To take the absolute best care of your wood outdoor furniture, you need to take into consideration the climate in which you live and the type of wood your furniture is made from. However, there are some basic care and maintenance tips that you should adhere to, no matter your exact climate and the exact wood of your furniture:
» Covering and storing: During any months in which you do not plan on using your furniture, you should store it away in a shed or garage, place it beneath an overhang, and/or cover it.
» Manufacturer's instructions: If you have bought your furniture new, then it should come with some care and maintenance tips. Be sure to save and follow the tips and tricks trump.
» Sun and rain: While sun and rain may be the best possible friends of your garden, they can be considered enemies of wood furniture. Think about covering your furniture before a storm and keeping it in the shade or beneath the overhang of a porch - of course, properly protecting your chairs and tables can lessen the need for such precautions.
» Protectants: At the beginning of each season, take your furniture out. Use a protectant on it. It depends upon what type of furniture it is. Stain, paint, preservatives, and/or wax can be used.
» Wipe down: It is a good idea to get into a habit of wiping down the furniture every week. Just use a dry cloth.
» The legs: Keep them out of grass which can log them with a lot of moisture over time, sometimes rotting the wood. As an added precaution, fill up four cups with a wood preservative and place the four legs of the chair or table, etc. into them. Do not neglect the legs of your wooden furniture.
» Cleaning: Once a month (and certainly before you put the garden furniture away for the winter), take a moist and soapy cloth and wipe down the furniture. Make sure that you completely dry it off afterwards. If necessary, use a wood cleaner.
