By Terri Sapienza,The Washington Post
\nTaking small steps to properly maintain your outdoor furniture will help prolong its life and enable you to enjoy it year after year.
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\n Officials at Hampton Bay, a line of furniture from The Home Depot, offer these tips:<\/p>\n
Keep it simple. For minimum maintenance, choose furniture made of easy-to-clean materials. Wrought iron and aluminum are good choices.<\/p>\n
Go light. Pastels and light colors tend to maintain their color over time better than darker shades. If your furniture is not protected by a roof or awning, choose light-colored fabric to minimize fading.<\/p>\n
Prevent stains. Keep some distance between your furniture and surrounding foliage and trees. The bark and oils from certain trees (nut trees, for example) can stain. Using fade- and stain-resistant fabrics (such as Sunbrella) on chair cushions also helps. These fabrics may cost a little more, but they will help keep furniture looking fresh.<\/p>\n
Clean carefully. Use a pressure washer (keep the setting low) to get rid of caked-on dirt on PVC or wrought-iron furniture; a damp cloth to wipe off legs and bases of metal chairs and tables; and a soft brush, with a mixture of mild soap and warm water, to clean cushions and seating areas. Bleach generally should be avoided (for mildew stains, use a well-diluted solution of bleach and water).<\/p>\n
Provide cover. Though outdoor furniture is designed to be exposed to the elements, protect it during bad weather. Pull patio furniture into a covered area to prevent metal from rusting and to protect wood and fabrics from dirt and mold. During winter, store furniture in a garage or basement. If furniture must be left outside, cover it with a waterproof tarp or heavy plastic available from gardening supply stores and catalogs.<\/p>\n
Protect. Wood furniture requires extra care. For teak furniture, apply an oil designed for treating teak. For all other woods, use a polyurethane-based wax made especially for outdoor durability. Protect metals from developing rust by polishing them with wax.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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