Maintenance

Cleaning and Maintaining Aluminum Outdoor Furniture

Aluminum is popular metal used in outdoor furniture for many reasons. It is durable, versatile, and requires very little care on the part of the owner. It is commonly known that aluminum generally does not rust. There is a unique science behind this carefree material. When exposed to air, aluminum will develop a microscopic layer of oxide on its exterior. This oxide layer acts as a barrier which protects the metal from the elements and prevents corrosion. This quality is the most appealing characteristic when it comes to choosing a material for making outdoor furniture. It will weather any climate and any amount of precipitation. Aluminum patio furniture is a dependable option for outdoor living.

There are three different types of aluminum construction for outdoor furniture: Wrought Aluminum, Tubular Aluminum and Cast Aluminum. Wrought Aluminum furniture is usually used to create furniture Victorian in style that similar to styles also found in most wrought iron outdoor pieces. Tubular aluminum techniques in furniture are most common as it is the lightest and easiest to shape and form. Cast Aluminum outdoor furniture is made using a process, called casting, where molten aluminum is poured into a mold. This process produces the most pure and resilient aluminum. Cast Aluminum outdoor furniture is caste in pieces and then welded together, which seals out water and the elements. As cast aluminum is solid, the resulting product is much heavier than wrought and tubular aluminum furniture.

Aluminum furniture does not need to be covered or protected they way that wood furniture may need to be. However, some aluminum furniture comes with a powder-coating. This gives the aluminum color and helps to reduce the aluminum being scratched and dented. This coating often has great visual appeal as well as giving strength to the oxide layer, however, it does require a little extra care to maintain the original appearance. The coating, while protective and durable, can be scratched by a reckless owner or be eroded by harsh, salty environments. It is important to consider this possibility to maintain reasonable expectations of your cast aluminum furniture.

Quick Tips:
You need to know that aluminum will not rust and this is what makes it perfect for outdoor furniture. But, aluminum will get affected by pollution in the air and water and its surface will discolor or become rough. Though aluminum does not rust it does oxidize which can result in discoloration, but will not affect the structural reliability of the metal.
Here are helpful hints for the care of aluminum outdoor furniture:
"If you notice that there is slight discoloration on you aluminum furniture, then it should be washed with mild soap and warm water. It helps to add a gentle natural acid like lime or lemon juice, vinegar or cream of tartar. Important! Do not to add ammonia, TSP or Soda. Always do this cleaning after the change of seasons.

• "If the aluminum has become pitted or is rough to the touch, it can be polished. Smooth the surface with steel wool and soap as a cleanser and lubricant. Remember to remove all traces and residue of the steel wool from the surface of your aluminum outdoor furniture or else it can rust and stain the surface of the aluminum. Do not use this technique on powder coated aluminum!
• If the aluminum is stubbornly dirty, there is a wide range of commercial cleaners available at your local hardware store that can be used. Remember not to use commercial cleaners on anodized aluminum.
• You can also use a coat of auto wax or silicon spray to protect your aluminum outdoor furniture from corroding and pitting.
• If your aluminum outdoor furniture is colored, anodized aluminum then take extra care to use only mild detergent and water to wash it.
  
  

Cleaning and Maintaining Sunbrella Outdoor Fabric

Sunbrella is considered to be the "gold-standard" in outdoor fabric applications due to its stain resistance, durability, and water repelling properties. However, Sunbrella fabrics should be cleaned regularly, and any spills should be treated quickly to prevent them from setting in. On-going maintenance prevents the need for more vigorous cleanings.

General or Light Cleaning

Sunbrella® fabrics should be cleaned regularly and consistently. Any spills should be tended to early on, before the substance have the chance to accumulate and be rubbed in, embedding themselves in the fabric. This on-going maintenance will eradicate the need for more frequent and vigorous cleanings. Sunbrella fabrics are designed to be resistant to mold, mildew, UV, and stains. However, it should be cleaned regularly to prevent the need for more fervent cleaning.

