Lovely summer furniture - this is how you maintain and extend the life cycle of your outdoor furniture

If properly maintained, summer furniture will last well for years, even decades. That's why it's good to consider a few things when choosing the summer furniture that best suits your needs.

Today, there are many options in outdoor furniture, both in terms of design and materials. Appearance is often the first thing that entices you to buy, which is why it's worth getting a little familiar with the materials used in summer furniture before making a purchase decision. In addition to the materials, it is good to think about the location of the summer furniture. Is the area directly at the mercy of the weather or will the furniture be placed on a glazed terrace to protect it from the weather, as well as what kind of space you have to store the summer furniture after the season ends - is there, for example, a dry storage space at home where you can store the furniture during the winter.

Materials

Wood

The summer furniture is mainly made of solid wood, the maintenance of which requires an oil suitable for the purpose of use. Oiling of wooden parts should be done in a dry place where the temperature is as close as possible to normal room temperature (20-24°C). Oil treatment should preferably be done at least twice a year - before commissioning and before storage. If necessary, the processing can be done more often. Wooden summer furniture is recommended to be stored during the winter in a dry place where the temperature does not vary. Before oiling, you can go over the wooden parts with sandpaper if necessary. If properly cared for, wooden summer furniture will last and last for a long time.

Plastic and poly rattan

Fully plastic summer furniture is rare these days, but plastic is still a common material used in summer furniture. It is mainly used with steel and aluminum frames. Plastic is an easy-care material and easy to move from one place to another, as poly rattan it also pleases the eye. As a surface material for tables with plastic and plastic mixture, it is good to note that at least a coaster should be placed under glasses and hot drinks to protect the table. If it is forgotten, when the sun is shining, the heat and the so-called magnifying glass effect may cause the plastic to bubble. It naturally has no effect on use, but the appearance of the product may suffer.

Fiber cement

Fiber cement looks like concrete or cement, but is a significantly lighter material than the ones mentioned above. Fiber cement is a natural and sustainable material. Fiber cement for summer furniture is easy to care for and lasts in all weathers. Only in severe frosts should you be careful not to cause dents - as a result, the fiber cement may crack.

Rattan

Rattan as a material is durable and tolerates temperature fluctuations perfectly, so the cold does not harm rattan products. However, rattan cannot withstand moisture (water/snow), so rattan products are at their best indoors or on glazed balconies and covered terraces. Of course, rattan furniture can also be used in the garden on a beautiful summer day, as long as you remember to raise the light rattan furniture to protect it from the weather when the evening comes. The best way to clean rattan products is to use a damp cloth to wipe the dust from the surface of the furniture.

Steel

Steel is commonly used in the frames of summer furniture, and it is very durable in different conditions. Before storing the products for the winter season, the furniture should be dried carefully. Although the steel itself is resistant to moisture well, moisture, especially in the case of screws, can cause rusting and thus also weakening of the frame.

Aluminum

The lightweight and durable summer furniture has an aluminum frame. Aluminum does not have the same risk of rusting as furniture with a steel frame, so they are more resistant to moisture. Even so, it is recommended that furniture with aluminum frames be dried carefully before storage.

Outdoor textiles

The majority of outdoor textiles, especially pillows and cushions, are treated with UV protection. Outdoor textiles are moderately resistant to moisture, but you should move them to shelter from rain either in a separate padding box or indoors, if the outdoor seating area is not covered. A damp cloth can be used to clean textiles. Washing instructions can usually be found on the products themselves, if the products are washable. You can try to clean a difficult stain with a cloth moistened in mild soapy water (water+Fairy).