HOW TO CARE FOR TEAK FURNITURE
Teak is regarded as one of the most beautiful, high-quality woods manufactured today. It’s a very dense, straight-grained hardwood with a coarse texture, high natural oil content, and a distinctively aromatic scent (often compared to leather).
Widely renowned for its durability and resistance to rotting, teak is almost impervious to the effects of sun, rain, frost, and snow. Its high level of resinous oil acts as a natural insect repellent, giving it a very high resistance to termites.
The Weathering of Teak
Over time, teak furniture will attain a handsome silvery-gray patina as it weathers. This process takes approximately nine months, depending on the amount of sunlight and rain exposure. During weathering, a slight lifting of the grain may occur on the tops of the arms and legs, and you may even see a few cracks. This is not considered a defect, but a natural expanding and contracting of the wood. The grain will return to its original smooth finish after the weathering process is complete.
Cleaning Your Teak Outdoor Furniture
If you prefer to keep your teak patio furniture at its original golden color instead of letting it weather to a silvery-gray patina, simply perform some light sanding and then apply a teak cleaner and protectant. The oils will penetrate, nourish and help restore the original look of your teak.
Teak can be cleaned with a hose. To remove stains, lightly sand away areas that are stained with fine-grit sandpaper. High-quality outdoor furniture covers are recommended if you plan to leave your teak furniture outdoors all year. If you choose to store your furniture indoors, we recommend that you do so in a watertight garden shed or garage. We advise that you do not move teak furniture from the garden straight into a heated indoor room for storage, as the sharp differences in temperature and humidity may cause the wood to split.
HOW TO CLEAN WICKER FURNITURE
Frontgate’s outdoor wicker furniture is handwoven from 100% high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This high performance grade resin is non-toxic and safe for the environment while also possessing antimicrobial properties that inhibit fungus and mildew growth.
Wicker furniture should be cleaned periodically using mild soap and water. To extend the life of your furniture, avoid direct contact with chlorine and saltwater. . If near salt water, we recommend weekly rinsing with water from a hose. You should also keep it away from open flames and artificial heat.
Resin wicker won’t splinter or rot in extreme temperatures (-94°F to 176°F), but a high-quality outdoor furniture cover is recommended if you plan to leave your wicker furniture outdoors all year. This will help avoid extended periods of direct sunlight and ultimately minimize fading over time.
Before placing covers on your furniture, clean any debris with mild soap and water then dry completely with a soft cloth. Trapped debris or moisture can cause surfaces to mold. If you choose to move your furniture indoors, make sure it’s clean and dry and stored in a moisture free environment.
HOW TO CLEAN ALUMINUM FURNITURE
The superior quality of Frontgate’s outdoor aluminum furniture comes from the 100% ignot aluminum crafting. Some of our furniture is fully casted while some use both cast and extruded aluminum parts. Our premium, heavy gauge, aluminum provides added strength and durability on extruded parts. On fully casted pieces, these elements are solid aluminum and provide great detail, dimenison and design.
Aluminum furniture should be cleaned periodically using mild soap and lukewarm water. Do not use abrasive cleaners. For maximum protection against harmful ultraviolet exposure, we recommend a yearly application of a clear automobile wax.
If you live in seaside climates or have a saltwater pool, regular (weekly) cleaning with will greatly help remove the concentrated salt deposits that can lead to finish failure. A clear automobile wax also offers protection from the salt air.
High-quality outdoor furniture covers are recommended if you plan to leave your aluminum furniture outdoors all year. Before placing covers on your furniture, clean any debris with mild soap and water then dry completely with a soft cloth. Trapped debris or moisture can cause surfaces to mold. If you choose to move your furniture indoors, make sure it’s clean and dry and stored in a moisture free environment.
HOW TO CLEAN OUTDOOR CUSHIONS
The cushions found on Frontgate outdoor furniture collections are constructed of a high-resiliency, high-density polyurethane foam core with a soft polyester wrap for improved comfort and performance. This foam core has a high rebound factor and soft surface engineered to provide years of consistent comfort and support without sagging. Cushions are also finished with 100% solution dyed fabric covers.
You can also refresh the look of any non-Frontgate furniture with our extensive offering of replacement outdoor cushions. Constructed to remain beautiful and comfortable through years of use, our Knife Edge and Tufted cushions are layered premium polyester fiber and wrapped in 100% solution dyed fabric covers. Our premium Double Piped cushions share the same great properties as our collection cushions.
Cleaning and Care
Our cushions are crafted to provide years of comfort and performance in a variety of climates and conditions. However, after extended or heavy rain, some water may penetrate your cushions’ foam core. If this occurs, stand them on end with the open zipper or seam side down to help drain the water and speed the drying process. Be sure the cushion’s core has completely dried before using.
To clean spills or stains on our solution-dyed fabrics, dilute one cup of chlorine bleach in one gallon of water and test in an inconspicuous area. Saturate a rag or brush in the bleach solution and scrub the entire cushion then rinse well with water and allow to air dry.
Storage
If you choose to leave your furniture and cushions outdoors year round, the use of high-quality outdoor furniture covers are recommended. This will help protect against exposure to the elements.
If you choose to store your furniture, we offer several outdoor storage solutions to protect your cushions. All storage items keep cushions dry in order to prevent mold and mildew. They are all ventilated and sit up off the ground in case of standing water. In addition, all are made from all-weather materials so they can be left outside all year long and can be cleaned with a wet rag or sprayed with a hose.
