What Is The Best Outdoor Furniture Material
In conclusion, the most weatherproof outdoor furniture for your outside space can depend on a range of environmental factors, but it’s likely to be hardwoods, like teak, acacia or eucalyptus, rust-resistant aluminium, all-weather rattan with an aluminium frame or a sustainably produced HDPE.
And, as with many things, a greater investment generally pays off in terms of durability. As Hannah Armstrong of British furniture brand Heal’s states:
‘Just as with any indoor piece, you should expect wear and tear over time, especially when your set is exposed to the forces of unpredictable weather. However, if you choose to invest in high-quality materials and look after your furniture, youll reap the rewards long term.’
Of course, for the ultimate longevity and peace of mind, you still can’t beat storing your outdoor furniture under cover during the worst of the elements. In which case looking for options that can stack, fold or offer space-saving design might be key, or you can consider adding an outdoor furniture cover to protect your investment from the harshest of the elements when it isn’t in use.
And if you have a porch or veranda, this is the perfect spot to benefit from the best of both worlds al fresco living with the protection of a cover. Our front porch ideas have plenty of inspiration for this.
How To Clean Cast Iron Patio Furniture
The heavy, durable nature of cast iron has made it a favorite material for patio furniture. Cast iron patio furniture tends to be more expensive than aluminum or plastic furniture because it often lasts much longer than its counterparts.
To help prevent rust and retain the durability of the furniture, you want to clean it on a regular basis, particularly if the pieces are regularly exposed to weather and temperature extremes.
It takes very little time to clean cast iron furniture properly, and you dont have to purchase any expensive materials. To help you maintain your cast iron patio furniture, follow the steps below so you can enjoy it for years to come. Follow these recommendations for how cleaning cast iron works.
Cast Iron Furniture Cleaning Recipe
- 1/4 cup mild detergent
- 1 gallon of lukewarm water
Pour mild detergent and lukewarm water into a bucket and mix thoroughly. Use the cleaning solution to dampen the sponge, shaking out any excess water. Beginning at the top of the furniture and working your way down, wipe the entire surface of the furniture.
To get into the intricate detailing and crevices of the furniture, use an up and down motion when wiping. Continue to wet the sponge as needed, shaking out the excess water to keep it from dripping.
With a bucket of cold, clear water, use a very wet sponge to work from the top to the bottom of the furniture, making sure to wipe away all the cleaning solution so no residue is left behind.
Is Rattan Or Wicker Weatherproof
Rattan outdoor furniture creates a relaxed and laidback look for a patio, with natural tones and textured weaves complementing contemporary or classic outside spaces. But, how durable is rattan patio furniture, and can you leave it outside all year round?;
Natural rattan furniture is an organic material made from fast-growing tropical plants which are woven together to form the distinctive ‘rattan’ structure. Because these plants are so fast-growing it’s generally considered a sustainable option too.;
However, natural rattan dries out quickly when exposed to wind and sunlight, causing it to become brittle, and exposure to rain can lead to mildew and rot. It can be painted to give the base materials more durability, but it’s still best to exercise a bit more caution with regards to leaving it outside and to bring furniture back indoors overnight and in inclement weather. Natural rattan can still make a great option for a sheltered covered porch though.
All-weather, PE or polyrattan
What many of us now consider as ‘rattan’ or ‘wicker’ outdoor furniture is actually a plastic polymer, commonly dubbed PE-rattan, polyrattan, or the slightly more vague sounding all-weather rattan. This is not a natural material but a man-made synthetic plastic designed to imitate natural rattan.
Opting for a colored finish can also be a good choice, and as polyrattan is injected with dyes rather than having a top layer coating, there’s no need for repainting as there would be with the ‘real’ thing.;
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Spray With A Waterproof Spray
Make sure to do this away from plants or animals!;Casey;suggests using;Scotchgard Water Shield; she sprayed it all over her patio set and waited a few hours for it to completely dry. She even tested it out and claims it was a success! We dont recommend this as an alternative to covering your furniture up, but it certainly gives additional protection.
How To Clean Rattan Patio Furniture
Rattan is an eco-friendly material that is durable, attractive, and lightweight and often mistaken for bamboo. It is a trailing, vine-like palm that is found in the jungles of China, Malaysia, and Asia and has been used to make furniture since the mid-twentieth century.
While you can use rattan furniture outdoors, if left outside in the elements for too long the material will break down. To keep your rattan patio furniture looking great, here are some simple steps for cleaning it.
Place water in a bowl and add a few drops of dish soap, stirring it vigorously, so bubbles form on the surface of the water. Using a soft cloth, dip it into the bubbles, avoiding making direct contact with the water. Wipe down all the surfaces of the furniture with the cloth.
Avoid over wetting the rattan as it can result in damaging the material. Clean the cracks and crevices of the furniture using a soft brush or toothbrush. Use the suds-only method to accomplish this.
