How to Clean Garden Furniture

Whatever it's made of, start by brushing off loose dirt, cobwebs and leaves. Then wash with warm water and a squeeze of washing-up liquid using a soft brush or sponge, and rinse with a hose. For most plastic, metal and rattan furniture, that's all it needs. Let everything dry fully in the sun before putting cushions back on.

Softwood and hardwood furniture turns silver-grey as the surface weathers. Wash it with a wood cleaner or soapy water and a soft brush, working with the grain. Green algae comes off with a garden furniture cleaner or a mild solution of oxygen-based cleaner. Avoid pressure washing wooden furniture – it raises the grain and can damage joints.

Teak and other hardwoods can be left to weather naturally, or cleaned with a teak cleaner and then oiled to bring back the honey colour. Treated softwood furniture benefits from a wood preserver or garden furniture oil once a year after cleaning, applied on a dry day.

Most modern 'rattan' garden furniture is synthetic resin weave over an aluminium frame, which is weatherproof and easy to clean. Vacuum or brush the weave to remove dust and leaves, then wash with soapy water and a soft brush, getting into the gaps. Rinse and dry. A gentle pressure washer setting held well back can be used on some synthetic rattan, but check the manufacturer's advice first.

Natural cane and rattan isn't designed to stay outside. Clean it with a barely damp cloth and dry it quickly.

Aluminium furniture doesn't rust but can develop a white, powdery oxidation. Wash with soapy water and a soft cloth, and avoid abrasive cleaners on powder-coated finishes. Steel and wrought-iron furniture can rust where the coating is chipped. Clean it, then rub rust spots back with wire wool or fine sandpaper, wipe off the dust and touch up with a rust-inhibiting metal finish.

White plastic chairs and tables go grey and green but respond well to cleaning. Wash with warm soapy water. For stubborn grime, a paste of bicarbonate of soda or a non-abrasive cream cleaner on a sponge helps. Avoid scouring pads, which scratch the surface and make it collect dirt faster.

Check cushion labels: many covers zip off and can go in the washing machine on a cool cycle. If not, brush off loose dirt, then sponge with warm soapy water, rinse and dry upright in the sun. Black mildew spots on outdoor fabric can often be treated with an outdoor fabric cleaner or a diluted oxygen bleach suitable for coloured fabrics – test first.

Glass table tops can be cleaned like windows – see how to clean windows without streaks. Bird droppings come off more easily if softened with a damp cloth for a few minutes first.

A little care in autumn saves hours in spring:

Garden furniture isn't usually part of a regular domestic clean, but many cleaners and exterior cleaning firms will clean it on request, especially alongside patio or decking cleaning. Holiday let owners often include it in the spring preparation clean before the season starts.