Carly Vicknair - Senior Marketing Specialist, Coverstore
Carly is a Senior Marketing Specialist who brings product expertise and real customer insight to her writing on outdoor living and cover care.
How to Care for Outdoor Furniture, Material by Material
How to care for outdoor furniture comes down to three habits: a light spot clean every month, one deep clean a year matched to the material, and a cover on the furniture whenever it is not in use. Get those three right and a patio set lasts years longer than the warranty suggests. So why does the same set look weathered in one yard and new in another?
Outdoor furniture can transform your patio into an outdoor entertainment center, perfect for garden parties and private retreats. While these pieces are designed to withstand the beating sun and pouring rain, harsh outdoor elements still damage furniture over time. Sun fades and dries. Rain feeds mold. Bird droppings eat through protective finishes.
Below you will find how to clean plastic, wicker, metal, wood, teak, sling, and fabric furniture, plus how to remove mildew, what to do each season, and how to store everything when the weather turns.
5 Things to Know When Cleaning Outdoor Furniture!
Video Summary
Coverstore walks through five quick rules for cleaning a patio set, starting with matching your method to the material, clearing surface debris before you scrub so grit does not scratch the finish, and using a garden hose for a fast refresh between deep cleans.
How to Clean Your Outdoor Furniture
How you clean your furniture depends on what it is made of. Never power-wash your patio furniture or use corrosive cleaners like bleach unless directed by the furniture manufacturer. Whenever you are using a new solution, test it on a piece of the furniture that cannot be seen before using it on the whole piece.
Knowing how to keep outdoor furniture clean is mostly about frequency, not effort. Give everything a light cleaning at least once a month, even if it does not look like it needs it. This can be as easy as wiping it down with a wet rag or dusting it off with a soft-bristle broom. If you see bird droppings, sap, or a stain starting to develop, clean the area immediately, since bird droppings are corrosive and cause damage if they sit.
Cleaning Method by Material
Use this table as a quick reference before you start. Details for each material follow below.
| Material | Cleaning Solution | Deep Clean | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic and resin | ¼ cup mild dish soap per gallon of warm water | Monthly or as needed | Abrasive pads, harsh solvents |
| Natural wicker | A few drops of mild soap per gallon of water, damp cloth only | Twice a year | Soaking, hosing, pressure washing |
| Synthetic or resin wicker | Hose rinse, mild soap and cold water if soiled | Monthly or as needed | Harsh solvents |
| Metal | Mild soap solution, then paste wax or naval jelly | Twice a year | Standing water, droppings left on the finish |
| Wood | Oil-based mild soap and water, with the grain | Once or twice a year | Hosing down, which invites mold and mildew |
| Teak | Equal parts water and mild detergent, or a teak cleaner | Once or twice a year | Oiling, which traps moisture and feeds mold |
| Sling and mesh | Mild soap and a soft brush on both sides of the fabric | Monthly in season | Scrubbing hard enough to fray the weave |
| Cushions and outdoor fabric | ¼ cup mild detergent per gallon of water, spot clean | As needed, plus once a year | Machine washing unless the tag allows it |
How to Clean Plastic Patio Furniture
- Rinse your furniture with a hose to wash off the first layer of dirt.
- Mix ¼ cup of gentle dish-washing liquid or mild detergent in a gallon of warm water.
- Scrub the furniture with a soft-bristle brush or sponge.
- Rinse and then leave your furniture in a sunny spot in your yard to dry.
White plastic is the exception worth calling out. Sun helps lift discoloration once the surface is clean, so let white pieces dry in direct light rather than in the shade.
How to Clean Wicker and Rattan Furniture
Before you start cleaning wicker furniture, check to see if it is natural or synthetic. Natural wicker will chip and break over time so take extra care when washing. Only wash authentic wicker twice a year to keep the material from splintering and the glue joints from weakening.
Authentic Wicker
- Create a mixture of a few drops of mild soap in a gallon of water.
- Using only enough of the solution to dampen a soft cloth, gently scrub the furniture.
- Rinse thoroughly with a light, misty spray from your hose.
- Dry the wicker immediately with a soft towel.
Synthetic or Resin Wicker
Synthetic wicker, also called resin wicker, is much stronger than authentic wicker. With UV and weather-resistant coatings, it will not splinter or fade over time. Simply wash this furniture down with a hose. If your furniture is filthy, use a mild soap and cold water mixture to scrub it down, then dry it completely with a towel.
The same approach works if you are learning how to clean rattan furniture. Rattan grooves trap dirt, so vacuum with a soft brush attachment first, then wipe with a damp cloth rather than soaking the weave.
How to Clean Metal Patio Furniture
Most often, metal furniture is made of iron, steel, or aluminum. Since iron and steel rust, most metal furniture has a rust-resistant coating. Aluminum will not rust, but it does oxidize into a chalky white film that wipes off with a mild soap solution. Bird droppings destroy the protective finish on any of the three, so wash them off as soon as you see them. After washing with a mild soap solution, you can use naval jelly or paste wax to protect the piece from corrosion and rust.
