Just like any other furniture material, metal needs regular maintenance too. Whether used indoors or outdoors, care is needed if you want it to last long. Here are some tips on how to care for your metal furniture:
Wipe it regularly
Use a soft cloth to wipe off dust and grime. A soft brush can also be used for cleaning hard-to-reach areas. Avoid using feather dusters as these only spreads dust.
Keep it dry
It is important to keep your metal furniture dry to prevent rust. If you do have to use water to clean it, use a mixture of mild dish soap and water. Make sure to rinse it then let it dry. This is best done outside on a sunny day.
Keep it covered
This is very useful if your metal furniture is used outdoors as this makes your piece exposed to all kinds of weather. Make sure to use a water-resistant furniture cover to protect it from rain.
Remove rust
Once the protective coating of your metal furniture chips or cracks, the metal will most likely rust. You can use a sandpaper or wire brush to scrub the rust spots. This requires some time and effort but truly rewarding once your furniture is rust-free – or you can always opt to buy a rust remover in the hardware store.
Coat it
Once your metal furniture is rust-free, you need to apply a protective coating to prevent it from corroding. Spray it with a rust protector or if you have to repaint it, use a metal primer on the bare parts then apply paint.