Guys saying “Bros before Hose” don’t take their gardens very seriously ~ Anonymous.

Utilizing your backyard space fully is very important. You can grow fresh and organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers in them. You can decorate your garden with ornaments and accessories to make it a little heaven for yourself to escape from hectic routine and enjoy nature’s embrace. Decorating and keeping various decor items is all fun and cute till they start getting dirty, corroded, and brittle. Some of the important tips are needed to be followed to increase the life span of the accessories and beauty of your garden for a long time and save your money in the long run. There are many different items that you can decorate your garden with, and each would need your individual attention and care.

Here are some “Useful tips to take care of your outdoor furniture“. This will help you to keep them safe for a long time.

Weathering extremities:

Nothing is more uncertain than the weather. Although weather forecast experts can predict the weather before some accidental change, they cannot tell you about the exact change in the weather before it happens. So, in addition to normal weather conditions, you must be ready to protect your garden from sudden changes.

Keep the dirt away

Dust off the apparent dirt settling onto your furniture and other items. The fast wind brings dirt particles along with and is loaded with microbes and dangerous pathogens. And if these microorganisms resting on your furniture get enough moisture, they would start making colonies, spreading diseases, and algae build up. So, Dusting is the first line of defense to protect your furniture from winds.

Fabric Protector sprays

Using protective spray usually creates an impenetrable layer on the surface so that the dirt particles cannot adhere. These can be used to coat any piece of item’s fabric. The fabric of the furniture is especially of concern because microbes and dirt once entrapped in the fibers of the fabric, are difficult to remove. So, taking care of that is important.

Protect them from direct sunlight

Exposure to Sunlight is good as it kills many harmful bacteria but too much exposure can damage your garden items be it a fountain or a chair. Using a large outdoor umbrella can be a helpful idea as you can move it to various places and close it down when not using it.

Prepare for the worst

After watching a weather casting, if there are chances of a heatwave or heavy rain with thunder, prepare for it well. Move your items inside or under the shed. Small-sized items are easy to shift in and out but if they cannot be moved easily like heavy fountains or fixed bird feeders, cover them carefully with thick plastic sheets to protect them from dangerous UV rays of heatwave and rainwater.

If you are looking to buy outdoor furniture for the garden then follow this article How to Buy Outdoor Furniture That Lasts

Taking care of decor and ornaments material-wise

Wooden items

Wood is a natural gift for making so many articles and is used in many materials. From paper to tables, from shelves to frames you can use wood anywhere you like. It is also important to take care of the wooden articles to increase their life and preserve their appearance.

● The first protocol is the same, dust the apparent dirt off.
● Use polish to renew the weary look.
● Use warm water mixed with mild liquid soap, soak a cloth and clean the stains.
● Make sure there is no moisture in the wood from environmental humidity or rainfall. Dry it with a standing fan. Moisture can make wood swell up and weaken.
● You can also use sandpaper for your wooden items to scrub away the old outer layer and paint over it to renew the surface.
● You can also let your wood decor age; it will achieve a distressed look by itself. Distressed items have their decorative appeal.

Metallic stuff

Metal is also widely used in ornamental items. It gives a modern yet traditional style to your garden. Taking care of metal is also very important as it is prone to corrosion and brittleness. These outcomes can damage your items.

● Metal is rather easy to maintain and take care of. Use a damp cloth to clean stains and dirt. Use a pressured stream of water from a hose to clean dirt thoroughly.
● If the item is rusty, use a wool cloth or scotch Brite pad to scrape out the outer rusty layer. You can also paint over the affected area with colors you like.
● Steel can get scratches easily so be careful of using a non-abrasive cloth while cleaning.
● Aluminum is not sensitive to rust, but it is sensitive to aluminum oxidation by reaction with environmental oxygen which can be easily prevented with regular cleaning.
● Just like wood, metal can develop a patina, an old weary look over time. It is liked by some people and disliked by others. If you don’t like it, paint over it, scrub it away, polish it. If you like the distressed appearance well, there isn’t much to do but to let the metal distress.

Ceramic articles

Ceramic-made decorations are also common in the garden and important to take care of. Ceramic is heavy to move around so it can get brittle over time with constant contact with water and sunlight. It can also chip away with accidental strikes and can get scratched easily.

● If there is too much humidity in the atmosphere, cover your items to avoid moisture infusing and trickling inside the ceramic. It can weaken the structural integrity. If it is winter, the water droplets can freeze inside and crack the whole item.
● Do not use the high-pressure water stream from a hose or strong detergent to clean ceramic items. It can damage the glaze and coating on the ceramic items.
● Use a damp cloth to remove dust and be careful not to chip enamel and paint on the surface. Avoid any abrasive cloth that can cause friction and hence damage the surface.
● Renew the outer protective glaze regularly after intervals to protect it from sunlight and moisture seeping inside the surface.
● As ceramic is clay, so to take care of accidental breakage or chipped corners. Buy some plaster of Paris, make a thick paste, and fill up the broken and chipped places. Paint over the white filled-up plaster with colors of the ceramic or just glaze it.

Resin made articles of decoration

Resin is another important material used in the decoration of indoor and outdoor areas. Resin is a naturally initially viscous substance that can turn into solidified material after the process of curing. Resins can be subjected to fading of color. The decorative patterns of resins can be damaged with sunlight and UV exposure.

● Cleaning resins is usually done with a microfiber cloth. An abrasive fictional cloth can disrupt the outer surface of the resin. Clean it slowly and carefully.
● Water cleaning doesn’t hurt resin ornaments. Using mild soap-soaked cloth can be very helpful in cleaning out stains and dust.
● Do not use bleach or other cleaning chemicals as it can also lead to fading of color of the resin and hence distort the appearance of the item.
● To avoid UV exposure and losing color, buy UV-resistant resin decoration pieces. They are a bit expensive but would help you in the long run.

Some Quick and easy tips:

● Use furniture covers to cover your furniture in such a way that it protects the furniture as well as brings out a stylish outlook.

● Avoid direct sunlight exposure by planting trees and shrubs around the sensitive pieces of decoration in your garden.
● Oils and paint sprays can be very helpful to fight moisture, rust, color damage, and fading. You can use different colors of paint to change the decorative themes.
● Use flowers and vines to decorate your furniture and ornaments and add a touch of nature to them. This will increase the overall aesthetic of your garden and make your decorations stand out.
● Buy plastic covers for your items as the weather can be unpredictable and you cannot keep moving the stuff in and out of the storage. You can also get a sheet of plastic like PVC, polyester, polystyrene and stitch the covers by yourself. Simply measure the size of each furniture item and mark it onto the sheet. Use a sewing machine and make covers for your outdoor item.
● Water cleaning is good, but it shouldn’t be done too often as moisture welcomes many microbes to grow and reproduce. This can result in algae and fungal build-up with smell and unpleasant color.

Check my recommendation for Perfect Guide for Buying Outdoor Garden Statue

Experts’ advice

Decorating your garden is an investment of your money and time. It is a commitment to take care of these decorations and your garden. Taking care of your garden accessories and decoration pieces is a good way to care for the hard-earned money with which you bought all your pieces. It will help you preserve your items and maintain their resale value. If you ever want to change the scenario and theme you can always save money by selling previous decorative stuff at good rates. We are here to address all your cleaning guidance and needs. Happy cleaning!