How to Clean Garden Furniture and Store It for Winter

Most outdoor furniture needs only water, mild soap and a soft cloth. Always check the care instructions on the product page first: they come from the manufacturer and take priority over general advice.

Cleaning by material

• Resin and polypropylene: warm water and mild soap with a soft brush for textured surfaces. Rinse well and let it dry in the sun.
• Aluminium: mild soap and a soft cloth, then rinse. Avoid abrasive pads that scratch the finish.
• Teak and other wood: a soft brush with soapy water along the grain. Let it dry fully before oiling, if you oil it.
• Rope and woven finishes: brush off dust, wash with soapy water, rinse and dry.
• Textilene (sunbed slings): soapy water and a soft brush, then rinse.
• Cushion covers: follow the label; most can be brushed and sponged, removable covers often washed gently.

How often to clean

• In summer: a quick rinse every week or two, more often near the sea or a pool. Wipe tables after each meal.
• After a dusty day: Cyprus regularly gets fine dust carried on southerly winds. Rinse it off before you wipe, otherwise the dust works like fine sandpaper on the finish.
• Twice a year, in spring and autumn: a full clean of every piece, including the underside, the feet and the joints.

A simple step-by-step clean

1. Brush or rinse off loose dust, sand and leaves. 2. Wash with warm water and a few drops of mild soap, working from the top down. 3. Use a soft brush for textured resin, rope and the grooves of slatted pieces. 4. Rinse well with a hose on a gentle setting, so no soap film is left behind. 5. Dry in the sun, or towel-dry metal and glass to avoid water spots.

Stains you will meet

• Sunscreen and oil: wash them off soon with warm soapy water. Old sunscreen marks on light resin and fabric are much harder to shift.
• Bird droppings and tree sap: soften with water first, then wipe. Do not scrape.
• Wine and coffee on cushions: blot, do not rub, then follow the fabric label.
• Mould spots on cushions: they usually come from storing them damp. Let covers dry fully in the sun before you put them away.

What to avoid

• Pressure washers at close range, bleach and solvents, unless the manufacturer allows them.
• Scouring pads and harsh brushes on painted or powder-coated metal.
• Storing anything while it is still wet.

Preparing for winter

Cyprus winters are mild but bring rain and storms.

• Clean and dry everything before you cover or store it.
• Bring cushions indoors or keep them in a storage box.
• Stack stackable chairs and sunbeds and keep them under a furniture cover or indoors.
• Close umbrellas, put on an umbrella cover, and take them down when a storm is forecast.
• Check fittings and screws in spring before the first use.

Covers and storage that work

• Pick a cover that reaches close to the ground without sitting in puddles. The Domus cover measures 240 × 100 × 240 cm; for a full dining set, the PVC-coated polyester furniture cover comes in 350 × 250 × 100 cm and 400 × 250 × 90 cm.
• Leave a little airflow under the cover so condensation can escape, and tie it down against wind.
• Keep cushions in a dry box. The Jersey 130 storage box, in painted aluminium and 130 × 61 × 63 cm, holds cushions, tools and outdoor accessories on the terrace.
• For a closed umbrella, the Giove umbrella cover is 412 cm long, made of water-resistant 250 g polyester with a zip and pulley system.

More options are in cushions and covers. For what the warranty covers and general care, see warranty and care.

Living close to the sea? Read furniture for a home by the sea.