Mark McIlmoyle shares a few simple steps you can follow to keep your patio paradise looking great and lasting well into the future.
Wooden furniture
Wooden furniture needs regular care and maintenance, especially ahead of the colder months.
But it doesn’t need to be complicated! Take these simple steps to give your wooden furniture the protection it needs to survive winter.
What you’ll need:
- Warm, soapy water
- Soft brush
- Sandpaper
- Preservative, wood paint or oil
- Clean paint brush
- Use a bucket of warm, soapy water and a clean sponge to give your wooden furniture a thorough clean. Remove all algae, bird droppings and lichens.
- If your furniture is hardwood, a good clean is fine. For softwood furniture, give them a light sandpapering, then apply preservative, paint or oil.
- If your furniture has sustained any damage over the summer, now’s the time to get your tools out and do that repair job.
Wrought-iron furniture
Rust is your metal garden furniture’s arch enemy. So keeping it at bay should be your number one goal.
With a little tender loving care before the winter arrives, you’ll keep your metal garden furniture looking good for spring.
What you’ll need:
- Warm, soapy water
- Brush
- Wire wool or hand sander
- Epoxy filler
- Metal primer and paint
- Clean paint brush
- As with wooden furniture, begin by cleaning off any dirt and debris with a clean sponge and some warm, soapy water.
- If there are any rusty areas, sand the area with steel wool, clean again, then fill holes with epoxy filler. Give it another light sanding ready for painting.
- Now you’re ready to prime and paint your furniture to give it full protection for the coming colder weather.
Rattan furniture
Wicker or rattan furniture should never be left uncovered outdoors through the winter. Cold, frosty weather will take its toll on this delicate material.
Before you pack away your rattan furniture, follow these simple cleaning steps to get it ready for the winter.
What you’ll need:
- Vacuum with soft brush attachment
- Damp cloth
- Use a soft brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner to remove any dirt and dust from between the woven material.
- Wipe over your furniture with a damp cloth to get rid of remaining dirt and mildew build up.
- Wicker and rattan furniture is best stored indoors over winter. If you have to leave it outside, invest in a good quality, waterproof cover to keep it protected.
