Garden furniture: banishing rust and stains
Ho to give your garden furniture a new lease of life
It isn't hard to get keep rust and stains at bay on metal and wooden furniture if you know how...
Metal furniture, gates and fences are usually protected from corrosion and rust by a finish such as varnish, paint or powder coating. But if this becomes damaged, rust can get a hold and spread. Treat it by sanding back to the bare metal and, if necessary, applying a coat of primer. Once dry, apply a fresh coat of paint or varnish formulated for outdoor metalwork. Or, try Hammerite Direct to Rust Metal Paint (£7.98 for 250ml), which can be applied to rusty surfaces without the need for undercoat or primer – just remove any loose flakes first. Plastic furniture usually only requires warm, soapy water to keep it clean. But if it does become stained, try treating the offending mark with household bleach diluted with water.
Stains on untreated wood can be difficult to shift. Try dissolving a little oxygen bleach such as Oxi Clean (£3.49, Lakeland), in hot water. Gently scrub, leave for 15 minutes, rinse and leave to dry.
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