The days are getting shorter, the evenings are cooler and the leaves are falling from the trees. Autumn is here. With the beginning of the cold season there is a threat of rain, cold and frost. Plants as well as raised beds, fences, garden and patio furniture made of wood need a little attention in order to survive the winter well. Care follows after carefully cleaning the wooden surface. In this article we will tell you how to properly store wooden patio furniture for the winter.
Wooden patio furniturepaintedor oiled?
Years ago, patio furniture was primarily made from varnished softwood such as pine, beech or spruce. The moisture and UV radiation damage the wood stain and over time it becomes porous and unsightly. Year after year the top surface had to be sanded and repainted. Wooden furniture for outdoor use has lost its popularity. Today, most garden owners choose garden furniture made from durable onesTypes of wood such as teak, cedar, black locust or bamboo. They contain essential oils that protect the wood in a natural way, making annual treatment much easier. Nevertheless, all wooden furniture should be thoroughly cleaned of dirt and grease at the beginning and end of the gardening season.
Winter properly
If it is not coniferous or holy wood, the wood is cleaned after cleaningWooden surface with oily care producttreated. The wood must be really dry so that the oil impregnation can be absorbed properly. The wooden furniture is then stored in the garden shed, cellar or attic. The appropriate storage location should be dry, but not warm or dusty. Every piece of furniture should be well covered, but not airtight. This means the wood is optimally protected from dirt, dust and vermin. In general, the following storage recommendation is optimal:
- protected from UV radiation
- stored dry and frost-free
- well ventilated
- not very heated
Despite the accommodation of theGarden furniturein a dry and frost-free room, cleaning before winter is necessary. Due to temperature fluctuations and the alternation of dryness and humidity, a silver-grey patina forms on the wood, and often cracks. This does not damage the load-bearing capacity of the wooden patio furniture, but it does have a visual impact. It is advisable to clean the wooden furniture thoroughly before winter. Natural wood is first wiped with a damp cloth and stubborn stains are removed with a gentle cleaning agent or a light soapy solution. Bleaching agents are not recommended when cleaning wooden surfaces because they change the color of the wooden furniture and can leave unsightly stains.
It is best to use natural soap. It contains vegetable oils that, in addition to the cleansing effect, also enable moisturizing. In addition, microfiber cloths are not used when cleaning because they remove the natural oil from the wood. It is advisable to use a simple cotton cloth and a brush or sponge for stubborn stains. You should scrub in the direction of the grain, otherwise the wood can be damaged. After washing, you must dab the cleaning agent with a dry cloth so that it does not remain on the wood.
Maintain properly
The dirt and patina cannot always be removed without leaving any residue. After cleaning, the wood often fades and loses its shine because the natural oils contained in the wood are more or less dissolved by the cleaning agent. Wooden furniture that has been exposed to the weather for a long time has turned so gray or the surface has become so rough that only sanding helps. To do this, you use sandpaper with a grit of 100 or 120 and work without great pressure. The sanded particles must now be vacuumed off and wiped off with a brush. If the graying is too severe, you can also use a special hardwood cleaner. Be sure to wear gloves. After cleaning, the wooden surface needs a “refreshment” with care products.
After cleaning, treatment with a care oil is necessary. There are both colored or pigmented and colorless oils for wood. It is important to know that the colorless care oils do not offer any protection against UV radiation, so they cannot influence graying. The care products used should generally not contain any solvents so that the natural wood protection is not damaged. The oil is best applied with a brush or cotton cloth and polished off after a few hours. This increases the waterproofing effect after treatment. When cleaning WPC floorboards, special WPC care products should be used.
Damaged patio furnitureHolzrenovate before winter
Small cracks can inevitably occur in the wood due to use, under high stress or due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity, UV radiation and other things. Over time and due to the water that gets into it and later freezes, the cracks open up. In addition, the wood can also be attacked by fungi. That's why it's advisable to act immediately, even if there are small cracks. There are special fillers for outdoor wood for this purpose.
Cleaning and applying a care product should not only be carried out before winter, but two to three times a year. Basically, the procedure for winterizing wooden patio furniture is as follows:
- First clean the wooden surface thoroughly
- Allow wooden furniture to dry for at least a day, 48 hours is recommended
- If necessary, touch up with filler and sandpaper
- Treat with waterproofing, two consecutive coats
- Cover
Lacquered garden furniture generally requires more maintenance. If the paint is undamaged, all you need to do is lightly sand, wipe and then apply a thin coat of new paint once a year. But if the glaze has peeled off, you have to remove it completely and apply a new one to the dry wood.
Balcony furnitureWinterizing: care tips
When cleaning, it is particularly important to remove all screws, hinges, screw connections, handles and etc. from the wooden patio furniture. If this is not possible, you can use paper tape and possibly protect the metal elements.
In addition to the wooden furniture, the floorboards on the balcony or terrace, as well as the garden house and the fence or privacy screen, are exposed to the weather all year round. Annual cleaning and care generally applies to all outdoor wooden elements.
TheThe effort is worth it
Without a doubt, frost and moisture have a very negative impact on the appearance and durability of garden furniture. Once you have properly winterized the wooden patio furniture, you will be very happy when it is taken outside next year and shines with a fresh shine.
