It’s such a treat to sit in the garden during the first warm spring days – but if mould and bird poo on your garden furniture is making that prospect less appealing, it’s time to schedule a clean-up.

Give your garden furniture a make-over this spring

We’ll start by giving your outdoor furniture a quick once-over to check for damage. Then we’ll talk about some basic repairs. Once that’s done, it’s time for cleaning.

Checking garden furniture in the spring

A quick check-over will tell you what tools and replacement parts you’re going to need to get your garden furniture ready for use. Some washing techniques can make damage worse, so it’s best to do repairs before you clean garden furniture.

Look for wobbly legs, missing pieces and patches of rust or rot. Examine cushions and parasols for mould spots, and make sure moving parts work as expected.

Examine glass surfaces for chips, cracks or crazing – these could be signs that the glass sheet is about to fail. This can happen suddenly, and has the potential to ruin an outdoor meal, so it’s better to get the replacement done before the worst happens.

Check rattan sofas and chairs for holes and plan to repair these before they get bigger.

Once you know about any problems with your outdoor furniture, you can get the supplies together for any repairs needed.

How to restore and clean wooden garden furniture

Although wood scores points for its durability and natural look, it is time-consuming to maintain. Wipe it down with warm, soapy water, sandpaper off any rough edges and treat it each year with oil or stain.

Restore rattan furniture for summer: 

There are various tutorials that will tell you how to repair rattan furniture,  such as this one from Whitestores. To clean rattan, use warm water with liquid soap. Add vinegar to remove mould or mildew, and rinse gently afterwards with a hose.

Caring for stainless steel and aluminium outdoor tables and chairs

Even powder coated garden furniture will need a clean in the spring. Use warm soapy water on metal outdoor tables and chairs.

Cleaning up plastic garden chairs

Use a pressure washer on a low setting for plastic tables and chairs; or clean with warm, soapy water.

How to wash garden cushions

Garden cushions made from polypropylene can be left outdoors because they are designed to resist rain. But fabric cushions will need to be brought inside to keep them dry. Every manufacturer will have specific instructions for how to care for cushions, but you can’t go wrong with spot cleaning as needed.

Planning ahead for next autumn

If all this washing and hosing and scrubbing and sealing was too much like hard work, you can save yourself the job next year by putting your garden furniture under cover during the winter. Heavier wood furniture can be kept in place under tarpaulins or specially designed covers, while folding metal bistro furniture and light rattan sofas and chairs could be moved into storage.

And don’t worry if there is no room in your shed or garage. It is simple and cost-effective to store your garden furniture in one of many storage facilities dotted around the country. See our tips on preparing your garden furniture for storage.

There is no time limit on renting a storage unit – you can keep it for as long or as short a time as you like. Find out more with our blogpost on costing storage and to keep insurance costs down, Store and Insure can help you with a competitive online quote.

More information about caring for garden furniture

Cotswold Company has some tips for caring for rattan furniture and wood furniture.