The short version
The trick is the right product per material: plastic takes almost anything, wood likes mild soap and then oil, rattan only soft brushes. Never work in direct sun, otherwise everything dries on streaky.
Over winter garden furniture collects green film, dust and pollen, plastic greys, wood turns grey and rattan goes dull. With the right product and a little care the furniture soon looks like new again, without the material suffering.
Clean furniture by material
Sweep off roughly
Sweep or brush off loose leaves, dust and cobwebs dry first, that makes wet cleaning easier.
Plastic with all-purpose cleaner
Wash plastic furniture with warm water and all-purpose or plastic cleaner, greying often comes off with a melamine sponge.
Clean wood mildly
Clean wooden furniture only with a mild soap solution and a soft brush along the grain, do not soak it, then let it dry.
Rattan gently
Clean rattan with a soft brush and soapy water, reach the gaps in the weave with a small brush.
Dry & care
Let everything dry well. Treat wood afterwards with care oil, that protects against greying.
Wood needs oil, not a water bath
Untreated or oiled wood greys without care. After cleaning, apply care or teak oil thinly. Pressure washers are too aggressive for wood and rattan, they tear up fibres and dull the surface.
What helps
What to look for:
- An all-purpose or plastic cleaner for plastic furniture
- Care oil for wooden furniture
- A soft brush, no wire brush
Frequently asked
How do I get greyed plastic furniture white again?
Can I clean garden furniture with a pressure washer?
Why does my wooden furniture turn grey?
The whole garden fresh
From furniture to cushions to the parasol , with the right product per material.
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