How To Look After Your Cast Aluminium Patio Furniture?
Cast aluminium patio furniture is an affordable option for outdoor entertaining.
It’s lightweight and durable, making it ideal for use in hot climates.
However, cast aluminium furniture is susceptible to corrosion if left outdoors for long periods of time.
Corrosion can cause damage to the surface finish and lead to unsightly stains.
If you’re looking after your cast aluminium patio furniture, here are some tips to keep it looking its best.
1) Cleaning & Sanitising
The first step towards keeping your cast aluminium patio furniture clean and free from dirt or grime is a good cleaning routine.
Use mild soapy water, then rinse thoroughly under running quart of water.
You may also want to apply a coat of wax on top of any protective coating that has been applied to the furniture.
This will help prevent further staining.
2) Maintaining The Finish
Once you’ve cleaned your cast aluminium patio furniture properly, it’s important to maintain the finish so it doesn’t become damaged again.
Apply a clear sealer once every two years using a brush or sponge applicator.
Sealers come in different colours and finishes, depending on what type of paint was used when manufacturing the piece.
For example, white-painted furniture would require a light grey sealant while black-painted pieces should be sealed with dark brown.
3) Prevent Stains From Forming In The First Place
If you have children who like playing outside, make sure they don’t leave their fingerprints all over your cast aluminum furniture!
A simple way to avoid this problem is by applying a non-toxic anti-bacterial spray before each use.
These sprays contain natural ingredients such as lemon juice which helps protect against bacteria growth without leaving behind harmful chemicals.
4) Protect Against Sun Damage
As mentioned earlier, cast aluminium patio furniture is prone to sun damage.
When exposed to sunlight, the metal surface garden furniture surface underneath becomes discoloured due to oxidation.
This causes the colour of the furniture to fade and eventually turn yellowish.
There are several ways to combat this issue:
a) Cover up the furniture during high-sun hours.
b) Keep the furniture indoors at night.
c) Avoid placing the furniture directly beneath windows where direct sunlight shines through.
Instead, position the furniture away from the window and place something opaque between the glass and the furniture.
5) Don’t Overlook Maintenance On Outdoor Pieces
It goes without saying that outdoor furniture items need regular maintenance just like indoor ones do.
Make sure you check out our guide to caring for wooden garden furniture too.
6) Consider Adding Extras
Cast aluminum patio furniture comes in many shapes and sizes.
Some designs include cushions, tables, chairs and more.
It’s always worth considering adding extras to your set because these additions not only add value but also give your outdoor space an extra touch of style.
7) Add An Extra Layer Of Protection
Finally, we recommend investing in a UV protection film.
Not only does it offer additional protection against fading caused by ultraviolet rays, it adds another layer of beauty to your outdoor furniture area.
How do you clean a metal patio table?
There are plenty of options available if you’re looking to keep your metal garden furniture sparkling clean.
We’ll take a look at some of them below.
1) Soap And Water Cleaning Method
The easiest method of cleaning your metal patio furniture involves simply washing it off with soap and clean water.
Simply pour some warm water for cleaning into a bucket and then dip a soft cloth into the solution.
Wring out any excess moisture and wipe down the surface using circular motions.
2) Scrubbing With A Brushed Steel Brush
Another effective option is to scrub your metal patio furniture with a brushed steel brush.
You can find one online or purchase one at most hardware furniture stores.
Use the bristles to gently remove dirt and grime from the surfaces of your furniture.
3) Using Vinegar For Cleansing
If you want to go even further than soaking your pieces in soapy bucket of water, consider pouring vinegar on top of them instead.
Vinegar works well when used in conjunction with other methods since it will help break down grease and oil left on the surface after cleaning.
To get started, mix equal parts white vinegar and lukewarm water together in a bowl.
Then soak a rag in the mixture and apply it to the affected areas.
Leave the piece under the sun until all traces of the liquid have evaporated.
4) Use A Spray Bottle As Your Main Tool
For those who don’t have access to brushes or rags, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be able to use spray bottles as their main tool for cleaning.
Just make sure you follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer carefully before spraying anything onto your furniture.
5) Get The Right Products
When choosing products for cleaning your cast aluminium garden furniture ready, make sure you choose the right kind.
Most cleaners contain harsh chemicals which could damage the finish over time.
Instead, opt for natural alternatives such as baking soda and lemon juice.
These ingredients work much better than traditional cleaning agents and won’t harm the paint adhesion job.
How do you touch up paint on metal patio furniture?
Paint chips and scratches aren’t easy to fix, especially if you’ve already applied several coats of furniture for painting.
However, this doesn’t mean that you should throw away your investment just yet.
In fact, there are many ways to repair small dings without having to replace the entire item.
Here are three simple DIY tips that anyone can try:
1) Apply Wax On Top Of Dents Or Chips
This technique has been around for ages and still remains popular today.
It basically consists of applying wax directly onto the damaged area.
Once done, let the wax dry completely and buff it off once again.
While this may not seem like an ideal way to restore your pieces of furniture, it does provide a temporary solution while waiting for new ordinary paints to cure properly.
2) Cover It In Plastic Wrap
Plastic wrap is another great alternative for covering minor dents or chips in your furniture.
- Simply cut some plastic into strips large enough to cover the whole object and place it back on its original location.
- Make sure to leave plenty of room between each strip so that air can circulate freely underneath.
- Afterwards, tape the plastic tightly against the surface of the material.
- Let the plastic remain undisturbed for about 24 hours before removing it.
The heat generated during this period will cause the plastic to melt slightly and create a protective layer around the dent or chip.
3) Paint Over Small Scratches With Rust Remover
Rust removers are designed specifically to remove rust from scrub surface.
They’re also perfect for restoring any type of painted surface clean including wood, concrete, brick, etc.
All you need to do is rub the product gently across the spot where the scratch occurred.
You’ll notice how the color starts coming out immediately.
Repeat the process until the stain disappears entirely.
Conclusion
If you want to keep your outdoor living space looking beautiful all year round, then investing in quality patio furniture polish is essential.
But unfortunately, even with proper care, these pieces tend to get scratched and chipped after years of exposure to spot of weather elements.
Fortunately, there are numerous solutions available to help you maintain the appearance of your furniture.
So whether you have cast aluminum patio furniture rust or other types of materials, read through our guide above to learn more about what works best when trying to prevent future damages.
