How To Keep Your Outdoor Sofa Looking Brand New All Year Long

“Under open skies, peace blossoms on beautiful outdoor sofas, where nature's calm and crafted comfort unite in perfect harmony.”

-Team Divano

Allow me to tell you an open secret! We just love to spend time outdoors.

Aren’t we? And for most of us, it is certainly not a seasonal activity. We love to do it all year round.

So, whether it is a sunny winter afternoon, a warm summer evening, the wet season, the high humidity season, or even if there is serious potential for a cyclone (just kidding!), we love to stay in the backyard, making the most of the ongoing season, enjoying an alfresco feast with family and friends. 

Needless to say, the furniture piece that makes our outdoor activities truly enjoyable is an outdoor furniture piece, especially an outdoor sofa setting.

The furniture piece is a must for alfresco dining, intimate get-togethers, and lounging. They suit all the occasions. But there is a catch.

At times, it becomes challenging to keep them new and fresh all year round. But again, there are some ways, including outdoor sofa cleaning tips, through which you can make your outdoor sofa look brand new all year long.

So, in this blog you will learn about the ways that are simple and practical ways that you can use for outdoor furniture maintenance.

Let’s start with the challenges that your beloved outdoor sofa faces all year round.

What Does Your Sofa Face Throughout The Year?

Not only for you, open spaces could be challenging for your sofas as well if they are meant to be kept in outdoor spaces.

These challenges arrive in the following forms.

1. Constantly changing weather conditions 

Outdoor furniture pieces are exposed to the constantly changing weather. The impact of the Australian climate on furniture pieces cannot be ignored because the climate in the region is famously fickle.

Intense sun, unpredictable rain, and coastal winds make a huge impact, sometimes damaging the outdoor furniture pieces to a great extent. 

So, you ought to protect your outdoor pieces and maintain their aesthetic appeal.

A long exposure to the sun, which contains UV rays, is particularly damaging. Their powerful rays fade colours, weaken structural frames, and make any piece of furniture grow old really fast.

UV rays damage plastic, wood, and fabric as the exposure results in fading over time. 

Salt air, rain, and humidity, moreover, are other damaging factors.

Again, local weather often brings humidity, salty coastal air, and rain. They may promote rot, rust, and mould. If not treated, they can damage wood and metal furniture pieces. 

2. Variations in outdoor temperature

Fluctuations in outdoor temperature can also cause damage to the structural frame.

That happens because furniture materials contract and expand due to fluctuations. Metal can become brittle over time, and wood can face distortion. It is necessary to protect outdoor furniture pieces from such harmful variations. 

You can protect your precious possessions from such damaging factors by choosing the appropriate material while you are purchasing your furniture.

How to do that?

Choosing The Appropriate Outdoor Furniture Material 

The best outdoor furniture must resist corrosion. They must fight rain, salt, humidity, wind, and temperature variations. 

To get such a furniture piece, you should choose furniture materials that are robust yet lightweight.

Materials like wicker, teak, aluminium, rattan, and bamboo are great options. They are highly durable and also environmentally friendly. They effortlessly bring charm to your outdoor spaces with the inherent qualities in them.

Rattan 

It is a UV-resistant material that can withstand humidity. Rattan furniture pieces are suitable for hot weather conditions since they are crafted from organic wood fibres. 

These fibres are transformed into rattan that goes well in extreme weather conditions like intense heat and coastal wind.

Wood 

Solid acacia, eucalyptus timber, and teak are excellent for the structural frame of outdoor furniture pieces since these woods contain natural oils, oils that repel water, making them immune to rot and distension due to moisture. 

They are highly durable as well, and Denpasar is made of that only.

Metal

Rust is simply the biggest enemy of outdoor furniture, and therefore, you must ensure that the metal furniture chosen by you is rust-resistant. Outdoor furniture maintenance practices help in that.

And for that matter, aluminium is the top choice of furniture connoisseurs who love it in metal. Aluminium is lightweight and easily movable. It is heat-reflective as well.

Stainless steel is also corrosion-resistant and durable, and it is ideal for modern aesthetics. Wrought Iron, moreover, with rust protection, is also durable. 

Denpasar sofa set: What is special about it?

Denpasar 1+2+3 seater outdoor sofa lounge coffee table set is a lovable outdoor furniture set containing a rot-free wooden structural frame.

This 4-piece outdoor set includes one armchair, a 2-seater sofa, a 3-seater sofa, and a coffee table. The sofa set features a solid acacia wood frame in a natural finish, complemented by stylish woven charcoal polyester rope detailing on the backrest. 

Generously filled cushions, upholstered in light beige Olefin fabric, provide great comfort while being weatherproof, water-repellent, and UV protected. 

It is a long-lasting beauty.

With proper care, you can maintain its aesthetic appeal for quite a long time.

Weatherproof Fabrics are a Must

Furthermore, when it comes to purchasing an outdoor sofa set, go for upholstery and cushions that are made of weatherproof fabrics. Acrylics and olefins are such UV-proof and summer-friendly fabric materials. These materials withstand fading and damaging moisture.

Well, the bottom line is you must be one hundred percent sure that the materials that you are choosing can fight extreme weather conditions.

Divano’s outdoor furniture range is built carefully from the finest weather-resistant materials. Browse and bring home the best.

But again, the question is how to keep them looking brand new all year long?

Here’s how you can do that with outdoor sofa cleaning tips.

