Choosing the right garden furniture is the key to creating a harmonious balance in your garden. Be prepared however, there are a lot of different types of garden furniture in even more styles.

Teak - this type of garden furniture is chosen more often than any other type of furniture because it the most durable wood and stands up to all weather. It needs virtually no maintenance and resists all types of mold and mildew. Another benefit to teak wood is that as it ages, it develops wonderful characteristics.

Wicker Furniture - this type of garden furniture can enhance the beauty of any garden. It can be painted or stained, or you can just let the natural beauty shine through, however, it is recommended that some type of treatment be applied because it does not stand up to any type of weather.

Wrought Iron - this type of furniture is perhaps the most elegant of all. It comes in many different styles and will enhance any garden. The maintenance on wrought iron garden furniture is minimal and you will receive years of enjoyment in your garden.

Resin - this type of garden furniture is made out of a hard plastic that resists all types of inclement weather. The maintenance of resin garden furniture is very easy, all you need is a garden hose, however it is not recommended for areas where there is intense heat or sunlight. It tends to get very hot in the sunlight and can cause burns.

Choosing the right garden furniture can be fun and exciting. Be prepared to view many different styles. The fastest way to narrow your choices is to go online. When you do an online search, you will find thousands of pieces of garden furniture to choose from. You can narrow your choices significantly and even make your purchases online. You may even receive specials and discount offers by using online methods.