When it comes to outdoor furniture, wood is one of the most favorite choices because it looks natural and luxurious. The only drawback is they’re susceptible to weather conditions. So, what is the best way to protect outdoor wood furniture? All will be revealed in this article.
Avoid Sunlight Exposure
Whenever using outdoor furniture made of natural wood, remember to place them in a shady spot or under your house awning. Always avoid exposing them directly under sunlight.
When it is too hot or too cold outside, cover the furniture carefully to save their material against cracking and discoloration.
Clean The Outdoor Wood Furniture Properly
While outdoor wood furniture is advised to clean once every three to six months of use to renew as well as protect the material, you should clean them properly.
Wood products can be gently rubbed with water to remove dirt. Or, you can use a fluid mixture of water and a mild cleaning product to clear off stubborn stains.
Some extra notes:
- Avoid using a water sprayer that has too strong a squirt because this might easily fade the paint
- If you want to use a cloth or brush to clean your wood furniture, always choose ones with a soft texture to avoid leaving scratches on the surface
Check If Your Wood Furniture Is Termite Attacked
Take a close look around the outdoor wood furniture to check if they have any holes, pits, and black spots. These are the common signs of termites.
Once detecting even a few black spots, you should find the best way to kill them.
Our favorite method is using kerosene or insect repellent. Apply the solution to those affected spots. If you don’t have any of these chemicals, fresh, chopped chili is not a bad alternative. Paste them on the surface where you find black spots, pits, or holes.
Another popular method is to use glue to seal the crevices, which kills termites efficiently.
Maintain Outdoor Wood Furniture
No matter how good the wood product is and how carefully you use it, the paint color will fade over time because of the environmental impact.
The best way to renew your outdoor wood furniture as well as prolong its shelf life is to clean and repaint them.
According to many interior experts, wooden products should be repainted periodically 2-3 times a year since this is the time when the product has shown signs of deterioration.
How to maintain outdoor wood furniture
You will need:
- Wood oil
- A brush with soft bristles
- Plastic gloves
- 320-grit sandpaper
- Cleaning solution
- Soft towels
How-to:
First thing first, wear protective gloves. The reason why you should go for gloves made of plastic rather than rubber is rubber can’t stand wood oil.
Step 1: Choose a dry and shady spot in your backyard to clean your outdoor wood furniture.
Step 2: Gently brush their surface, then wipe with a damp soft towel to remove dirt from the surface. If your wood furniture has stains, use diluted cleaning liquid to remove them.
Step 5: Use a soft oil-soaked cloth or a soft brush to repaint the wooden products. Apply paint onto their surface evenly and once completed, use a clean cloth to wipe off any residue oil.
Extra: If you want to coat your furniture the same old paint color, remember to test it on a piece of wood then make a comparison. If you want to use new paint color, skip this extra step
Step 6: Leave the furniture in an airy, shady place for 24 hours and avoid using or touching them during this time.
Conclusion
We believe that these are the best ways to protect outdoor wood furniture to keep it look like-new as always as well as avoid the impact of the environment and maximize their lifetime.
However, the quality of the product depends on the type of wood and the paint used, so if you want to maximize their lifetime, consider choosing high-quality materials and painting products.