Please follow these steps for cleaning:

• Remove any loose dirt and/ or debris.
• Prepare a cleaning solution of 2 ounces (1/4 cup) mild detergent per gallon of semi-warm water (under 100°F/38°C).
• Use a sponge or a soft bristle brush to clean, use light stokes to brush on the solution in the same direction as the weave of the fabric.
• Allow cleaning solution to soak into fabric for a few minutes.
• Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Most hoses have attachments that can be very helpful during this process.
• Allow fabric to air dry.

Removable Sunbrella fabric umbrella canopies and cushion covers are machine-washable: wash on cold water setting (less than 100°F/38°C). Use an appropriate amount of mild laundry detergent. Allow fabric to air dry, do not put in the dryer.

Spot Cleaning

• Apply a light mist of cleaning solution, given above, using a misting spray bottle.
• Gently work in the solution into the stain by lightly blotting and brushing the affected area with a sponge or very soft bristle brush.
• Rinse completely with clean, cool water.
• Blot out excess moisture with a clean, soft towel or sponge. You may also use a Wet Vac to remove excess moisture.
• Repeat these steps until stain is removed. Patience is key!

Heavy Cleaning for Stubborn Stains and Mildew

Sunbrella fabric is resistant to mildew growth, however, mildew may grow on dirt and other debris that are not removed from the fabric in a timely manner. To clean mildew, or other stubborn stains:

• Prepare a solution of 8 ounces (1 cup) of bleach and 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of mild soap per gallon (8 cups) of clean water.
• Spray on entire area and allow to soak into the fabric.
• Scrub vigorously with a soft bristle brush, sponge, or clean towel.
• Rinse thoroughly with clean cool water.
• Allow fabric to air dry.

If a stain and/or mold or mildew are severe, bleach quantities may be increased by small amounts. Do be frugal in the use of bleach, however, as it has potential to damage the fabric when used in larger concentrations.

Retreating the Fabric

Sunbrella fabrics have a special finish guard that adds to the fabrics ability to repel water . The finish is created to last for several years of normal use, However, it may need to be reapplied after a thorough cleaning or extended use. Glen Raven, the maker of Sunbrella, recommends 303 High Tech Fabric Guard™ as the preferred re-treatment product for Sunbrella fabrics.

Applying 303 High Tech Fabric Guard

303 should be applied to Sunbrella fabrics after each thorough cleaning.

• Clean Sunbrella fabric, using one of the cleaning methods.
• Allow Sunbrella to completely air dry.
• Apply 303 Fabric Guard in a well ventilated area or outside. Be sure to follow all instructions on the container of 303 guard.
• Apply 303 in a thin, even coat and allow fabric to dry completely.
• Apply a second thin, even coating of 303. (Two light coatings are more effective in restoring fabric water resistance than a single heavy coating. A 15-ounce bottle provides coverage of up to 50 square feet of fabric.)

For more information please see the manufacturer's website.

Cleaning and Maintaining Teak Outdoor Furniture

Teak wood has been used for centuries in ship-building and outdoor furniture applications. Teak is a very dense, tropical hardwood typically found in Indonesia. Due to its high natural oil content, teak is very resistant to water and insect damage. Teak outdoor furniture is quite popular, but there are some tips that you may find useful to care for your investment:

Teak will gradually weather to a silver-gray patina if left outdoors. You will begin to notice the "graying" after 3 months or so, depending on the amount of sun and rain the furniture is subjected to. Total weathering will take about 6 to 9 months.

Once teak has weathered, the original color can be restored by an annual scrubbing with soapy water to remove accumulated dirt. Trouble spots can be gently sanded with a very fine grit sandpaper. Alternatively, you may use a pressure hose with a fan or multi-nozzle jet, where a gauge is fitted. It should be set to a pressure of 900-1200 psi. A distance of 6'-8' should be maintained between the nozzle and the surface to be cleaned. Apply a constant, gentle jet pressure using the lowest possible setting to achieve the desired result. Due to the unique properties of teakwood your furniture will need no other care or treatment and will last for decades.