If your furniture has rust or mold, use fine-grit sandpaper to remove it. Wipe it clean with a soapy solution. If needed, apply touch-up paint in multiple thin coats, giving the paint time to dry between each layer.
Wrought iron needs the closest watch. It is the heaviest and the most rust-prone, so check the joints and the underside of the feet each spring, where water sits longest.
How to Clean Outdoor Wood Furniture
If your wooden patio furniture has been coated with exterior-grade varnish, you can clean it with a solution of oil-based mild soap and water. Just a few drops of soap will do the trick.
Soft woods, like cedar, should be scrubbed with the direction of the wood grain. Wipe the furniture with a wet rag and never hose it down, since that causes mold and mildew. Dry it with a towel.
With most wood furniture, you should give it a coat of oil after cleaning, but check with the manufacturer first. If you want to know how to protect wood furniture outdoors between cleanings, a sealant reapplied once a year does more than any single deep clean, since it keeps water out of the grain in the first place.
How to Clean Teak Outdoor Furniture
Teak is a tropical hardwood that makes stunning outdoor furniture, but it needs extra care. Dirt and grime that coat teak furniture cause mildew to grow over time. To keep furniture in tip-top condition, scrub it with a solution of equal parts water and mild detergent, or use a dedicated teak cleaner formulated for outdoor hardwood.
Unlike most wood furniture, you should not oil teak. Oiling traps moisture in the wood, which causes mold.
Teak Sealer vs Teak Oil
These two products are often shelved side by side and they do close to opposite things. Teak oil soaks into the grain and darkens the wood temporarily, then feeds the mildew it traps underneath. A teak sealer sits on the surface and slows the color change without adding moisture. If you want to hold the honey-brown tone, a sealer is the safer of the two on outdoor teak. Check the manufacturer guidance before applying either one.
Should You Let Teak Go Gray?
Untreated teak weathers to a soft silver-gray patina. This is cosmetic, not structural. The wood underneath is unchanged, and plenty of owners prefer the aged look. Only the appearance is at stake, so choose based on the look you want.
How to Restore Teak Outdoor Furniture
If your teak has grayed and you want the original color back, clean it first with a teak cleaner and let it dry fully. Once dry, a light sand with fine-grit paper in the direction of the grain brings the warm tone back to the surface. Wipe away the dust before sealing. Never start with sandpaper on dirty teak, since that grinds the grime into the grain.
How to Clean Sling and Mesh Patio Furniture
Sling chairs and mesh seating are their own category, and most care guides skip them. The fabric is stretched over a frame, so dirt works through to the back side where you cannot see it. Learning how to clean patio furniture mesh takes one extra step: clean both faces of the fabric.
- Mix a mild soap solution and apply it with a soft-bristle brush.
- Work the brush gently across the weave, not into it, on the top surface.
- Reach underneath and repeat on the back of the sling.
- Rinse with a light spray and let the chair dry standing upright so water drains out of the frame.
Never let water sit inside a hollow frame. It corrodes the metal from the inside and can freeze and split the tube in cold weather.
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How to Clean Fabric Furniture and Cushions
Outdoor fabrics for patio furniture undergo chemical treatments to increase moisture and stain resistance. The level of durability varies greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer, so be sure to do your research. While these fabrics are weather-resistant, that does not mean you should leave them outside without protection.
One heavy rainstorm can ruin most low-quality cushions, making the padding clumpy and adding grime. Worse yet, mold starts to grow if the water seeps down into the cushion padding.
If there is a chance of rain, you have a few options: bring your cushions and pillows inside, cover your patio furniture, or place your cushions and pillows in a cushion storage bag. For an added layer of protection, invest in high quality cushion covers designed to withstand more of a beating from the elements. Washing a soiled cover is far easier than cleaning an entire cushion, since most covers are machine washable.
Outdoor fabrics are extremely durable, but that does not mean you can wash them any way you like. Test any new solution in a small, unnoticeable section before using it on your cushions.
Spot-clean your cushions using a solution of ¼ cup mild detergent in a gallon of water. Do not machine wash or dry your pillows and cushions unless the manufacturer lists otherwise. Be sure pillows and cushions are completely dry before storage to avoid mold and mildew.
Clean fabric furniture such as cloth chairs and hammocks in your washing machine using a gentle cycle. To avoid shrinking the fabric, hang it outdoors to dry, and stretch it back over the furniture frame before it is completely dry.
Read how to clean outdoor cushions for home-made cleaning solutions and in-depth instructions.
How to Remove Mold and Mildew From Outdoor Furniture
Mildew on furniture is the single most common reason a patio set looks older than it is, and it is almost always a moisture problem rather than a dirt problem. Mildew shows up as a flat gray or black speckling on the surface. Mold sits on top of the material with more texture to it. Both need the same first response, which is to get the piece dry.
