Summer’s Coming! Time to Get your Outdoor Furniture Ready

With summer just around the corner, now is the time to haul out all of your outdoor furniture to get it dusted off and prepared for regular use. While your furniture may be in good shape if it was in the shed or garage for the past few months, many people simply leave their furniture in the yard over the winter which means that a little tender love and care will be necessary to spruce things up.Let’s take a look at a few quick tips for getting that outdoor furniture ready for a summer of parties and fun!

Cleaning and Prepping Wood Furniture

For most individuals, the first step in getting their outdoor furniture ready is to haul it out into the yard and clean it up. Cleaning of wood furniture is best accomplished using a wood cleaner which can either be purchased off the shelf or made from a mixture of hot water, turpentine and linseed oil. Ensure that you wear gloves while applying and rinsing off wood cleaners as they can be somewhat toxic and can cause severe skin irritation.

Keep Plastics Clean and Out of the Sun

While they are inexpensive and a great addition to every yard, an unfortunate reality of plastic furniture is that it doesn’t handle the sun very well at all. At best you can expect that the furniture will fade and lose its color; at worst, the sun will weaken the structural integrity of chair and tables which could lead to a break or an accident. Try to keep plastic outdoor furniture out of direct sunlight as much as possible to prolong its life.

Try All-Weather Sealant in Rainy Areas

If you live in an area that is prone to rain, consider applying a few coats of all-weather sealant or stain to your outdoor furniture. This will protect the furniture from constant exposure to water and also help to prevent fading or color leaching due to the sun. This is especially true for wood furniture which can soak up the sealant and enjoy quite a bit of protection.

With just a small amount of preparation and work you can ensure that your outdoor furniture is ready for parties, backyard barbeques and other fun summer experiences. Put in a couple of hours sprucing your chairs, tables and benches up and they will be perfect for relaxing in the sunshine!

James Entwhistle is a furniture expert and blogger that enjoys being out in the great outdoors as much as possible. His latest passion is Breeze Outdoor Furniture, the outdoor furniture experts. Thanks for reading!