How to Make Outdoor Furniture Last Longer
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How to make outdoor furniture last longer comes down to four habits: wash it at the start of each season, tighten or replace loose and rusted hardware, care for each material the way its maker describes, and keep cushions dry and covers breathable. Each habit below comes from an extension article or a maker’s care material, and we say so where a source is old or does not reach the question.
The oldest advice is also the simplest. Frequent washing is one of the best ways to preserve outdoor furniture, according to a 1996 Iowa State University Extension article, because dirt left to set lets metal corrode and become pitted, while plastic and fabric lose their color.
Quick answer
- Wash outdoor furniture at the start of each season with mild detergent and water, then dry it thoroughly.
- Tighten loose hardware, and replace rusted fasteners with rustproof ones made of aluminum, galvanized steel or stainless steel.
- Follow the care directions for each material, and use a silicone lubricant on hinges and wheels rather than oil.
- Keep cushions fully dry, let covers breathe, and keep sunscreen off seating surfaces.
Start with a wash at the start of the season
The 1996 Iowa State article says to wash outdoor furniture at the beginning of each outdoor season. Dust each piece first, wash it in a solution of mild detergent and water, and dry it thoroughly.
The Costco-hosted care sheet gives a longer schedule. The sheet says, “For best protection, perform this maintenance two or three times per year in low pollution areas or more frequently in high pollution areas.” Its basic wash is the same: mild detergent and water, a rinse with clear water, and thorough drying. The sheet does not name its maker in the text we read, so treat its schedule as the advice for that product line rather than a rule for every chair on your patio.
Plan the wash for the whole set, not one piece. The 1996 article says additional care depends on the material the furniture is made from, so the notes below add to the basic wash rather than replace it.
Tighten the hardware and skip the oil
Check every nut, bolt and screw, and tighten any that have worked loose. The 1996 article says missing, broken or rusted fasteners should be replaced with rustproof ones made of aluminum, galvanized steel or stainless steel. Rust on a fastener also matters for wood. On redwood, the article says to replace any fasteners that are starting to rust before sealing the wood, because they will eventually stain it.
For hinges and wheels, the article recommends a silicone lubricant. It also says oil should be avoided, because it tends to cake and attract dirt.
Match the care to the material
Most patio sets are made of more than one material, so work through each part. The 1996 article covers the common ones. Its advice is older than many current products, so check the maker’s manual for any piece that is newer than the article.
Aluminum
Aluminum resists rust, but it can pit, and the article says frequent washing helps prevent that when the metal is in good shape or has an enameled or baked-on finish. The article suggests washing and waxing aluminum every few months. For aluminum that is already dull or pitted, the article describes rubbing each piece with a steel pad and then using a solvent. We leave out the solvent steps. For any chemical cleaner, follow the maker’s manual and your local rules.
Resin and plastic
The article describes resin as extremely durable and weather resistant. It says most soil and stains can be cleaned off with a non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner or a cleaner-polish, used according to label directions. A sponge dipped in a solution of hand dishwashing detergent and warm water also works. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean soft cloth. Resin pieces are also easy to store, because they usually break down or stack to take up less space.
Redwood
The article says redwood is attractive and weather resistant, and that it is not likely to rot or warp. It can split, however, and it will almost surely turn grey within a year if it is not cared for. The article’s steps are to wash the furniture, replace rusting fasteners, lightly sand the exposed parts, and then apply one or two coats of a water repellent sealer made for redwood. Commercial redwood stains and sealers are also available to help prevent discoloration.
Wicker
Wicker is weather resistant, but it can dry out in the sun, so the article says it is best kept in the shade. It also suggests soaking wicker once a year to put moisture back into its fibers. For a light clean, it recommends a rag soaked in a mild detergent and warm water solution, with an old toothbrush for stubborn dirt. The article is from 1996 and does not separate natural wicker from synthetic wicker. Check the maker’s directions before you soak a synthetic piece.
Wrought iron
Wrought iron can look good for many years if you touch up bare metal whenever it shows. The article recommends a rust-resistant metal primer on those spots, which keeps rust from spreading under the paint. The article gives no schedule for touch-up.
Cushions and fabric
Fabric is the part of many sets that needs the most care, and the two sources we opened disagree on one point. The Costco-hosted sheet says to wash outdoor cushions with a solution of mild detergent and water, rinse thoroughly with clear water, stand the cushions on end and let them air dry completely. In its fabric section, the same sheet says not to dry clean outdoor fabric or use a washing machine or dryer on it.
Sunbrella’s cleaning page takes a different line on machine washing. It says some removable casings can be washed in the washing machine, but that the furniture manufacturer should be consulted before removing the casing, because cushion construction may vary. If you do machine wash, the page says to close all zippers, use cold water on the delicate cycle with mild laundry detergent, and let the fabric air dry. Because the two sources differ, check the label or the maker before you choose a method.
For a stain on fabric, the Sunbrella page says to use a sponge or a very soft bristle brush to lightly agitate it, then rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue and let the fabric air dry. The same page says that after repeated thorough cleanings, or years of use and exposure, owners may choose to refresh their fabric with an appropriate retreating agent.
