A Simple Fix

How to Save Your Aluminum Patio Furniture

by Michelle Reneau

You’ve left your metal chair in the rain, the wind blew it over last spring, and you haven’t wiped the dirt off of it since last fall. No wonder it’s in terrible shape.

You know patio furniture has natural enemies, right? Dirt, air pollution, strong detergents, intense sunlight, and pool water can wreak havoc on its life expectancy. And with new furniture costing up to thousands of dollars, cleaning your pieces might be a better solution. Here are the steps to saving (and maintaining) your furniture.

{Step 1} Remove loose and flaking paint with a wire brush and steel wool. You can use a rotary tool to remove stubborn or hard-to-reach rust.

{Step 2} Sand any problem areas, going over corrosion with a wire brush.

{Step 3} Wipe the piece down with soapy water (use a mild detergent such as dish soap) then rinse.

{Step 4} After you’ve allowed time for it to completely dry, apply a thin coat of rust-resistant paint. We recommend acrylic enamel paint, which is available in many colors at paint, auto, and department stores.

{Remember} to spray carefully and, for best results, let the paint cure for three weeks. For intricate designs and hard-to-reach areas, choose a paint that sprays on. For flat, larger areas choose paint applied with a brush. If your furniture requires a second coat, allow it to dry overnight between paintings.

{Step 5} Finish the treatment by waxing the metal frame with liquid or paste car wax. It won’t prevent the furniture from getting dirty, but dirt will adhere to the coating, not the furniture, so it can be cleaned easily. And with proper maintenance, your furniture should last 10 to 15 years.

{Step 6} Maintain it. Wash your patio furniture every two weeks in coastal salt air or heavy smog, and every few months elsewhere.