Caring for Your Outdoor Furniture
Scroll down or click for some guidelines for caring for your outdoor furniture. If you have further questions, just ask. We'll help as much as we can!
Caring for Teak
The beautiful thing about teak furniture is that you really don't have to do anything to maintain it unless you really want to. Set it up and leave it out all year long and it will still hold up year after year, no matter where you live. Its ability to withstand climate changes without cracking or warping (or needing maintenance) is what makes it such a valuable wood and such great material for outdoor furniture.
Teak changes color as it ages, and the eventual result is a distinguished silver that is a mark of true teak furniture. Some people prefer the golden brown color of new teak, however, and there are products available that can help maintain that color longer. We'll warn you: maintaining the golden brown color will take some work. Our recommendation is to let your teak weather. The silver gray color is traditional and best of all, EASY. Save your Saturdays for other things.
Teak Cleaner
A water-based formula that cleans and brightens weathered teak in one step. Comes with a special applicator pad.
| 25oz. Teak Cleaner |
#CA70 |
$32.00 |
 |
Teak Stain Protector
Formula repels water and moisture and helps prevent stains from food and drinks. For use on weathered teak— it will not affect the color of the wood.
| 33oz. Teak Stain Protector |
#CA72 |
$44.00 |
|
Please note: Due to UPS restrictions on materials that may be shipped via air freight, we cannot fill orders for teak care products for customers in Alaska or Hawaii.
One final note: DO NOT use teak oil on your teak furniture if you're planning to use it outdoors! Adding oil will cause your beautiful teak furniture to turn black with mildew. It's a bad idea, and something we learned the hard way. As tempting as it is, don't do it. The furniture has enough oil in it already to last for decades— you don't need to replenish it.
Caring for Wicker
You can vacuum any of our synthetic or natural wicker furniture with a brush attachment to remove organic debris and dust. If needed, clean furniture using a soft sponge and mild soap and water.
Note that, while our synthetic wicker by Rausch is meant for outdoor use, our natural Wicker Bistro dining collection and Classic Wicker deep seating are not meant to be exposed to the elements. Those collections should be used on a covered porch or indoors only.
Caring for Metal
Although our outdoor metal furniture can be left outside, we recommend storing it indoors or at least covering it during the winter months, to prevent the finishes from chipping and/or peeling.
Cleaning: wash pieces using mild soap and water. Do not use abrasive or solvent based cleaners. Periodic (monthly) cleaning is highly recommended to prevent the build-up of dirt, mold or mildew.
Note about seaside usage: We do not recommend using metal furniture within three miles of salt water, because the resulting salt build-up may cause finishes to prematurely fade, crack or blister.
Caring for Outdoor Cushions
The cushions for all of our outdoor furniture ranges are made with weatherproof acrylic fabrics. These fabrics do not support the growth of mildew; however, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from the fabric. How often you will need to clean your cushions depends upon your local environment: cleaning is required less frequently in a dry environment than in a humid one around heavy foliage.
For routine cleaning and maintenance: hose off cushions with clean water on a monthly basis during the summer season. This will help to prevent dirt from becoming deeply imbedded in the fabric and will eliminate the need for more vigorous cleaning later. Cushions also can be vacuumed regularly to remove unseen organic debris that causes mildew to form.
In most environments a thorough cleaning will be needed once a year, prior to the summer season:
- Leave cushion covers on the cushions.
- Wash using a mild, natural soap (not a detergent) and rinse using cold water.
- Allow cushions to air dry (never apply heat to the fabric, and do not put cushions into a tumble dryer.
For stubborn stains or mildew: Mix together 4oz of chlorine bleach and 2oz of a mild, natural soap with 1 gallon of water. Clean the area with a soft bristle brush, and allow the mixture to soak in for up to 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with clean, cold water and allow to air dry. Repeat if necessary. |