To clean the furniture more thoroughly, or if you need to remove stains from the furniture, apply detergent to a soft brush and scrub with a bit more water than you used for the routine cleaning.
Once done, place the furniture in the sun, or use a hair dryer to dry the furniture completely. For added protection, when the furniture is completely dry, use a paintbrush to apply a thin coat of lacquer.
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Apply A Protective Coating
Through the wear and tear of every season, its good to remember to apply protective coatings to your patio furniture. This is especially true for wooden and iron-framed furniture. You can do it every season or choose to do it every other season, depending on your furnitures physical condition.
Be sure to carefully read the instructions for any protective coating product to ensure you properly coat your furniture and keep yourself safe from fumes from the product.
Kick Back And Relax With Comfy Outdoor Furniture
You can keep your outdoor furniture cushions looking and feeling great with these simple care tips. By doing just a little regular maintenance, youre free to kick back and enjoy the great outdoors in comfort and style.
Interested in adding to your patio furniture collection? Check out our line of cool and comfortable outdoor bean bag chairs.
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Educate Me Please: Cushions On Outdoor Furniture
We will be purchasing a new dining table and chairs for our deck- nothing too expensive because we have a short season and it doesnt get a lot of use.I looked at the big orange box store, and I figured I should eliminate sets with cushions because I figured you didnt leave the cushions out all the time in the summer you needed to store them somewhere. Is that right? I dont mind storing for the winter but I dont want to have to have a storage box on the deck and I dont want to be pulling off and putting on all the time either.If you do leave them out, how long do the take to dry after it rains or in the morning from the dew? Will I be able to have my coffee on the deck or will I go to sit down and then have to re-change for work?I really just have no idea, thank you for helping me.
Some Materials Will Be More Vulnerable To Damage Than Others
Please keep in mind that patio furniture is going to be made out of different materials. Some patio furniture might be made out of plastic, but other types of patio furniture might be made out of wood.
Certain materials are going to be more vulnerable to damage than others. Wood will actually be one of the materials that are the most vulnerable to water damage over time.
Essentially, if any of your wooden patio furniture has cracks, water can get into those cracks and cause damage. Youll need to repair and seal cracks so that you can protect your patio furniture from water damage and help it to last a long time.
Leaving wooden patio furniture outside is perfectly fine, but its just necessary to take steps to protect the furniture. Many people will apply a protective coating to wooden patio furniture that will keep the water damage from being a problem.
Patio furniture that is made out of iron can also get damaged by water. As you probably already know, iron furniture can rust and the exposure to the elements can cause this type of patio furniture to get nasty after a while.
Try to buy iron patio furniture that has some type of protective coating on it. This will keep the furniture from rusting as easily but do understand that iron patio furniture wont last forever.
Aluminum and stainless steel options should hold up pretty well overall. Look into those options if youre worried about your patio furniture getting wet.
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Take Care Of Spots Asap
Be sure to treat any spots and spills immediately after they happen. This will help prevent them from permanently staining the fabric.
You can;treat most spills by removing them with a wet cloth and mild soap. However, certain types of stains and fabrics will require special care to remove.
This is especially important for food and drink spills. Spilled snacks or soda can attract bugs and cause mould and mildew to form.
Are Outdoor Cushions Waterproof Or Water Resistant
Thats a good question, as there is definitely a difference. Most cushions that specify outdoor use will be water resistant, whereas not all will be waterproof. A water resistant cushion is designed to make it harder for water to pass through, while a waterproof cushion will not let water through, period.
Like outdoor coats, how waterproof or otherwise a cushion is depends on two things, its fabric and its construction. Well take a closer look at common cushion textiles in a moment: theres a great choice of hi-tech and traditional materials out there.;
But, however good the fabric is, water can still penetrate through the opening and zipper, so if you want a high level of water resistance, check out how the product is made.
Youll also hear the term water repellent. This means that the surface of the textile repels the water immediately. How water repellent a fabric is depends on how much liquid it takes for the surface to be breached and water to pass through. A water resistant cushion cover is water repellent, but not as much so as a waterproof fabric.
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Outdoor Patio Chairs And Other Seating
Lounge and relax, you deserve it! Whether you are on a balcony, backyard or at the beach. We are here to help you create a spot to chill out and recharge. With our wide variety of modular sofas and patio chairs, youll find the right fit that gives you comfort and is stylish at the same time.
Our outdoor chairs are available from tall bar seats, dining to recliners for relaxing with all types of heights for back support. We also have chaises and hammocks so you can take a nap or get a tan in your backyard. To add extra support for any chairs or sofas check out the cushions that will also brighten up your space outdoors!
