Autumn is when a cafe terrace shows what summer did to it: dusty seats, sticky table tops, leaves wedged in the corners and cushions that never quite dried out. Knowing how to clean outdoor furniture properly keeps a venue looking cared for, and regular care helps chairs, tables and lounges stay in service for longer.
This guide covers a simple routine, the common materials, cushions and fabrics, and storing over winter, using the care notes on seven product pages. Most of the chairs come from our commercial outdoor chairs range.
How to clean outdoor furniture: a weekly routine
Whatever it is made of, the way to clean outdoor furniture starts with the same basic routine. Little and often beats a big scrub at the end of the season, because dirt and leaf litter are easier to shift before they bake on.
- Daily: wipe tables between sittings and brush crumbs and leaves off seats.
- Weekly: wash with warm water and a mild detergent, using a soft brush or cloth, then rinse with fresh water.
- After storms or windy days: clear leaf litter from slats, weaves and feet, and let everything drain.
- Always: skip abrasive pads, harsh solvents and bleach, which can dull or scratch finishes.
Let pieces dry fully before stacking them or putting cushions back. Trapped moisture is what leads to marks and mould.
Polypropylene chairs and compact laminate tops
Moulded polypropylene is one of the simplest materials to keep clean, with no joints or weaves to collect dirt. The Air Chair ($446) is one-piece polypropylene with glass fibre reinforced legs, and its page says the UV stabiliser stops it fading or going brittle. It stacks up to 4 high, has replaceable feet and a 150kg safe working load, and is sold as a pack of two, so the price covers two chairs.
Table tops take the most wear, from coffee rings to sauce. The Air Table 80 (Top & Base) ($835) has a 12mm HPL compact laminate top in black or white on a polypropylene base, with replaceable feet. A damp cloth and mild detergent is all compact laminate usually needs, followed by a dry wipe.
Placement matters as much as cleaning. The Air Table page advises white tops for direct sunlight and says black tops become hot and fade in direct sun, so they belong in shaded areas. It also says fading and warping of dark tops used in direct sun is not covered under warranty.
Synthetic rattan: brush first, then hose
Resin rattan gives the woven look without natural fibres that fray, but dust and leaves settle into the weave. Brush along the weave with a soft brush first, then rinse. The Florida Chair ($456) is a resin rattan chair on an injection moulded frame that its page says will never unravel, rust or decay. The page also says it is very easy to clean with a quick hose down, and it stacks 4 to 6 high. The price covers a pack of two.
The Orlando Table 800x800x750H ($527) has rattan edges designed to match rattan chairs, an aluminium frame covered with semi UV stabilised polypropylene, and four adjustable and replaceable feet. Its page says it is easy to clean by simply hosing it down. It also describes it as suited to indoor and shaded outdoor use, and its warranty does not cover excessive fading in direct sunlight.
Powder-coated aluminium and steel
Powder coating is a tough baked-on finish, but a scourer or a dragged chair can scratch through it. Clean it with a soft cloth and mild detergent, rinse, and dry it off. On steel frames, check for chips after cleaning, because bare metal is where rust starts.
The Bordeaux Table 80x80 ($1,173) is made from powder-coated aluminium, and its page says the polished finish requires minimal maintenance. It stands 785mm high, suits indoor and outdoor commercial use and has a 3 year warranty.
For help choosing between materials before you buy, our guide to outdoor chair materials, from polypropylene to resin compares the options.
Cushions, fabrics and sun loungers
Cushions are where outdoor furniture looks tired first. Brush off dirt, spot clean marks with mild soapy water, rinse and let them dry completely, standing on edge so water drains. The Tequila Lounge Set - With Cushions ($2,394) has 50mm beige polyester cushions with piping, which its page describes as washable and suitable for indoor and outdoor use. The resin frames clean up with a hose.
Sun lounger fabric deals with sunscreen, pool water and wet towels. The Siesta Pacific Sun Lounger ($1,288) has a Batyline fabric cover that its page calls breathable and quick-drying, with a mould resistant and stain resistant treatment. The page says to hose it down to clean, and the loungers stack for storage. It is sold as a pack of two, so that price covers two loungers.
Coastal salt, leaf litter and winter storage
Many Australian cafes and clubs sit near the coast, where salty air settles on every surface. Venues by the water need to clean outdoor furniture more often, and a fresh-water rinse every week or two stops salt building up on frames, fixings and fabrics. Inland and leafy sites have the opposite problem: gum leaves and seed pods that collect under feet and in weaves.
Before you stack furniture away for winter, clean and dry every piece, check glides and feet, and tighten any loose fixings. Worn feet are worth replacing before they scratch floors, and the Air Chair, Air Table, Florida Chair and Orlando Table all have replaceable feet. Store cushions somewhere dry and off the ground. Every product in this guide lists metro Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide in its Delivery line, and deliveries go to the ground-floor entrance.
| Material | Product in this guide | What the page says | Cleaning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene | Air Chair | UV stabilised, will not fade or go brittle | Soft brush, mild detergent, rinse |
| HPL compact laminate | Air Table 80 | Black tops for shaded areas only | Damp cloth and mild detergent, then dry |
| Resin rattan | Florida Chair, Orlando Table | Clean with a hose down | Brush the weave, then hose and drain |
| Powder-coated aluminium | Bordeaux Table 80x80 | Polished finish needs minimal maintenance | Soft cloth, no scourers |
| Polyester cushions | Tequila Lounge Set | Washable cushions | Spot clean, dry fully, store dry |
| Batyline fabric | Siesta Pacific Sun Lounger | Quick-drying, mould and stain resistant | Hose down and let dry |
Cleaning outdoor furniture — frequently asked questions
What is the best way to clean outdoor furniture?
Brush off loose dirt, wash with warm water, a mild detergent and a soft brush, then rinse with fresh water and let it dry. That routine suits polypropylene, resin rattan, powder-coated metal and compact laminate alike.
Can you pressure wash outdoor furniture?
A garden hose is the safer choice. The Florida, Orlando, Tequila and Pacific pages all describe cleaning with a hose, and none of them mentions a pressure washer.
How do you clean outdoor cushions?
Brush them off, spot clean with mild soapy water, rinse and dry them completely before storing. The Tequila Lounge Set's cushions are described as washable.
How do you store outdoor furniture over winter?
Clean and dry everything first, then stack chairs and loungers and keep cushions somewhere dry. The Air Chair stacks up to 4 high and the Florida Chair 4 to 6 high.
Shop the range
Browse our commercial outdoor tables and commercial outdoor lounges for more low-maintenance pieces. Every product in this guide is listed below.
- Air Chair (Pack of 2) ($446): busy cafes wanting one-piece UV stabilised polypropylene chairs that stack
- Air Table 80 (Top & Base) ($835): cafe tables needing a compact laminate top, with white for full sun
- Florida Chair (Pack of 2) ($456): venues wanting the rattan look with a quick hose-down clean
- Orlando Table 800x800x750H ($527): shaded courtyards pairing a rattan-edge table with resin rattan chairs
- Bordeaux Table 80x80 ($1,173): indoor and outdoor dining on a low-maintenance powder-coated aluminium table
- Tequila Lounge Set - With Cushions ($2,394): terraces and lounges wanting washable cushions on a resin frame
- Siesta Pacific Sun Lounger (Pack of 2) ($1,288): pools and hotels needing quick-drying, stain resistant lounger fabric
Metro delivery is a flat $75 per order, and prices include GST.
