Looking after garden furniture
In winter, it’s best to store your garden furniture inside if you have space in a basement, shed or garage. If not, then fold it, lean it against a wall so that water runs off, and if possible get it off the soggy lawn onto some hard standing. Cover it with tough, well-secured, waterproof covers. Make sure the furniture is completely dry before you cover it.
Treat wooden garden furniture every year to a thorough clean and a dose of wood preservative. Hardwood furniture is very durable, but will still benefit from a coating of teak oil or other suitable product. Pine furniture is cheaper and less resistant to the weather, but it will last a number of years if you treat it every year. Do this in dry weather, preferably in the autumn before putting the furniture away for storage. Lightly oil any joints and moving parts to keep them flexible.
To keep metal garden furniture looking good and lasting for years, clean it every year and check it for rusty spots and patches. Gently rub these down to remove loose material and then paint on a rust preventer. Even plastic-coated metal furniture can suffer from rust if cracks open up in the plastic and moisture creeps in. Lightly oil any joints and moving parts to keep them flexible.
Plastic furniture is the easiest to maintain, but it can lose its looks if you don’t care for it. Wipe it down regularly to avoid marks and staining. Try to bring the furniture in during the winter as sunlight causes plastic to deteriorate and become brittle over time. If you can’t store it inside, stack it or fold it and if possible, cover it with a tightly-secured waterproof cover.