Today we continue our blog series on cleaning and caring for garden furniture. Today we're focusing on wooden garden furniture. Wood is a natural product and needs to be cared for regularly. There are a few things to consider when cleaning.
Difference between soft and hard wood species
The cleaning and care of wooden furniture varies depending on the type of wood. In the past, wooden garden furniture was made of soft wood, i.e. pine, spruce or beech . These were varnished to make them more durable. Since the wood is rather soft, in contrast to other types of wood, it is much more susceptible to dirt and moisture. Regular cleaning and sanding makes the garden furniture more durable. In contrast, garden furniture today is made of more resistant and harder wood such as teak, robinia, eucalyptus or cedar . These types of wood naturally contain essential oils, which act as a protective barrier and UV protection. Care is therefore not particularly complex.
Home remedies for cleaning wooden garden furniture
In addition to special cleaners, there are also household remedies that everyone has at home for cleaning wooden furniture. The furniture should be thoroughly cleaned at the beginning of the season, in the middle of the season and at the end . A tried and tested household remedy for green growth and algae is a soda and starch paste . As the name suggests, this consists of cornstarch and soda. First, a few tablespoons of starch are dissolved in a little water. This starch mixture is added to a pan with around 5 liters of lukewarm water. Add around 100 grams of soda or sodium carbonate. The whole thing must now be brought to the boil so that the starch begins to swell. The resulting paste can be applied to the furniture while it is still warm and left to work for 4-5 hours . Finally, rinse the paste with water. The furniture can now be treated with a suitable wood preservative.
If nothing helps: sanding and oiling
Another household remedy is soapy water . This requires lukewarm water and natural, hard or soft soap. Natural soap is best as it contains vegetable oils that have a moisturising effect. After cleaning with the soapy water, the wooden furniture should be rubbed dry. As already mentioned, in addition to household products, there are also special cleaning products for wooden furniture . With special cleaners, care must be taken to ensure that they are environmentally friendly. If the dirt is very stubborn and has turned grey, oil can also help . However, colourless oils do not offer UV protection and do not protect against greying, unlike coloured oils. If none of these tips help, the wood can be sanded down . The wood must then be treated in any case to protect it. Apply the care oil to the cleaned furniture and allow it to soak in undisturbed. Sunlight should also be avoided. Polish the wood after it has dried; this will make the impregnating effect stronger.
General cleaning tips
Finally, we have a few general tips for wooden garden furniture:
- Use soft cleaning utensils to clean wood, otherwise the surface will be roughened and dirt, moisture and microbes can penetrate the wood
- Do not use microfiber cloths, as their strong absorbency will also remove the oil from the wood
- Always clean and maintain in the direction of the grain to prevent the wood fibers from being raised
- Avoid cleaning products containing aggressive chemical substances
- Do not use a high-pressure cleaner, the high pressure will damage the wood
