How to Restore Garden Furniture

Wood Furniture

• 1

  Clean wood furniture thoroughly. Brush dust and cobwebs away with a whisk broom. Wash the furniture with a scrub brush and bucket of soapy water. Rinse away dirt and soap residue by squirting the furniture with a spray nozzle set on high. Give the furniture two days to dry completely.

• 2

  Repair structural problems. Tighten any screws and bolts with a screwdriver or pliers, depending on the fastener. For loose arms, legs or slats that do not use fasteners, use wood glue to reattach the sections. Hold the glued parts together with a vise. Let the furniture sit two to three days while the glue dries thoroughly. Rub rough areas with sandpaper, starting with course-grit paper, then medium-grit and finally fine-grit to polish it smooth.

• 3

  Stain cedar and redwood furniture with a color-tinted sealer. Use a fine-bristle paintbrush to apply the sealer for a smooth finish. Other types of wood furniture may be left in its natural state or painted with water-resistant exterior paint. Select bright colors to create a festive seating area or subdued colors to complement an already-colorful garden space.

Plastic, PVC and Resin Furniture

• 4

  Make a paste with 1 cup baking soda and 3 tbsp. water. Slather the mixture on stained and heavily soiled areas of the furniture with a soft cloth. Allow to sit for a half hour, and then spray off with a garden hose.

• 5

  Mix a bucket of warm water and liquid dish soap. Dip a scrub brush into the bucket, and rub the furniture with the soapy mixture to loosen dirt and debris. Flip the furniture over to scrub the undersides. Spray with a garden hose nozzle turned to its high-pressure setting. Once the furniture is thoroughly rinsed, wipe it down with towels, and let it dry for a day.

• 6

  Paint any badly discolored plastic, PVC or resin furniture with aerosol spray paint formulated for use on plastics. Spray the underside, legs and backs of furniture, and allow it to dry for a day. Turn the furniture over, and spray the upper surfaces. Let the furniture dry for another day.

Painted Metal Furniture

• 7

  Wash the furniture with a scrub brush and warm soapy water. Work in circular and figure-eight motions over any grooves and crevices to loosen embedded dirt. Spray the metal furniture off with a nozzle, and dry thoroughly with a towel. Let the furniture sit for a day to allow all moisture to evaporate.

• 8

  Remove loose paint and chips if your metal furniture is peeled and flaking. Brush vigorously with a wire-bristle brush, and rub away rust with sandpaper. Wash away the debris with a spray nozzle, dry with a cloth, and let it air dry for a day. Coat the furniture with rust-resistant spray paint, let it dry, and then apply a second coat for a smooth, even finish. Apply auto wax after the the paint is completely dry.

• 9

  Apply a thin layer of liquid auto wax over the painted metal furniture. Squirt the wax on a soft cloth until about a quarter-size area is saturated. Rub the cloth in back-and-forth motions, followed by circular motions for even coverage. Work in small sections, placing more wax on the cloth after each area is thoroughly covered. Let the furniture sit for a week to allow the wax to harden.