Outdoor living and entertaining has always been synonymous with Australian culture. At Just a Second, has every variety and styles for your patio, deck, garden or backyard.
With some very simple care suggestions, you can extend the life of your outdoor furniture. The manner of care for your outdoor teak furniture will be different from the maintenance needed for aluminium outdoor furniture.
General Outdoor Furniture Care Tips
- Avoid placing outdoor furniture on damp soil for prolonged periods.
- Store outdoor furniture indoors or cover well when not in use.
- Remove wooden furniture from standing water.
Furniture Care Basics
- Avoid placing furniture in direct sunlight.
- Do not place furniture in front of or under windows.
- Avoid placing furniture next to heating and air conditioning vents.
- Blot up spills immediately.
- Use coasters, placemats and tablecloths to protect furniture during usage.
- Do not slide objects across furniture surfaces to avoid scratching furniture.
- Rotate accessories on furniture occasionally.
- Avoid extended use of plastic or rubber items on your furniture.
- Dust your furniture regularly and polish every 4-6 months.
Quality wood furnishings are an investment that you expect to last a life time. Wood furniture just requires the right care to preserve its natural beauty. Wood furniture is usually coated with a plasticized film that seals and protects the wood from moisture, dirt and expected usage.
One issue to keep in head is that wood expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. Solid wood furniture respond differently depending on the type or species of wood used. Laminated woods and veneers are more stable than just solid planks.
Use and Care
Tablecloths, runners and table pads are great for providing the most protection during normal and heavy use of dining tables. Tablecloths and table pads give the main defence from UV light, which can fade the finish or deteriorate and/or lighten the wood.
Always use hot pads when placing warm serving dishes on tabletops. Avoid placing extremely hot items such as a sauce pan (even with a hot pad) on a tabletop to prevent markings.
Placemats also protect the finish from dishes and silverware, and coasters will assist in guarding furniture from moisture.
Another tip would be when writing on furniture surface, always use a protective pad.
Placing your furnishings away from windows or blocking direct sunlight will help to shield your furniture from the damaging UV rays. Tinting your windows is suggested to help protect furnishings from UV damage.
Felt will protect from scratches when placed on the bottom of lamps, vases and other accessories. Always lift items from a tabletop, instead of sliding items across to avoid scratching the finish and in extreme cases, the wood surface below.
Don't place burning candles on a finished wood surface. As the candle burns down, the heat generated can damage the finish or wooden surface. Use a candle stand or tray underneath candles to collect any melted wax that may drip from the candle.
Never use household solvent-based products such as fingernail polish and polish removers near an unprotected finished surface. In case of spills, blot the spill straight away. Avoid wiping as this spreads the spillage and can cause further damage. If the surface has not been damaged, clean and polish the tabletop.
Cleaning and Polishing
Cleaning your wood furniture on a regular basis will help preserve furnishings. Dusting and cleaning removes any build up of grease, lint and dust that can get ground into or soften the finish.
Use a soft lint free cotton cloth dampened with water or furniture polish, following the wood grain. A dry rag can cause scratches to the finish. Clean your furnishings with a light touch and rotate your cleaning cloth frequently.
Follow by using a quality furniture polish to protect the cleaned surface per the manufacturer's instructions.