Steps to Keep Outdoor Sofas Fresh All Year Long

Sinking into a clean and fresh outdoor sofa is one of the most satisfying feelings.

You can’t help but praise the feel of soft and warm cushions. 

You can’t help but fully enjoy the lovely scent of a crisp breeze while relaxing on such a clean and beautiful sofa.

Yet, it happens when the outdoor furniture piece is deeply cleaned, which may otherwise feel like a challenging task. Because in the process, you have to deal with vulnerable sofa fabrics, loose upholstery, tough stains, or deeply accumulated rust, dirt, and whatnot. 

But no need to worry. There is a solution to this problem.

With the right knowledge and process and by using the right techniques and know-how, you can keep your outdoor furniture brand new all year long.

You can follow some steps to achieve that.

The Steps To Clean The Outdoor Sofa 

1. Understand the importance of regular cleaning

Dirt, dust, UV rays, water, and rust—all of these can make the outdoor furniture pieces lose their shine.

Outdoor furniture maintenance steps are the solution. 

The primary step to protect the sofa from them is to understand the importance of cleaning in a consistent manner, even doing it every day. Regular cleaning maintains their beauty and enhances their life. Know that it’s your investment that needs good care. When you do that, it continues to provide relaxation and beauty for years to come. 

Whether it’s a strong aluminium frame or luxurious cushions, everyday cleaning keeps them fresh and new.

2. Start by tackling dust; it’s easy and doable every day

You can start by removing loose dirt and dust that accumulates very fast.

Ignore them, and they start harming the surface in no time, making deeper cleaning even tougher. You can manage dust easily by removing cushions and shaking them gently. A firm shake removes loose dirt effectively. 

If you want, you can use a vacuum cleaner to clean crevices, joints, and difficult-to-reach areas. In case your sofa has a metal, wooden, or wicker frame, use a brush with soft bristles to get rid of surface dust.

3. Go for deep cleaning of cushions and fabric

You need to take good care while cleaning the cushions of your outdoor sofa. Follow these outdoor sofa cleaning tips that include deep cleaning steps.

Take sofa-cleaning detergent, add it to water, and rub it on the stains mildly with a piece of cloth or sponge. In the case of removable covers, you can do machine washing or hand washing according to the cleaning instructions.

If the cushions are non-removable, rinse properly with water to get rid of soap residue and then air dry to prevent mould.

For tough and old fungus, you can use a natural cleaning solution:

• A mixture of one part white vinegar to three parts clean water.
• For tackling grime and mildew, you may create a paste using baking soda and water.
• Combine lemon juice with salt to form a natural scrub; it effectively removes mold and moss, useful for wooden surfaces. 
• Mix one cup of olive oil with half a cup of lemon juice — a natural polish for wooden furniture that protects the wood from drying out. 

4. Keeping the wooden frames new

Wooden frames also need special care to maintain their beauty. You can do that in easy steps.

Dust 

Start by dusting with a cloth or brush.

Wipe 

Add water to the gentle soap and wipe the surface using a cloth.

Rub

If the wood looks like it has lost its shine, rub it lightly and apply a protective oil meant for outdoor furniture pieces. The simple process will revive the wood's original beauty.

5. Cleaning metal & wicker frames that need special care

Metal and wicker frames are strong, but they also need regular upkeep. Follow these outdoor sofa cleaning tips.

Outdoor furniture maintenance for:

A. Metal frames

Regular care and cleaning: Wipe down surfaces with mild, non-detergent soap. Avoid abrasive scrubbers. 

Prevent and treat rust: Dry the metal after cleaning to prevent rust. You can gently sand the area with sandpaper for existing rust spots. Apply a coat of special oil or paste to metal surfaces for protection against moisture and UV rays. 

B. Wicker

Use a brush to remove dust from the crevices. You can also vacuum clean. Do deep cleaning with the solution options that are mentioned above. 

After cleaning, dry the furniture to prevent mildew growth. For natural wicker, you may use boiled linseed oil. It keeps them fresh and prevents cracking. 

Regularly check for any loose or damaged weaves and repair them on time to extend the furniture's lifespan. 

6. Add protective measures to avoid regular deep cleaning

Lastly, you can minimise the frequency of deep cleaning by using a few protective measures:

• Use special sprays to stop moisture and stains.
• Bring home high-quality furniture covers. They shield sofas from the harmful substances.
• Keep your sofa under an umbrella or in a shaded area to minimise harsh sun or water damage.

Final thoughts

Finally, understand s simple fact: outdoor doesn’t mean neglected. 

Your outdoor furniture pieces need more love, care, and a gentle touch of regular cleaning with the help of outdoor sofa cleaning tips. 

Protecting them from changing weather conditions is key to ensuring that they look beautiful all year long and last for years. 

Moreover, the Australian climate can be harsh on outdoor furniture pieces. You should be aware of outdoor furniture maintenance tips. The right process, protection, materials, and way of cleaning will allow you to keep your outdoor furniture clean and comfortable year-round. 

So, follow the above-mentioned tips and enhance the life of your sofa while keeping your space looking inviting and clean.

Divano Furniture offers a wide range of outdoor furniture, including outdoor sofas in various styles, designs, and materials that are built to survive Australian conditions. 

Start browsing now to purchase a brand-new sofa. And don’t forget to keep it like new all year long with easy cleaning techniques.

Happy outdoor living!