Jihaa, time to sweep the cobwebs off your garden chairs - the garden season is upon us again! Most garden chairs are made of plastic, metal or wood: extremely strong and weather-resistant. Which comes in handy with our unpredictable Dutch weather. But how do you keep them looking like new year after year? In collaboration with garden furniture shop.nl, we share the best eco-friendly cleaning tips for your garden furniture.
Yes, get them out again: your garden chairs!
In cooperation with garden furniture shop.nl
Maybe you just get your chairs out of the shed or under the canopy and are shocked to see green deposits or rust stains on your garden furniture, or old sunburn or mud stains on the cushions. Ai, not nice! Kind of like Christmas lights that you've rolled up carelessly - you're sick of that the following year too. Even if you have your garden chairs used plenty (let's hope extra often this year), they get dirty. We take a look at the most common dirtmakers and show you how to tackle them in an eco-friendly way.
Cleaning your garden furniture in an eco-friendly way? Don't forget the cushions!
Cleaning garden chairs: light soiling
For light soiling and regular maintenance of your garden furniture, a soak of warm water with a dash of green soap or ecological washing-up liquid is often enough. Wipe your chairs with a soft sponge or cloth and then rinse with water. Avoid scouring pads and aggressive agents, as they can damage the plastic or paintwork. Want to make things easy on yourself? Put your garden chairs in the rain - nature will do the initial cleaning for you! Just wipe them dry and you're done.
Removing green deposits on garden chairs
Have your chairs been outside all winter? Then chances are they have a layer of green deposits on them. This is easily removed with a mixture of cleaning vinegar and water (ratio 1:1). Let the mixture soak in for a while, scrub gently with a brush and rinse with water. Prevent rather than cure? Put your chairs in a dry place and avoid damp surfaces such as grass.
Removing bird droppings and other stains from garden furniture
Bird droppings, mud, food particles or a knocked-over glass of wine? Address this as soon as possible, because the longer the stain soaks in, the harder it is to remove. Make a mixture of water and a dash of natural vinegar or green soap, let it soak in briefly and then wipe it off with a cloth. For stubborn stains, baking soda can help: sprinkle some on a damp sponge and gently rub the stain.
Note: afterwards, do not just throw your suds into the grass or garden, but into the sink or a drain, so that it does not end up in nature and groundwater. After all, anything that removes dirt and kills bacteria and fungi does so not only on your garden chairs, but also the life in the soil. And those micro-organisms in your garden? They are precisely what is essential for healthy, living soil!
Your garden furniture all clean? Think about your cushions too!
With these eco-friendly methods, your garden chairs will stay clean and last longer. Just a little effort and you can enjoy them all summer long again! One last tip: don't forget your garden cushions. Most covers can go in the washing machine (just check the label), but for a quick freshen-up, a soapy water and green soap will do just as well. Let them dry well in the sun afterwards to avoid musty smells! Are you really dealing with stubborn stains? Then check out this article on difficult stains, because there is an eco-friendly cleaning solution for most common stains!
Photo credits: main image: Lisa Anna (Pexels), other: Julia Viktorovna (Pexels).
