Key takeaways
- Warm soapy water and a soft brush clean almost any garden furniture
- Teak goes silver-grey naturally, and oiling is only for the colour
- Softwood and painted wood need re-treating to stop rot
- Never pressure wash teak, softwood or natural rattan
- Treat rust on steel and iron as soon as the paint chips
- A dry shed beats any cover, and cushions should always come indoors for winter
Most garden furniture only needs warm soapy water, a soft brush and a good rinse. The extra steps depend on what it’s made of: teak, softwood, rattan, metal or plastic. A yearly spring clean and a dry winter home will add years to almost any set.
This guide takes each material in turn, then covers cushions, winter storage and a simple yearly routine. Once the furniture’s sorted, our guide to cleaning a patio will help with the slabs underneath.
The easiest way to clean any garden furniture
Start gently and only step up if you need to. A bucket of warm water with a squirt of washing-up liquid and a soft-bristle brush cleans teak, painted wood, powder-coated metal, plastic and synthetic rattan.
- Brush off loose dirt, leaves and cobwebs
- Work in the shade, so the surface doesn’t dry in streaks
- Scrub with the soapy water, going along the grain on wood
- Rinse with a hose on a gentle setting
- Leave to dry fully before covering, treating or putting cushions back
The sections below are for the jobs soapy water can’t finish: grey teak, flaky paint, rust, marks on plastic and mouldy cushions.
How to clean and care for teak
Teak needs much less care than most people think. Wash it with soapy water and a soft brush along the grain to remove dust, pollen and green film.
If your teak has turned silver-grey, that’s normal weathering, not damage. The wood is fine underneath. If you prefer the honey colour, brush on a teak cleaner, leave it for the time on the label, then scrub and rinse.
Teak oil is optional. Teak is naturally oily and lasts outdoors for many years untreated. Oil just brings back the warm colour, and our rain washes it out, so you’ll need to redo it at least once a year. Only oil wood that’s completely dry, and always buff off the excess.
Oiling brings back the honey colour on grey teak. It’s purely for looks, so skip it if you like the silver.
Softwood and painted wood need protecting
Unlike teak, softwood furniture such as pine rots if it’s left bare. Painted or stained wood needs looking after too.
Softwood needs a fresh coat every year or so. Choose a dry, mild day and make sure the wood is dry first.
Clean it with soapy water, then let it dry for a day or two. Re-treat it once a year with a wood preservative, oil or paint made for garden furniture, following the tin. Spring is a good time, on a dry, mild day.
Check the joints and the feet, where water sits. Tip chairs and benches up when it rains, or stand the legs on small feet, so they’re not sitting in puddles. Our guide to garden fence repair and maintenance covers treating other outdoor timber.
How to clean rattan furniture
First, work out whether it’s synthetic or natural. Most modern rattan garden sofas are synthetic weave over a metal frame, and they’re tough. Natural rattan and cane are far more delicate.
Synthetic rattan: wash with soapy water and a soft brush. Use an old toothbrush to get into the weave, where dirt, pollen and cobwebs collect. Rinse with a gentle hose, never a pressure washer, which can split the weave.
Natural rattan and cane: wipe with a cloth that’s barely damp with soapy water, then dry it quickly. Don’t soak it, as the fibres swell and slacken. Natural rattan isn’t made for our weather, so keep it indoors over winter.
A toothbrush gets into the weave where a cloth just slides over. Finish with a gentle hose rinse.
Metal furniture: aluminium, steel and iron
Aluminium doesn’t rust. Wash it with soapy water, rinse and dry. A thin coat of car wax once a year helps water bead off powder-coated finishes.
Brush rust back to bare metal before priming and painting. Catch chips early and it’s a quick job.
Steel and cast iron rust as soon as the paint chips, so catch it early:
- Wire-brush or sand the rust back to bare metal
- Wipe off the dust
- Apply a rust-treatment primer, or use a direct-to-rust metal paint
- Finish with a metal paint for outdoor use
Touch up small chips as soon as you see them. Furniture near the coast rusts faster, so check it more often. Our guide to coastal garden design covers other ways to cope with salt air.
How to clean plastic and resin furniture
Warm soapy water and a sponge clean most plastic furniture. For green algae and grime in the grooves, use a soft brush.