With our modular sofa, you can create a custom combination to suit your relaxation style and your lounging area. Plus, you can add sections later or easily disconnect and rearrange. We offer three series of fully modular outdoor sofas: SOLLERON, APPLARO and JUTHOLMEN. With flexible HAVSTEN you can create an armchair, loveseat, sofa or a sofa combination with as many seats as you want!
Cheap Furniture May End Up Costing You More
not-cheapSereneFavorite Furniture: Sustainable Teak from an Italian Designer
When you start shopping around on the internet for outdoor furniture, youll notice that theres a huge range in prices. On the high end are retailers including;Design Within Reach and Restoration Hardware; and on the low end are sites such as;Overstock and Walmart .
Guess where I ended up buying our outdoor furniture? Yep, enticed by the price tag, I went for a faux wicker sectional I spotted on a discount website during a late-night web crawl. It was cheap and not ugly: What more could I ask for?
Well, for starters, I should have asked that our seating wouldnt slide around every time we sat down. Our sectional was so lightweight that, unless you sat down very gingerly, the seats would slide and the cushions would skate. Our dog, who is not the most graceful animal to begin with, became so wary of the unstable seating that he now nervously paces our deck for several minutes before he gathers the courage to hop up.
The Lesson:;Though it may be tempting, dont automatically go for the cheapest price you can get on outdoor furniture. The really cheap stuff tends to be lightweight and flimsy. That said, we also have this from Ikea, a lightweight but totally well-made lounge chair that I love, so this is by no means a blanket recommendation.
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Teak Furniture Cleaning Tips
Teak wood is a durable, beautiful material that should last you many years. However, this outdoor furniture can still get dirty when its exposed to the elements. To keep your teak furniture clean, wipe spills immediately using a soft, dry cloth or paper towel. Never scrub your teak furniture with a stiff-bristled brush or anything abrasive, as this can leave permanent scratches on the woods surface. A simple mixture of extremely mid dish soap and clean water should do the trick when youre cleaning outdoor furniture made of teak. Just like your wicker or metal furniture, youll need to rinse it clean with a hose, then make sure that it dries completely before using it. Keep these tips in mind, and your outdoor furniture should stay clean and beautiful for many seasons to come.
Install Or Buy An Awning
Installing or buying an awning is a simple way to protect your patio furniture from mild threats, and it also provides a nice shade. You can have it professionally installed or look for a portable awning like a shade canopy. If you opt for a portable awning, secure it into the ground or have it weighed down properly. Otherwise, they could blow away or possibly damage your furniture.
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Can Outdoor Furniture Cushions Get Wet
4.5/5willcushionsgetting wetcan get wetcushionabout it here
Outdoor fabrics, such as Sunbrella®, are moisture, mildew and fade resistant. Generally, this means if you leave the cushions uncovered during a rainstorm, the rain will bead up and roll off. Should cushions be left out in the rain, as soon as it stops, shake or wipe off excess water and let them air out a bit.
Secondly, what do you do when outdoor cushions get wet? If the wet cushions had been sitting on the furniture for several days you should clean the furniture and cushions. Wiping the furniture down with some mild soap, water and a sponge/rag will take care of it. Use some fabric soap and water on the cushions before you hang them to dry.
Similarly one may ask, are outdoor furniture cushions waterproof?
Make them waterproof, fade resistant plus super durable in just one step. You can use them on your outdoor patio chairs, sectional sofas, chaise lounges, benches and outdoor swings and gliders! This is also a great way to make indoor cushions stain proof and waterproof for indoors if you have kids and pets.
How do you protect outdoor furniture cushions?
Weatherproof your cushions with a waterproof silicone spray to help protect them from mold and mildew. Choose a spray specifically made for your cushion’s material. Apply waterproofing spray if your cushions did not come with a weatherproof coating and after you have washed them.
Does Teak Outdoor Furniture Need To Be Treated
No, teak outdoor furniture doesnt need to be treated. However, many people fall in love with the golden honey-like color of new teak wood and wish to treat their furniture set with something to preserve or restore this color. Teak oil is a very temporary solution.
A better approach to long-term care is to use a teak sealer. If you dont mind your furniture fading to a gray color, however, then no treatment is needed outside of regular cleaning.
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Is Patio Furniture Waterproof
Did you get new outdoor furniture or looking to and are wondering if its waterproof?? There is no bigger fear than;having;that;patio set;youve searched for months;ruined by an unforeseen accident. Taking care of your patio furniture can ensure a longer-lasting life. After all, outdoor furniture can be an expensive investment! We;want to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep it in the best condition possible, for as long as possible.
There is a difference between;water-resistant and waterproof. Spilling a little bit of water on your;sofa;may not have the same effect as having rain pour down on it. In either case, you want to make sure you are caring for it in the right way. For example, there are certain materials that are more resistant;than others.;Having;sunbrella;cushions and;pillows is a great start, but read on to find out more options!