Ensuring the longevity of wooden and hardwood garden furniture involves essential treatment and upkeep, crucial for enduring multiple summers. Discover the proper maintenance techniques to safeguard against potential issues like cracking and drying, ensuring your furniture remains in optimal condition for years to come.
Oil treatment before use
It is always a good idea to treat your wooden garden furniture with oil immediately after unpacking and assembly. Although the wood has already been treated with oil, we recommend you do it again since it can be some time since the first treatment.
Thorough cleaning
Prioritize thorough cleaning for your garden furniture. Consider using a gentle pressure washer before applying oil. Always follow the instructions on the packaging to achieve the best results and effectively prolong the lifespan of your furniture. This ensures its resilience against seasonal changes and environmental factors.
Ongoing oil treatment
Hardwood furniture must be completely dry before oil treatment, and make sure to use oil that is suitable for hardwood. It is recommended that you apply oil two or three times during the season and just before you put your furniture away for the winter period.
Furniture in teak requires no oil treatment because teak is already a very oily wood. Over time, teak furniture creates a natural white tint which can be removed with teak oil. If you decide to oil treat your furniture it will require ongoing oil treatment, just like hardwood furniture.
Mould and fungus attack
Even with regular treatment and care using oil, garden furniture can still be susceptible to mould and fungus attacks. This is often noticeable when parts of the furniture darken, sometimes turning almost black. Here are some tips to address this issue:
Thoroughly wash your furniture with wood cleaner, following the instructions on the packet. If the furniture remains dirty, repeat the cleaning process.
If the affected areas remain dark after using wood cleaner, try washing them with a strong liquid chlorine solution, then rinse thoroughly with water.
If the chlorine treatment proves ineffective, resort to sandpaper and elbow grease. Polish the affected areas until you reach fresh wood. Alternatively, you can try using a pressure washer. Whichever method you choose, we recommend finishing with the appropriate type of oil for the wood in question.
Mildew
Mildew is a harmless type of fungus that appears as dry white dust – usually on the thickest parts of the furniture. Mildew often occurs in connection with transport to Europe, as large fluctuations in temperature and high humidity provides ideal conditions for mildew. Wipe off the mildew with a cloth or brush. Aftercare is usually not required, but wood oil is a good idea.
Retightening
Wood is a natural product and wooden garden furniture reacts to different types of weather. Cracks and imbalances may appear caused by tension in the wood. Therefore, it is important that you retighten your furniture periodically.
Winter storage
Your furniture will last longer if you store it properly over the winter. For example, you should not put your wooden furniture in a dry, warm room as this can dry the furniture out. Instead, you should store your wooden furniture in a garage or shed where there is plenty of ventilation and protection from the rain and snow. We don’t recommend that you cover your furniture with plastic or similar materials, as this can cause rot and fungus in the wood.