Give garden furniture some TLC
Our South African climate can be harsh on garden furniture - any type of furniture - and there will come a time when your garden furniture needs tender loving care to make it look good again.
29/07/2018
Whether you have wood furniture, steel or wrought iron furniture, or wicker furniture, all it needs is some TLC to have it looking good again. We offer some tips on how to keep your outdoor furniture looking great - year after year. So pop into your nearest Builders store and stock up on the supplies you will need to maintain your garden furniture.
Steel, Metal or Wrought Iron Garden Furniture
Steel garden furniture needs cleaning on a regular basis and you should frequently give it a wash down with soapy water, making sure to dry completely. When you're doing this you can check for any signs of rust on the metal.
GOOD TO KNOW: It's also a good idea to check for signs of rust on plastic-coated metal furniture. It often happens that cracks occur in the plastic coating and this allows rust to gain a hold.
Remove all traces of rust with a wire brush or steel wool before using a clean cloth to wipe clean. For large areas of rust it might be better to use a rust converter. You will find these products on the shelf at your local Builders Warehouse or hardware store.
After cleaning or wiping down you can apply your choice of finish. Again, there are a wide variety of paint products for steel at your local Builders, and if you are unsure about which product to use - do some online research. A quality brand such as Fired Earth will offer maximum protection for your garden furniture, so don't skimp on a cheap product that may not provide adequate or long-lasting protection.
Wood Garden Furniture
Most outdoor garden furniture is made from hardwood and is incredibly easy to look after because hardwoods contain their own natural oils that help protect it. But you will find that over time hardwood furniture can become faded and dull, especially if you leave your furniture outdoors all year long. If you prefer your wood outdoor furniture to look glossy and be protected, apply a wood preservative or sealer.
Softwood furniture such as pine requires regular application of a preservative or sealer to keep it looking good and extend the life. And more often than not you will need to apply a treatment once a year or as and when required.
You will find an extensive range of Fired Earth wood care products at your local Builders - for all types of wood. These products are easy to apply and offer long-lasting results. Whatever product you buy, follow the recommended instructions on the can for proper application.
Wicker Garden Furniture
Here on Home-Dzine we've previously looked at restoring wicker furniture and using Rust-Oleum for spray painting wicker, so pop on over to the Decorating and Garden Sections for more information on these projects.
Plastic Garden Furniture
Nothing beats plastic garden furniture for affordability and minimal maintenance, although some faux sets can be quite pricey. Regular cleaning can be done with warm, soapy water, a soft brush and some cloths, to keep it looking good. If you've got white or light-coloured plastic or faux wicker or rattan garden furniture that is starting to yellow or showing stains that can't be removed, you can look at giving it a new lease on life with spray paint.
If you have garden furniture that is plastic, PE or composite material and want to give this a new look, think Rust-Oleum spray paints. Rust-Oleum have a range of spray paints for transforming almost every type of material, and a can or two of spray paint will instantly refresh your outdoor furniture. Using spray paint to give outdoor furniture a clean look is an easy way to extend the life of your furniture until you can afford to invest in new.
Choose Rust-Oleum Universal in bold colours, satin, gloss or pearl finish, or go metallic and spray in any direction for easy application. You will find the full range of Rust-Oleum Universal products and colours at your nearest Builders store.
