During summer, your outdoor furniture essentially turns your garden into another room, making it the perfect space to relax with family and friends. But, fail to take care of your outdoor furniture and it won't last to its full potential. Check out these tips to learn how to protect your outdoor furniture - whatever the weather and material.

Quick Tips: Outdoor Furniture Care

• Store soft furnishings in a dry place overnight, when it rains and during the winter. If moisture gets into them, they could end up covered in mould spots and be expensive to replace.
• Cover all furniture sets with a soft, waterproof cover during the winter months. Leave enough space between furniture so that air can properly circulate as this will help to prevent mould.
• Most outdoor furniture can be cleaned fairly easily with warm soapy water - but each different material will require a different type of maintenance, outlined in more detail below.
• It might sound simple, but when you buy your furniture, retain the instructions and keep them in a safe place so that you can refer to them at a later date when you need to maintain the furniture.

Outdoor Furniture Materials

Wooden

Outdoor wooden furniture is often made of tropical hardwood, such as teak, roble or eucalyptus. These woods contain natural oils that make them insect and water-resistant, and are very dense and durable, allowing them to remain outside in winter. Over time, weather exposure can fade tropical hardwoods to silvery grey, and cracks may form in the grain. This gives furniture a charming, weathered look, without causing any damage.

Caring for Wooden Outdoor Furniture

• Once a year, brush the furniture down with a stiff wooden brush to remove debris, pollen and mildew.
• After brushing, wash it down with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly.Leave to dry in the sun (this'll help to remove bacteria).
• Leave to dry in the sun (this'll help to remove bacteria.)
• During winter, use a cover to protect wooden furniture or store it in a dry place such as a shed or garage.

For other woods, or to regain the original colour of tropical hardwood, you can use a water-resistant stain or oil to give extra protection. Don't apply treatments if frost, rain or dew is forecast as your furniture needs to be completely dry before application. Reapply each protective coating regularly, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Rattan & Wicker

Woven furniture is cool, contemporary and easy to care for - and it looks just as chic outdoors as it does in a conservatory.

Caring for Rattan & Wicker Outdoor Furniture

• To clean it, remove cushions and any soft furnishings.
• Use a pressure hose on a low setting - or even just a regular garden hose, to wash down the furniture.
• If it's particularly dirty, use a soft sponge and soapy water to scrub away any stains or spills. Rinse clean and leave to dry.

Nowadays, most rattan or synthetic wickers are already weather-resistant, so check the care instructions on them before you do any cleaning. If there's no natural protection you can apply a protective paste wax to the wicker to keep it shiny and to protect it from the weather. Store cushions indoors when not in use and cover the wicker frames during the winter months.

Metal-Framed

Metal-framed furniture can be both traditional and modern and is a fuss-free way to make the most out of your garden as it requires very little maintenance. Most metal garden furniture is already coated to make it rust and weather-resistant, although it might need to be cleaned every now and then.

Caring for Rattan & Wicker Outdoor Furniture

• Use a soft sponge and soapy water to clean them, then rinse clean. Leave to dry completely.
• If your metal furniture doesn't seem to be rust or weather-resistant, or it's particularly old, you can use wax or naval jelly to protect it - just apply it in a thin layer to protect the furniture from corrosion.

Resin / Plastic

Resin outdoor furniture requires the least amount of care - just wash it down with soapy water and soft sponge, rinse clean and leave to dry. Avoid abrasive cleaners or cloths as these can scratch. To remove mildew, mould or stains, clean with a gentle bleach solution or rub with lemon before rinsing thoroughly.

Tip! If you notice any notches or breaks in the metal coating, use matching car or metal paint to touch it up and prevent rusting.

Soft Furnishings & Fabric

Many outdoor cushions have covers that can be removed and thrown into the washing machine to clean, but if not, you can usually spot clean them fairly easily. Swing seat canopies, hammocks or fabric chairs are often made of canvas-like textiles that are strong, weather-proof and fade-resistant, requiring little maintenance.

Caring for Soft Furnishing & Fabric Outdoor Furniture

• Check labels to see if your fabrics are washing machine safe
• If not, use a soft sponge and a mix of warm water and washing-up liquid to scrub away dirt and stains. Then rinse until completely clean.
• Leave to dry completely in the sun to kill off any bacteria and to prevent mould and mildew.
• Store cushions in a dry place during the night, wet weather and winter.
• Bring canopies and hammocks in ahead of windy weather to stop them getting blown away or damaged.
• Avoid storing soft furnishings in tight plastic bags as this can encourage mould growth.

Parasols

Caring for Parasols

• Parasols will usually require at least some maintenance after being in storage for a while. Many parasols are made with treated fabrics to provide extra water or UV resistance to prevent fading.
• Using a stiff brush and a mixture of warm soapy water, clean the cover and the fabric parts of the parasol.
• Leave to dry in the sun.
• You may need to use a lubricant on the wire joints so that it can open and close easily and a protective wax or oil on any wooden parts of the umbrella to make it weather-resistant. Remember to move your parasol inside or in a safe storage space during rough and windy weather and for winter. If wet, leave it open to fully dry before putting it away.