Keeping garden furniture in good condition

Here we look at some simple tips to help you keep your garden furniture in good condition.

All the furniture you own has probably had its fair share of bumps, scrapes and general wear and tear over the years. But the furniture most exposed to all the elements is your garden furniture. It stays outside in the freezing cold snow, the dry hot summers, and in the rain. Which is why it needs the most care to keep it in top-notch condition.

Here are some tips to help you maintain the quality of your garden furniture for a long time to come:

Coat and Protect

Most outdoor furniture comes with instructions on how to keep it looking good for as long as possible.

For wooden items part of that care comes in the form of varnish or oil, which will help keep the items from absorbing moisture and eventually rotting away. Consider doing this in spring after the April showers so that your furniture has the most protection against the sun and any summer downpours which, lets face it are inevitable.

If you don't do this your furniture may rot and will most definitely start to look faded and past its best.

If your furniture is already looking a little on the weathered side, consider selecting a coloured varnish, or even an outdoor paint to transform the pieces into beautiful items again.

For metal you'll need to use a protective paint especially for use on metal.

Put Them Away

Consider some self-storage for winter. If you don't have room to keep the items in your garage then cheap storage is a good alternative. It can be tempting to put a cover over the furniture and leave them where they are, but the wind and moisture will still get in so you could end up taking the covers off in spring to find your wood is warped and your metal work is somewhat rusty.

Wherever your items are going you'll want to ensure they are packed away properly so that you don't end up having to deal with dust and cobwebs when it's finally time to use them again. The packaging doesn't need to be elaborate, just enough to keep the items safe from any knocks or bumps in transit, and to protect them from dust and debris in the environments they are in.

Treat Soft Furnishings Like you Would if they Were Indoors

It doesn't take much for soft furnishings to fade and rot, so you should try to look after them as much as, if not more than, the ones you keep inside. It could be worth getting a wooden box or soft box inside the house near the garden to put the cushions in when you're not using them. If they've already succumbed to the elements then it's time to replace them. It's not expensive to do this and it can be a good way to revitalise old furniture with new prints and patterns. If you really don't have the space to store them indoors at home then your best option would be to rent a storage unit, which could be used to store all your out-of-season items.

With a little care and attention it is possible to keep garden furniture as good as new for a very long time.

Remember to:

● Treat soft furnishings with extra care

● Store the items away where possible in either a garage, shed or self-storage unit

● Maintain the furniture regularly to keep it protected from the elements

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