Garden Furniture Cleaning

Garden furniture lives outside taking everything the weather throws at it, and after a winter under a cover (or worse, no cover at all) it tends to look like it's been at sea for a few years. Algae, mould, lichen, bird droppings and general grime build up on rattan weave, hardwood slats, plastic and metal alike — and the smaller details (the joins, the underside of cushions, the woven sections) are exactly where ordinary wiping doesn't reach.

We clean garden furniture as a stand-alone service or as an add-on to other garden cleaning work. Done at the start of the season, it transforms an uninviting patio set into one you actually want to sit at again.

Furniture types we clean

• Synthetic rattan and PE weave — the most common modern garden furniture; texture holds onto algae.
• Real cane and natural wicker — soft-wash only.
• Teak, iroko and other hardwoods — gentle pressure plus oil restoration if wanted.
• Softwood furniture — pine benches, picnic tables; clean and re-stain.
• Plastic furniture — Hartman, Keter and similar moulded plastic.
• Aluminium and powder-coated metal — needs care to avoid scratching the powder coat.
• Cast iron and wrought iron — we'll point out any rust starting up.
• Cushions and seat pads — fabric covers cleaned separately, foam allowed to dry.

How we clean it

Garden furniture cleaning is more about technique than power. We use a soft-wash approach with a biocide and detergent solution, then rinse with low-pressure water. Pressure is kept moderate to avoid damaging weave, finish or paint. On hardwood we go gently with the grain. On metal we keep the lance moving to avoid concentrating pressure on any one spot.

For furniture that's very dirty or has been outside untreated for years, we sometimes need two passes — one to lift the loose surface dirt, and a second after the deep-set staining has had time to come out. We'll tell you at the quote stage if your furniture is going to need extra time.

Hardwood furniture restoration

Teak, iroko and other tropical hardwoods are popular for outdoor furniture because they tolerate weather brilliantly. They will, however, go silver-grey within a year or two if left untreated. Cleaning and re-oiling brings the rich original colour back.

We pressure wash gently to lift dirt and loose surface fibres, let the timber dry properly, lightly sand if needed, then apply two coats of teak oil or a hardwood-specific finish. The result lasts a full season and only needs a yearly top-up to maintain.

Cushions and fabric covers

Most outdoor cushions have removable fabric covers, which are usually machine-washable (always check the label). For non-removable covers we use a fabric-safe cleaner with low-pressure rinsing, but they need a long drying time which means good weather. For really stubborn cushion mould or staining, replacement is sometimes more economical than restoration — we'll be honest about which is the better path.

Foam interiors are almost impossible to fully clean once mould has established inside them; if your foam smells musty after cleaning the cover, the foam itself probably needs replacing.

When to clean garden furniture

Spring is the most popular time — we get a flurry of bookings in March and April as people prepare for the summer. Late summer is also a good time to clean before storing for winter. Autumn cleaning followed by storage under a good quality cover gives furniture the best chance of looking great the following year.

Furniture stored outdoors uncovered all winter is the most challenging — but even neglected furniture usually cleans up well. Don't assume it's ruined until we've looked at it.