Aluminum Outdoor Furniture Care

So, you finally got yourself your dream home. With the garden and the backyard and the white picket fence. Nothing can spoil the image of your dream home, not a speck of dust or a dried up plant even. But wait!! What do you do when your carefully selected aluminum furniture starts getting discolored, or worse, becomes rough?

What Makes Aluminum Furniture so Popular?

Aluminum is considered to be one of the most versatile metals for furniture use. Not only is it durable, but it is virtually care-free. We all know that aluminum does not rust. This is because aluminum when exposed to air will develop a microscopic layer of oxide on its exterior, which protects the metal from rusting and corrosion. This is the most important factor while choosing aluminum as outdoor furniture. It will weather any storm and rain and shine. You do not need to worry about covering your furniture the next time you are out and it starts to pour.

Types

Okay so you thought choosing is simple? Well it is, but not as simple as it may sound. Did you know that there are different types of aluminum furniture? Did you know that there is a difference between furniture made from wrought, tubular and cast aluminum?

Wrought is Victorian in style with a much lighter and relatively rust free finish as compared to Wrought Iron furniture. Tubular aluminum furniture on the other hand is most commonly used as it is the lightest and easier to shape and design. Cast furniture is made of cast aluminum, which is pure and highly resilient. It is molded into style and shape and then put together. As cast aluminum is solid, the furniture is much more heavy as compared to wrought and tubular.

Caring Tips

You need to know that aluminum will not rust and this is what makes it perfect for outdoor furniture. But, aluminum will get affected by pollution in the air and water and its surface will discolor or become rough. Though aluminum does not rust it does oxidize.

• If you notice that your furniture is slightly discolored then you need to wash it with some soap and water. Remember to add some gentle household acid like lime or lemon juice, vinegar or cream of tartar. Remember not to add ammonia, TSP or Soda. Always do this cleaning after the end of a particular season.
• If you notice that the aluminum has become pitted or is rough, you can polish or smoothen the surface with steel wool filled with soap. Remember to remove all traces of the steel wool from the surface of your furniture, otherwise it can rust and stain the surface of the aluminum.
• If the aluminum is extremely dirty, there is a whole range of commercial cleaners available that can be used for cleaning. Remember not to use commercial cleaners on anodized aluminum.
• You can also use a coat of auto wax or silicon spray to protect your furniture from corroding and pitting.
• If your furniture is colored anodized aluminum then take extra care to use only mild detergent and water to wash it.

So whether you enjoy entertaining guests on a bright sunny day or just want to enjoy a solitary day with a book and a cup of coffee, irrespective of how your furniture is used to entertain or not, it is important for you keep your aluminum outdoor furniture in prime condition.