You cannot imagine a patio without patio furniture. Patio furniture gaily decorated with colorful cushions is what makes a patio so special. Remember also that patio furniture can be quite expensive. Patio furniture therefore need some care. The best way to care for them and make them last is to clean them, periodically.

Patio furniture is made from teak, wrought iron, plastic and aluminum. Each of these needs to be cleaned differently. These are discussed below.

Teak Furniture

You must first treat your teak furniture with a teak protectant. Then either wash it thoroughly with the product recommended by the manufacturer or use a solution of two parts of a bleach detergent in one part of water for cleaning. Use a soft thistle brush to clean the furniture. Rinse the furniture with clean water. No more needs to be done if you want the patina to remain.

If you want to remove the patina and restore the original color of the teak, then there are products available for that. It is a procedure where you firstly treat the furniture with caustic and then with acid. This is followed by a light sanding. Finally apply sealants to protect the restored color of the teak.

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron patio furniture is designed to be weather resistant. Despite this, they sometimes need cleaning and anti rust treatment.

Prepare a solution of mild soap and water in a bucket. Soak a piece of cleaning rag in it and use it to wipe clean the wrought iron furniture. Then rinse off the soap with a hose. Thoroughly dry the furniture. Use a sandpaper lightly to remove any stain or rust marks. Apply a touch up paint after sanding. Many manufacturers supply a touch-up paint kit along with the furniture. They are very easy to use once you understand the instructions.

Plastic Furniture

It is easy to clean plastic furniture. All you need is a bucket of dishwashing liquid and water and a sponge. Soak the sponge in the dishwashing solution and scrub the entire surface of the plastic furniture. After cleaning, let the solution stay on the furniture. Use this opportunity to remove all dirt using a tooth brush. Then rinse and dry before using.

Aluminum Furniture

Dishwashing liquid is very good at cleaning aluminum furniture. Take a clean cotton cloth soaked in a solution of dishwashing liquid and water, and use it to clean all the stains and smears from the aluminum furniture. Next, rinse off all the suds from the furniture with a garden hose. Use a soft dry cloth to dry the furniture. Now use a soft cloth to apply a coating of nonabrasive car wax. Waxing prevents corrosion. Once the wax is dry, buff it off to regain the sheen.

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