GARDEN DESIGN
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PATIO FURNITURE CARE
Summer is well and truly here after last month’ s heatwave – and if you felt unprepared, you’ re not alone. This year, the UK broke the record for the hottest June day ever. Then they broke it again the next day, and again the next day, with peaks of 37.3 ° C recorded in Suffolk.
So, it’ s time to prep your outdoor space for al fresco living and dining, with 52 % of Brits preferring to dine outside in summer. However, after months of cold and wet weather throughout winter and spring, you might find that your outdoor furniture is in dire need of a little TLC.
So, we spoke to Gary Farrell, Founder and Director of luxury outdoor furniture company Nth Degree, for his insight on how to make your patio furniture look as good as new.
Aluminium Lightweight aluminium is often used for outdoor tables, chairs and swing seat frames, thanks to its sturdiness vs weight ratio and its resistance to rust.“ Thankfully aluminium doesn’ t usually need much care, since it’ s naturally anti-corroding,” says Gary.“ However, you might see scratches or chips begin to appear with exposure to harsh chemicals or UV rays over an extended period of time.
“ To keep it clean, remove any loose dirt and gently wipe down with a soft sponge and mild dish soap. If you have any pesky sections where oxidation has taken hold, look for dedicated aluminium cleaners – these are likely to keep your furniture protected.”
What to avoid“ Even if you’ ve got a tough, bakedon bit of dirt, do whatever you can to avoid using steel wool or abrasive pads, unless you want to leave your furniture more damaged than when you found it!”
Rattan Most outdoor furniture is actually synthetic rattan – also called resin or PE rattan – as this is designed to withstand exposure to the elements.“ Rattan’ s drawback is that, over time,
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