- Move the piece into open air and full sun if you can. Sun and airflow kill more mildew than any spray.
- Brush off the loose growth with a dry soft-bristle brush before adding any water, so you are not spreading spores into a paste.
- Wash the area with a mild soap solution suited to the material, using the method from the relevant section above.
- Rinse and let the piece dry completely, including the underside and any joints or seams.
- Fix the cause. Check that the piece is not sitting in a low spot where water pools, and that it was fully dry the last time you covered it.
Removing Mildew From Outdoor Cushions
Treat the cover and the foam as two separate problems. A surface stain on the cover cleans up with mild detergent and a brush. If the padding inside is damp, no amount of surface cleaning helps, and the cushion needs to dry all the way through before it goes back outside or into storage.
Skip the bleach unless the manufacturer specifically approves it. Bleach damages the water-resistant finish on most outdoor fabrics and discolors light-colored frames.
One prevention rule matters more than the rest: never cover furniture that is still wet. A cover over a damp cushion is a greenhouse, and it grows more mildew in a week than an uncovered piece grows in a season.
Outdoor Furniture Care by Season
Outdoor furniture maintenance is easier as a short seasonal routine than as one exhausting weekend a year. Use this as your baseline and adjust for your climate.
| Season | What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Deep clean every piece by material. Inspect frames, joints, and hardware. Reseal wood | Sets the baseline before peak season and catches winter damage early |
| Summer | Spot clean spills and droppings the day they happen. Cover between uses | Sun and bird droppings do the most finish damage in this window |
| Fall | Clear wet leaves and debris weekly. Wash and fully dry everything before it goes away | Trapped wet debris is the leading cause of staining and mildew |
| Winter | Store cushions indoors or in a storage bag. Cover or store frames | Freeze and thaw cycles split frames and crack finishes |
Not every climate needs all four. In mild regions, the fall step matters most, because a piece that goes into storage damp comes out of storage ruined.
How to Store Your Outdoor Furniture
Whether you live in a mild or harsh climate, using patio furniture covers will prolong the life of your furniture and keep it looking like new. If you are planning to leave your cover on for an extended period of time, clean your furniture before covering it. This keeps the cover itself clean on the inside and reduces the work when you are ready to use your furniture again.
Store pieces off the ground where you can. A frame resting on a damp concrete slab wicks moisture up into the legs all winter.
Tip: Whenever you are not using your patio furniture, keep it covered. Having covers handy is a good idea whether it is for the busy work week or while away on vacation.
How to Take Care of Your Patio Furniture Covers
Properly maintaining your patio furniture covers keeps your furniture well-protected and clean. Wash your covers using mild soap and warm water, lightly scrub with a soft-bristled brush, and hang them out to air dry completely before putting them back on. A fabric guard spray helps the cover keep repelling water and dirt between washes.
For easy storage, check out one of our cover storage bags to keep your cover out of the way when it is not in use.
For the full step by step, read how to clean outdoor furniture covers and how to store your cover. Our Cover Care Guide has instructions on the proper way to clean your furniture cover and how to fold it for easy storage.
FAQ: Caring for Outdoor Furniture
How often should I clean my outdoor furniture?
Give it a light wipe down once a month during the season and one deep clean a year matched to the material. Clean bird droppings, sap, and spills the day you spot them rather than waiting for the monthly pass, since those cause the damage that does not come out later.
Can I pressure wash patio furniture?
No. Pressure washing strips protective finishes, splinters natural wicker, frays sling fabric, and forces water into wood grain and hollow frames. A garden hose on a normal spray setting is as much pressure as outdoor furniture should see.
Can I use bleach on outdoor furniture?
Not unless the manufacturer says so. Bleach breaks down the water-resistant treatment on outdoor fabrics, discolors light frames, and corrodes some metal finishes. Mild soap and water handles nearly everything, and sunlight does more for discoloration than bleach does.
Should I oil or seal my teak furniture?
Seal it rather than oil it. Teak oil traps moisture in the grain and feeds mildew. A sealer slows the color change from the outside without adding moisture. If you are happy with a silver-gray patina, you can leave teak untreated with no structural downside.
Do I need furniture covers if my patio furniture is weather-resistant?
Weather-resistant means the material survives exposure, not that exposure does nothing. Cushions clump, finishes fade, and frames collect water regardless of the rating. A cover between uses is the lowest effort step in this entire guide. Just make sure the furniture is fully dry before the cover goes on.
Protect the Furniture You Just Cleaned
Cleaning restores a patio set. A cover is what keeps it that way between uses. Coverstore has standard and custom covers to fit every outdoor furniture piece.
Final Thoughts
Caring for outdoor furniture is not complicated once you match the method to the material. Clean lightly every month, deep clean once a year, treat mildew the moment you spot it, and never cover a piece that is still wet. Do that and your patio set stays looking new season after season.
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