About
Sunshine Times Blog
Sunshine Times Blog - by David Domoney
How to care for garden furniture all year
(February 2025)
Giving your garden furniture the best care, regardless of the season, will help it last longer. Hartman’s garden furniture is lovingly designed and made to last but will always benefit from some TLC. Find out the best care tips for your garden furniture, to keep it looking its best all year.
How to look after wooden garden furniture
Wooden furniture, being a natural material, is likely to cope quite well with all kinds of weather conditions. However, the type of wood your furniture is made from may impact the levels of care it would benefit from.
Hardwood garden furniture
Teak is the most obvious example of hardwood furniture and is the hardwood of choice for Hartman. You can find it looking fantastic as a centrepiece on the ranges like the Malton collection, and similarly in the table and arms of the chairs of the Ezra range. Teak is the most durable garden furniture hardwood and contains high levels of natural oils. Therefore, these types of wood are the most weather-resistant and can be left out all year.
If you want to protect teak garden furniture from particularly wet weather, you can lift the back legs to tilt it. By doing so, you will avoid water sitting on the seat for long periods of time, preventing rotting. To avoid this completely, you can protect it with weather-proof covers.
Softwood garden furniture
The most regularly seen softwood garden furniture is pine, and it is increasingly popular thanks to its affordability. Slightly more maintenance is required as it is slightly less durable than hardwood.
Preserving stains or paint is a great way to keep your softwood in good condition. Make sure to do so during dry weather so it dries evenly. The great thing about these stains and paints is you can choose whichever colour you like. You can give your softwood garden furniture a complete transformation if you so choose.
How to clean wooden garden furniture
Regardless of the type of wood your garden furniture is made with, annual cleaning will be greatly beneficial. Not only does it keep the furniture looking fresh, but it also removes any algae, lichens, or other unwanted dirt from the surface, keeping the wood healthier.
Warm, soapy water with a gentle brush is generally enough for most wood. Clean over the whole surface, and let it dry completely.
For teak garden furniture, Hartman has a couple of brilliant products to help it look its best all year. The best course of action for their products is to start with their High-Performance Teak Cleaner. This restores colour and removes dirt and stains. You can then follow this, once the wood is completely dry, with their Teak Protector. This protects the teak from dirt throughout the season, whilst also preserving the wood’s natural grain.
How to look after rattan garden furniture
Rattan furniture is durable and easy to care for. Particularly Hartman’s Weave range, including sets like Dune, Eton, Rayo, and Siesta. Their synthetic, resin rattan is made to last and look good in your garden all year, every year.
Similarly to the wooden garden furniture, Hartman’s rattan furniture is durable enough to be left outside all year. However, you can give your rattan furniture a longer life by covering it during wetter weather, particularly during the winter.
How to clean rattan garden furniture
Part of ensuring your rattan garden furniture lasts is to clean it annually. A good first step is to brush the furniture over with a broom. This will remove any debris or initial dust, just to prep it. Next, create a weak solution of washing up liquid and warm water. It’s gentle on furniture but determined with any dirt. You can use a sponge, but I like to use a brush, to get between the gaps in the weave. If after trying with a brush, some stubborn dirt isn’t shifting, I suggest a toothbrush. It will be able to get through some much tighter gaps, and you have better control over where you’re cleaning.
However, Hartman has a great alternative product which can be used on resin weave, ceramic, HPL, and aluminium garden furniture. Their Universal Cleaner can be easily sprayed onto any of these surfaces, and scrubbed with a brush, sponge, or cloth to make easy work of dirt and stains.
How to look after metal garden furniture
On cast-iron garden furniture, one of the most important things to do each year is look out for rust. This is even on plastic-coated iron furniture, as the plastic may split and rust may manage to develop. You can treat this with rust-preventing paint applied after any loose material has been removed. Aim to do this every two to three years.
However, Hartman doesn’t produce iron furniture. Their metal garden furniture is made with either aluminium or cast aluminium, neither of which rust. The difference between the two is simply how much aluminium they contain. Aluminium garden furniture is hollow, whereas cast aluminium garden furniture is solid. This means it is much less likely to dent.
Either is tough enough to be left outside all year but can be helped to last longer with a furniture cover. Any fabric furniture should be removed, especially if being left covered for long periods.
How to clean metal garden furniture
Hartman’s aluminium garden furniture can be easily cleaned, similarly to the wood and the rattan, with warm soapy water. The warmth of the water helps to shift any stubborn greasy marks, and washing up liquid is gentle on the surfaces.
Alternatively, Hartman’s Universal Cleaner is also perfectly created to shift dirt and stains from your garden furniture, including aluminium.
How to look after garden furniture fabrics
Ensuring your garden furniture is cosy and comfortable for prolonged relaxing periods, is made much easier with soft furnishings and cushions. Hartman’s furniture is no exception, with their cushions being perfect for hours of blissful rest with friends, and family, or even some quiet time alone. However, keeping it clean and in top condition is just as important as the furniture itself.
One of the most effective ways you can protect your cushions is to bring them indoors if inclement weather is predicted. Leaving them exposed to the elements will eventually result in mould and mildew build-up, so protecting them helps them last longer. You can also cover your furniture, cushions included. Only do so if you know it won’t be for a prolonged time.
Hartman’s furniture cushions use unique Weatherready® technology to ensure they are hardwearing and easy to clean. The fabric is water resistant, so liquid simply beads up and rolls off effortlessly. But if any water does permeate the fabric in persistent rain, it will do so through the sewing seams and drain through the mesh base. Then, depending on the weather conditions, they will dry out in time.
Hartman’s scatter cushions are also resistant to weather conditions, making them great low-maintenance options. They are showerproof, and colour fast, which will help avoid them fading after prolonged periods in direct sunlight. Again, to help these last as long as possible, it is best to store them away when not in use.
How to clean fabric garden furniture
Periodically cleaning your garden furniture fabrics will help them last longer and look their best for many years. Most garden furniture cushions will have removable covers, meaning they can be cleaned much more effectively separately from the internal cushions. Hartman’s cushions are no exception.
And Hartman has great products to make cleaning your garden furniture fabrics much easier. Firstly, is the Hartman Fabric Cleaner. This can be used on all of Hartman’s all-weather fabrics, cushions, and parasols. Helping to remove dirt and stains, simply spray the material to moisten it through on the stained area. Then, wait for three to ten minutes. The time depends on the severity of the stain being removed. Once the time is up, just remove it with a sponge.
This can then be followed by Hartman’s Fabric Protector. Spray it all over the fabric until it is completely saturated. Then, you simply need to leave it to dry for 24 hours. This will improve the water repellence of the fabric, further reducing the risk of stains.
With just a few simple care tips, your garden furniture can look brand new for many years. And with Hartman’s furniture, you have quality designed to last.