Maintenance Tips to Help Make Your High-Quality Outdoor Furniture Last

If you’ve invested in high-quality outdoor furniture, it’s important to educate yourself on how to maintain it. Outdoor furniture can be particularly tricky to maintain because, in addition to the regular wear and tear from being used, it’s also subject to the elements. But with just a few tips and tricks, maintaining your high-quality outdoor furniture can go from daunting to manageable!

Some TLC

While the materials of your outdoor furniture may vary greatly, there are some general principles which can help you make your high-quality outdoor furniture last. Whether your furniture is wicker, fabric, metal, or wood, it’s important to inspect it regularly and give it some TLC.

It’s a good idea to inspect and take steps to maintain all your furniture about four to five times per year—at the start of each season, and twice during the summer. According to The Southern Company, when maintaining your furniture, it’s important to use products appropriate to the furniture material. For example, many wood pieces of furniture have textures and finishes that can be worn away by aggressive cleaners, and should be maintained differently than a metal or wicker piece of furniture.

Protecting it from the Elements

Although your outdoor furniture is high-quality, the elements can be harsh and unforgiving against even the toughest of materials. You can extend the lifespan of your outdoor furniture by investing in coverings which can protect it from the elements. Using a slipcover can protect your furniture from getting bleached by the sun, worn down by rain, and damaged by dust and grime.

In addition to the natural elements, your yard might also be unintentionally destroying your outdoor furniture. According to The Sprinkler Guy, if your sprinklers are over spraying and getting water where it shouldn't it's usually a pretty easy fix. All you need to do is replace the nozzle with a correctly sized one, and you should stop accidentally watering your house instead of your lawn.

Storage Tips

Putting in the extra effort now to store your furniture the right way can exponentially increase its lifespan. Whether you’re temporarily storing it for renovations or cleaning, or storing it more permanently during the off-season, the most important thing to remember about storing your outdoor furniture is to keep it someplace somewhere dry. Whether that is a shed, indoors, a storage facility, or under a tarp.

If you ever have a question on whether or not you should store a piece of furniture outside, it’s a good idea to play it safe and store it indoors or in a dry shed. Even metal furniture can be damaged by rust due to rain, snow, ice, and wind.

Keep it Clean

Although dust and dirt may seem like minor inconveniences at worst, they can be surprisingly damaging to your outdoor pieces. Dust and dirt can wear away the finish on vinyl or wood pieces and can break down the fibers of fabrics and cushions. According to Networx, keeping your furniture clean can extend its lifespan.

When cleaning your outdoor furniture, there are three easy steps you should follow, regardless of the furniture type and material. First, loosen and remove dirt and debris by wiping the piece down with a slightly damp cloth. Next, clean the surface more deeply with products appropriate to its material. Finally, allow the piece to dry before using it again or covering it up.

Maintaining Specialty Materials

Certain materials will require more maintenance than others. For example, wood furniture usually has been coated with a protective sealant or varnish intended to protect it from moisture. However, this sealant is not invincible, and simply covering it up with a tarp or a slipcover will not protect it from moisture in the air.

You can maintain wood furniture by keeping the varnish or seal fresh and new, investing in a slipcover, and making sure to store it indoors in the event of rain. You can take similar precautions with other materials like wicker and fabric.

What to Do if It Gets Damaged

Occasionally, your furniture could become damaged due to forces outside your control. If this happens, remember that all is not lost, and that you can take steps to repair and restore your furniture. For example, if the varnish on your furniture starts wearing away due to exposure to the elements, you can repaint it or re-stain it. If it begins to rust, you can carefully sand away the rust and apply a protective sealant. If fabric becomes ripped or damaged, you can carefully wash it with a mild soap, and then take it to a professional for repairs.

If you take the proper preventative steps to maintain your furniture, you’ll be able to enjoy it for many years. Proper maintenance of high-quality outdoor furniture is dependent upon certain steps for specific materials. If you educate yourself on how to maintain these materials, the regular cleaning and storage of your high-quality furniture won’t seem like such a burden.

We’re committed to providing you with high-quality furniture so you can have the gorgeous yard you always dreamed of. Take a look at our outdoor furniture collections!