Maintaining your outdoor furniture is one of the easiest and simplest things to do. There are only three main types of patio furniture; wood, aluminum, and plastic. Wood is the hardest to care for and plastic is the easiest. If you are planning on buying, wood and aluminum are made to last while plastic is not.
If possible, keep your furniture unexposed to the rain and snow and it will last longer. I use a canopy but some don’t have a place for that. That is fine but it will take more work to keep up. If you can, use aluminum or plastic for exposed furniture unless you use a waterproof stain on the wood. Wood, once stained, is quite easy to care for. It doesn’t take too much time and money to keep you wood looking shipshape.
Once stained, I apply a new coat to the garden furniture at least four times a year, depending on the weather. If left unstained, all it needs is a good pressure-washing. It will take all the mold and dirt off. I would recommend keeping wood unstained because it doesn’t take nearly as much work. After staining it, if necessary, place a coat of waterproof stain on it. It should have no color and all it does is repel water. Use that on both stained and unstained twice a year.
Aluminum is really just as easy as plastic. Once a year, I buy some Rust-o-ileum to paint the furniture. For a set of eight chairs and two chaises, it takes around fourteen cans. It is expensive, but the furniture will last for many years to come. Rust-o-leum keeps the water off of the furniture and keeps it looking shiny and sleek year round. If dirt gets on the chairs, if possible take hot water and a rag to wash it off. If that doesn’t work, try to find a low power pressure washer and remove it. Aluminum is really easy to care for. Plastic doesn’t take much. If you want to change the color, plastic spray paint is the way to go. If not, just rent a pressure washer and spray them down.
Good as new and all the nasty mold and dirt is gone. Plastic doesn’t look nearly as nice but takes less work. All it takes for touch ups is a bucket of suds and hot water and a rag. Plastic is quite easy to take care of and if you don’t have much time on your hands or have trouble “getting around” then plastic is the way to go. Plastic is easy to take care of and not too expensive.