For ingrained marks, make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and a little water, rub it in with a cloth, then rinse. Avoid bleach, scouring pads and harsh cleaners, which can dull or discolour plastic. Old, chalky white plastic won’t come back to new, but a good clean makes a big difference.
A bicarb paste lifts stubborn green marks from white plastic. Rinse well afterwards.
Cushions, fabric and green mould
Brush off loose dirt first. Many cushion covers unzip and go in the washing machine on a cool wash, but check the care label. Wash them inside out and air-dry them.
Once dry, spray the covers with a fabric reproofer to bring back their water resistance, as washing strips it out. Do this once a year.
Green algae and black mould come from damp. Let cushions dry out after rain, bring them in overnight in wet spells, and never store them damp. Keep them indoors over winter in a dry box or bag, away from mice.
Storing garden furniture over winter
Where it spends the winter matters more than how you clean it in summer.
| Winter option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Dry shed or garage | Everything, especially softwood, natural rattan and cushions | Space, and mice in cushions |
| Breathable, vented cover | Teak, aluminium and synthetic rattan | Condensation if it isn’t vented |
| Plastic sheet | Nothing | Traps damp and breeds mould |
| Left uncovered | Teak and aluminium | Weathering and green film |
A dry, airy shed beats any cover, and our garden storage solutions guide has ideas if space is tight. If furniture has to stay outside, use a breathable cover with vents, not a plastic sheet. Sealed plastic traps condensation and can grow more mould than leaving the set open to the rain. Clean and dry everything before you cover it.
A vented cover keeps the worst of the weather off. Clean and dry the furniture first, and bring the cushions indoors.
A yearly garden furniture care routine
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| Early spring | Uncover, check for damage and mould, and give everything a full clean |
| Late spring | Re-treat softwood, wax aluminium and oil teak if you want the colour |
| Summer | Wash cushion covers and reproof them. Spot-clean marks and touch up metal chips |
| Early autumn | Deep clean and let everything dry fully |
| Late autumn | Move furniture into the shed or under breathable covers. Store cushions indoors |
| Winter | Check covers for trapped damp and air them on dry days |
Our autumn gardening jobs checklist covers the other tasks to do before winter.
Common garden furniture care mistakes
Pressure washing wood. It roughens the surface and lifts the grain. Use a soft brush instead.
Oiling damp wood. It traps moisture and can lead to mould. Wait until it’s completely dry.
Wrapping furniture in plastic. It traps condensation. Use a breathable, vented cover.
Leaving cushions out. They soak up rain and go mouldy. Bring them in when it’s wet and store them dry.
Ignoring small rust spots. A chip is a quick fix. Left alone, the rust spreads under the paint.
Frequently asked questions
Can I jet wash my garden furniture?
Not wooden or natural rattan furniture. A pressure washer roughens wood and can shred rattan. Use warm soapy water and a soft brush instead. A gentle hose rinse is fine on synthetic rattan, aluminium and plastic.
Do I need to oil teak garden furniture?
No, teak lasts for many years without oil. It weathers to a silver-grey, which does it no harm. Oil only brings back the honey colour, and it needs redoing each year to keep it.
How do I get green mould off garden furniture?
Scrub it off with warm soapy water and a soft brush, then rinse. For stubborn marks, use a cleaner made for that material. Green algae and mould come from damp, so let furniture dry and air well.
How do I treat rust on metal garden furniture?
Wire-brush the rust back to bare metal, then prime and paint. A rust-treatment primer or direct-to-rust metal paint seals it. Touch up chips as soon as you spot them, before the rust spreads.
Can I machine wash garden cushion covers?
Often, yes, but check the care label first. Many covers unzip and go in at a cool wash. Air-dry them, then spray with a fabric reproofer to bring back their water resistance.
Where should I store garden furniture in winter?
A dry, airy shed or garage is best. If it has to stay outside, use a breathable, vented cover rather than a plastic sheet. Always bring cushions indoors and keep them dry.
With the furniture sparkling, get some ideas for arranging it in our guide to patio garden ideas for small spaces, or browse more how-to guides.
Our team produces practical UK gardening guidance from source research, contributor records and established horticultural practice. Editorial standards are overseen by Matt W.