Small surface cracks (known as checks) may appear. This is a characteristic of all timber and will not affect the strength or durability of the furniture. This is due to the changes in seasoning and the wood releasing or absorbing of moisture from the atmosphere. Checking is non-structural in nature and is not to be considered a concern of defect.

Marks from spills on a tabletop, especially if they contain fat, should be avoided where possible, as they can be difficult to remove. Any such marks will eventually be washed out and bleached by the elements. However, this process may be accelerated by allowing the stain to soak into any absorbent material applied to it for a time under pressure and then rubbing with sandpaper.

Treating with teak oil or other preservatives is not needed to protect teakwood and will not extend the life of your outdoor furniture, its use is purely cosmetic. If you prefer the light brown look of natural, unweathered teak, then applying teak oil regularly will maintain that look. I do not recommend oiling your furniture because it creates unnecessary maintenance, but should you prefer to retain its original color, the following guidelines will offer the best results:

Teak oil should be applied before the furniture begins to weather and change color. Ensure the furniture is dry and free of any dust or dirt and apply one light coat of oil with a clean cloth or brush, wiping off any surplus. Teak oil should not be applied over accumulated oil or dirt. This can cause the furniture to turn black over time. If necessary, remove previous oil or dirt by vigorous scrubbing or use of pressure washer. Re-oiling annually is usually sufficient.

Cleaning and Maintaining Wicker Outdoor Furniture

PVC wicker and rattan along with poly resin furniture is growing in popularity. It is attractive to many busy home owners for many reasons. One of those reasons is it being a low maintenance product. PVC wicker, as well as poly resin, is plastic and therefore water and dirt resistant. It can become faded in the sun, damaged by animals and pets who get thrills from gnawing, or damaged when weight limits are not respected. That being said, the longevity of furniture made from this material is mostly up to the owner and how the furniture is cared for. If kept in out of constant direct sunlight, while giving it enough light to reduce the chances of it developing mold or mildew, the furniture will need very little care. If the PVC furniture is to be in a place where it will frequently become wet or be consistently in direct sun, it would be very wise to cover it with outdoor furniture covers. This will help the furniture to stay looking newer longer.

Keeping the furniture out of areas prone to cause mildew and direct sun along with covering the furniture or storing inside during winter months and unpleasant weather, will reduce the amount of cleaning and care the furniture requires. However, outdoor furniture is exposed to the elements and will likely need to be cleaned. Most of the time water and a very mild soap will take care of dirt and rain spots. Should your PVC wicker or poly resin furniture become stubbornly dirty and need to be cleaned more intensely, here are some helpful suggestions for cleaning it:

• Spay the furniture with a hose using the "jet" setting on the hose attachment to remove excess dirt and grime.
• A product designed to clean boats, like Greezed Lightning, melts body oils and grime. Just be sure to do it outside and rinse well with water.
• Most general purpose cleaning sprays like 409, or Fantastic will do the trick too, however, it is important not to let them sit on the finish for more than a few minutes.
• On a tough stain, you can sand past the stained finish with fine grit wet-dry sandpaper or abrasive powdered cleaner and polish the surface with paste wax to help re-finish where you have sanded. Be sure to sand in the direction of the grain (if any) of the resin.
• Mildew can be removed with a spray like Tilex, but be sure to wash clean immediately.
• To get tree sap off your PVC furniture or Vinyl, try Goof Off (or a product similar to that), or WD40. Spray the product on the stain, rub, and wash with soap and water. If any stain remains, try scrubbing with non-gel toothpaste.

If there is remaining concern about caring for your outdoor resin or PVC wicker furniture, contact the manufacturer for help in caring for the product properly. Most furniture does come with care instructions. Do consult these before trying any of the suggestions listed above. Caring for your outdoor furniture properly will keep your outdoor living area looking and feeling clean and fresh for years to come.