Keep cushions dry and let covers breathe
Moisture is the quiet problem behind most of these instructions. The Costco sheet tells owners to leave space between a tabletop and its cover, “so that moisture does not collect on the table; this will promote airflow and allow moisture to escape.” Without that gap, a cover can hold water against the surface it is meant to protect. In extreme cold climates, the sheet recommends storing tabletops in a dry indoor area, or covering them with a suitable outdoor furniture cover. For cover options, see the furniture cover listings compared on this site. The sources we opened do not rate cover breathability, so check any cover’s stated materials against the sheet’s airflow advice.
Cushions need the same attention. Costco’s guidance says to let them air dry completely, with the cushions standing on end while they dry. Sunbrella’s guidance says to let washed fabric air dry. Both guides point to air drying, so let cushions dry fully before they go back on the furniture or into storage.
Covers, storage and when to do the work
Two sources give timing for the work. The Iowa State article ties the main wash to the start of each outdoor season. The Costco sheet ties maintenance to how polluted the area is, two or three times a year in low-pollution areas and more often in high-pollution areas. Cold climates add the storage step described above. Neither source sets a fixed date. The two factors they name are the season and how polluted the area is.
Storage is easier for some materials than others. The article says resin furniture can be stored easily because the pieces break down or stack to take up less space. For every material, dry each piece thoroughly before it goes into storage, since the wash steps in the 1996 article end with thorough drying. If the set needs a home for cushions and small gear, the deck box listings compared by capacity and weight show each listing’s stated figures.
Keep sunscreen and oil away from the seats
The Costco sheet warns: “Some suntan and sun block products may be harmful to resin, cushions and strap, mesh and vinyl lace and strap.” It says to keep those products off seating surfaces to avoid deep, penetrating stains, which the sheet says are not covered under warranty.
Mistakes to avoid
- Letting dirt sit on metal, which the 1996 article links to pitting and corrosion.
- Leaving rusted screws in place, which can stain redwood once the sealer goes on.
- Oiling hinges and wheels instead of using a silicone lubricant.
- Covering a tabletop with no gap between the top and the cover, where moisture can collect.
- Letting sunscreen reach cushions and other seating surfaces.
- Using bleach, solvents or another cleaner that the maker does not list, rather than following the manual and local rules.
How we chose
We wanted sources that answer the job itself: washing, hardware, material care, covers and storage. We looked for a university extension publication and for care material from a fabric maker and a furniture maker. We opened three pages that returned HTTP 200 and read the passages we used on 2026-10-21. We left out retail buying guides and product listings, because they describe products rather than how to maintain them. We also left out the chemical steps that appear in the 1996 article and on the Sunbrella page for mildew, because chemical cleaning and mold removal should follow the maker’s manual and local rules.
What we could not verify
Several parts of the question are not covered by the sources we opened. We could not verify current cover materials, breathability ratings, or the full product lines of any maker. We could not confirm how long any material lasts under sun, rain or cold. The one extension article is from 1996, and the article itself warns that the “information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.”
What the sources do not say
The sources do not say how many years any material will last. They do not give a schedule for synthetic wicker, and they do not name a cover fabric or a water or UV protection rating for a cover. The care sheet hosted by Costco does not name its maker in the text we read. The Sunbrella page covers Sunbrella fabric only, and the Iowa State article covers the materials it lists and no others. Neither the sheet nor the article gives drying times, so “air dry completely” is the only instruction on that point.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I clean outdoor furniture?
The 1996 Iowa State article says to wash outdoor furniture at the beginning of each outdoor season. The Costco-hosted care sheet says two or three times a year in low-pollution areas, and more often in high-pollution areas.
Can I machine wash outdoor cushions?
Not without checking first. Sunbrella’s cleaning page says some removable casings can be machine washed, but that the furniture manufacturer should be consulted before the casing is removed. The Costco sheet says not to use a washing machine or dryer on outdoor fabric. Where the sources differ, follow the maker’s label.
Should I oil the hinges on metal furniture?
The 1996 article recommends a silicone lubricant for hinges and wheels, and it says to avoid oil because it tends to cake and attract dirt.
Do I need a cover for my furniture in winter?
The Costco sheet says that in extreme cold climates, tabletops should be stored in a dry indoor area or covered with a suitable outdoor furniture cover, with space left for airflow. The sources we opened do not say whether every climate needs a cover.
Can sunscreen damage outdoor furniture?
The Costco sheet says some suntan and sun block products may be harmful to resin, cushions and straps. It advises keeping those products off seating surfaces.
Sources
- https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/1996/8-9-1996/maintfurn.html (opened 2026-10-21)
- https://www.sunbrella.com/clean-sunbrella-upholstery (opened 2026-10-21)
- https://www.costco.com/wcsstore/CostcoUSBCCatalogAssetStore/Attachment/853351-Care-And-Maintenance.pdf (opened 2026-10-21)
