Garden furniture cleaners help to maintain the appearance and condition of wooden garden furniture. They help to remove day-to-day dirt, grime, stains, and grease whilst maintaining the protective finish of the furniture.
A dedicated garden furniture cleaner will help to keep outdoor furniture clean whilst preserving and maintaining the finish
A common issue with oiled garden furniture is that the maintenance of the oiled finish is forgotten or neglected. In the short term, this can result in the furniture loosing some of its colour, luster and weather protecting properties. In the long term, the wood can turn grey or silver and succumb to mould, algae and mildew.
Can oiled garden furniture be cleaned and restored?
The good news is that in most cases, even if garden furniture has become tired and worn looking, it can be cleaned and restored to its former glory. The type of garden furniture cleaner depends on how badly the furniture has been affected.
Top 3 day-to-day garden furniture cleaners
For day-to-day cleaning, there are a range of outdoor furniture cleaners that help to breakdown and remove surface dirt and grime whilst nourishing and maintaining oiled finishes.
- Furniture Clinic Teak Cleaner: An ideal solution for cleaning all types of garden furniture, marine decks and teak used in any environment. It is quick acting and will revive the natural colour of old, weathered and mould stained wood
- Cuprinol Garden Furniture Cleaner: An everyday, ready-to-use spray cleaner for softwood and hardwood garden furniture
- Ronseal Garden Furniture Cleaner: An effective garden furniture cleaner in an easy-to-use trigger spray bottle
Recommended wood revivers & restorers for garden furniture
When garden furniture has turned grey or silver as a result of UV and water damage, a wood restorer or reviver will help to restore the natural colour of the timber, prior to refinishing with a clear or coloured garden furniture oil or stain.
These are chemical restorers that reverse the damage and colour loss caused by weathering and UV damage.
- Furniture Clinic – Complete Garden furniture restoration kit: The complete kit for restoring and treating weathered, wooden, garden and patio furniture
- Ronseal Hardwood Garden Furniture Restorer: Helps to get restore worn, grey wood back to it’s natural colour before applying a wood stain or oil.
- Cuprinol Garden Furniture Restorer: An easy to use gel that removes the grey, weathered surface wood to reveal the golden timber below. Simply brush on, scrub if needed, leave for 15 minutes and rinse off to restore the appearance of weathered wooden garden or patio furniture.
Why household detergents and cleaners should not be used on garden furniture
Household detergents, cleaners, and washing-up liquids are often made with chemicals that are designed to break down and remove grease, oil, and other surface contaminants from plastic, metal, porcelain, melamine, and other hard wearing surfaces. The fact that they are designed to break down oils, grease, and other substances makes them less than ideal for cleaning oiled garden furniture.
Using harsh household detergents and cleaners will degrade and eventually strip garden furniture finishes over time, leaving the timber exposed to the elements, and unable to repel moisture, dirt, and rain. It is for this reason that we recommend the use of a dedicated garden furniture cleaner, that is formulated to clean the wood whilst preserving or maintaining the existing wood finish.
Old garden furniture – What to do once cleaned
Old garden furniture that has perhaps been neglected for a while should be thoroughly cleaned and if needed, treated with a mould and algae remover to kill and remove any biological growth from the wood. Once this has been done, and especially for softwood garden furniture and benches, it is recommended that the wood is then treated with a wood preserver to help prevent future growth. Ones treated with a wood preservative and allowed to fully dry, it is recommended that outdoor furniture is then treated and sealed with a clear or coloured garden furniture oil or garden furniture stain.
An alternative to garden furniture stains and oils are garden furniture paints. Garden paints come in a wide range of colours and shades, from subtle pastel tones to bright, vibrant colours and tones. Transforming old, washed out garden furniture into an eye-catching garden feature is a great way to brighten up or add character to garden spaces.
Ongoing garden furniture maintenance
Once cleaned and restored, keeping garden furniture well maintained should be simple, oiled furniture should be cleaned as and when required with a suitable garden furniture cleaner. A thin maintenance coat of a suitable wood oil can be applied once or twice a year, depending on weather conditions and usage. This will keep the wood weatherproof and looking good year after year.
Outdoor patio or garden furniture that has been painted or coated with a varnish type finish or stain can be gently wiped down with warm water and a soft cloth. If the finish starts to look worn or tired over time, the finish may need a light sanding, and a fresh coat of paint, varnish or stain applied.
Garden Furniture FAQ’s
Can’t find the answer to your garden furniture care or maintenance project above? See our frequently asked garden furniture questions and answers page, where we try to answer some of the more commonly asked questions relating to garden furniture care, maintenance, and furniture treatments.