Basic garden furniture consists of a table, a set of chairs and perhaps an umbrella. You can spend time relaxing, hold family get-togethers and even spend intimate moments at your garden furniture. To enjoy all this to the maximum, you have to use these tips to preserve your garden furniture.

1. The manufacturer usually gives cleaning and maintenance recommendations for the furniture. Follow this, and perhaps wax and touch up bare spots and cracks to get rid of the moisture of raw wood furniture.

2. Always wipe off spills immediately to prevent furniture absorbing it.

3. When not in use, use furniture cover to cover the furniture. The covers are usually made from woven polyester and are durable enough to provide protection during winter and rain.

4. Just remember to leave sufficient room for circulation when you cover your furniture to prevent the formation of mould.

5. Make it a point to clean your furniture using mild soap and water at least once a week, using a soft cloth or paper towel. Then, wash the furniture using a pan of clear water and let it dry.

6. If your furniture is not in a covered area, make sure you wipe it dry after it rains. This is especially important for wooden furniture as it should never remain in water.

7. Coating your furniture with a good coat of automotive wax protects it from UV rays.

8. It's better to avoid directly placing your furniture on damp soil for long periods of time.

9. If your garden furniture is made from wicker, give it a good brushing with a medium bristle brush. It removes the build up of dirt and makes your furniture looking better.

10. If your furniture is made from cedar, then it's better to use a wood sealer to prevent the raising of its grains and to give a beautiful colour to cedar.

11. In case of teak furniture, you have to brush oil evenly along its grain, without any overlaps. However if there is any rain, frost or dew on the furniture, wait till it dries before you oil it.

It is important that you oil your furniture periodically to avoid the furniture turning silver-grey. In case it does turn silver grey, you can restore its colour by giving it a light sanding and using a cloth to apply oil.

12. If your furniture is made from Merbau, let it bleed before oiling it. When it bleeds, it releases a red or brown sap in damp and wet conditions. Hosing down the furniture several times can help hasten its bleeding process. Once the wood has completed its bleeding process, oil it.

13. Metal furniture is the easiest to maintain. Just wash the furniture with hot soapy water the day you buy it. Keep a lookout for small cracks in its outer coating that may leak water inside to cause rusting. Use touch up kits to seal these cracks as soon as possible.

14. Mosaic tables should be regularly treated with hard beeswax to retain the table's focal point in the garden. Apply beeswax in thin layers to bring out the colour of marble and to protect it from coffee, tea and wine stains.

With the help of these garden furniture maintenance tips, you will be able to preserve your furniture for a long time to come.