Garden Furniture Cleaner

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.

Garden furniture cleaners clean and restore outdoor garden 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 4 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.

  1. 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
  2. Cuprinol Garden Furniture Cleaner: An everyday, ready-to-use spray cleaner for softwood and hardwood garden furniture
  3. Osmo Exterior Spray Cleaner: A ready-to-use spray solution for the everyday cleaning of exterior wood including garden furniture
  4. Ronseal Garden Furniture Cleaner: An effective garden furniture cleaner in an easy-to-use trigger spray bottle

Mold and mildew cleaners for garden furniture

The onset of mould, algae, and mildew is a common issue with wooden garden furniture that is left out all year round. These mould and mildew cleaners will effectively remove and kill the mould spores that collect in the surface fibres of the timber, leaving furniture clean and ready for re-oiling or staining.

  • Pro-Kleen Spray and Walk Away Green Mould and Algae Killer: Pro-Kleen is a super powerful outdoor green mould and algae removing solution – the intense cleaning fluid revives patio, decking, fencing, outdoor furniture, and more and is safe for children and pets once dry!
  • Barrettine Mould and Mildew Spray: An effective mould remover spray for the control of mould spores, algae and fungi. Ideal for cleaning garden furniture affected by mould and other biological growth
  • Osmo Gard Clean: A highly effective cleaning and disinfecting concentrate
    Ideal for the removal of green growth on garden furniture, cladding and more
  • Liberon Garden Furniture Cleaner: An effective, water-based garden furniture cleaner that is suitable for all softwood and hardwood garden furniture

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.

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 is simply down to re-applying a fresh coat of oil or stain once or twice a year, depending on weather conditions and usage. This will keep the wood weatherproof and looking good year after year.

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.