UK households are being urged to clean their garden furniture on Sunday as this one thing can cause serious damage. Tree sap ruining garden furnishings is an issue that many people will face during the summer months. The liquid can stain, causes discolouration, and weakens materials including wood, metal and fabrics.
Many people believe that tree sap is washed away by rain. However, according to a garden furiture expert, wet weather conditions can actually force the sap to drip more from leaves and branches. This then leads to a sticky residue, that is hard to remove, being left on furniture sets. Therefore, the expert has stressed the importance of acting quickly when this happens.
Mark Holloway, from design specalists Holloways of Ludlow, stressed the importance of staying on top of garden furniture cleaning especially after rain, and with the Met Office issuing yellow weather alerts due to expected thunderstorms and heavy rain, the message couldn’t be more clear.
Mark said: “After periods of heavy rain or wind, it’s recommended to take a more thorough approach to clean away any debris that may have accumulated in the grooves of your furniture. Removing theses as soon as possible will help to avoid long-lasting damage to the materials of your garden furniture.”
The Met Office’s storm alerts are in place from Thursday, June 12 to Saturday, June 14 for some parts of the UK. Brits should expect thunderstorms and “torrential downpours” over the three days in many places, with different regions impacted by the changeable weather conditions on each day.
However, the weather is expected to clear up by Sunday. Therefore, homeowners should make the most of the last weekend day to ensure their garden furniture is not completely ruined by the stormy weather.
The cleaning approach you will need to take depends on the furniture you have.
For wooden sets, Mark suggests using an old washing up sponge, and a solution of warm water with mild soap to “gently lift and remove grime”. Any stubborn stains that might have settled into the wood should be removed with a solution of warm water, white vinegar and baking soda.
Those who have metal furniture should use soft bristle brushes or soft cloths along with a paste of baking soda and water to remove any stains. “Make sure to apply a rust-resistant spray after cleaning to keep it protected from wet weather,” he adds.
For materials such as rattan, cord or wicker, which are more sensitive, you’ll want to be more gentle and use a soft cloth and warm soapy water. A toothbrush can also be used to get into the weaves of the material to lift any build-up of dirt out.