Here are 5 tips for maintaining your wooden garden furniture:
1. Protect: Using a protective product (Cetol HLS or Cetol bl Hydratol for example).
2. Cover: Bring in your furniture during the winter or cover them with a tarp or canvas.
3. Cleanse: Use a soft brush and warm soapy water on a regular basis.
4. Sand off spots or graying.
5. Avoid patio furniture oils ... they hardly last longer than a season.

The different types of wood

The wood used for garden furniture is usually chosen from naturally rot-proof species whose mechanical properties ensure good resistance to wood-boring insects and fungi. Cherry, walnut, oak, pine or ash, the choice is vast among the native species, while Eucalyptus and Teak are the most widely used exotic species.

All these woods attacked by external conditions will turn gray and lose their beautiful appearance, an intervention will then be necessary.

How to proceed ?

It is best to do this at the start of the season, in spring.

Start by cleaning the wood using a stiff bristle brush with lukewarm water with a little bit of soap or a more effective specific cleaner such as AXCLEAN for heavily soiled wood.

If the wood is heavily grayed out, then go through a descaler . Apply in a generous layer, leave on for a few minutes and brush vigorously before drying. Rinse off with water and let dry.

Then rinse thoroughly, always with lukewarm water.

Washing will raise the hair of the wood. Once dry, sand the wood with 120 grit sandpaper. This sanding will also finish removing the last stubborn stains.

Dust, if necessary wipe with a slightly damp cloth to remove all dust residues.

The last step is to apply two layers of protection with a brush. Avoid oils! These hardly last more than a season. A non-film-forming stain will have much better strength and a clean, new appearance much longer. Some saturators are also a cost effective alternative.

Sikkens BL Hydratol has excellent results and a natural look on garden furniture.
The other alternative is Cetol HLS . A durable, slightly satin water-based product that provides superior stain resistance.

Maintenance of wooden furniture

A few simple steps will allow you to enjoy this renovation for longer. Use a soft damp cloth once a week to clean your garden furniture, this will remove dust and other dirt which will not have time to become encrusted. Place your garden furniture if possible in a shaded location to protect it from UV rays, if possible shelter it in winter when you are not using it.