Furniture Care Guide · Longwood, FL
How to Care for Your Outdoor Furniture.
Keep it looking new through Florida heat, sun, and humidity. It is simpler than most people think.
Why it matters
Maintenance is what makes good furniture last.
The biggest thing that shortens the life of outdoor furniture in Florida is not the sun, the humidity, or the salt air. It is a lack of maintenance. A good outdoor set is a lot like a nice car: keep it clean and it rewards you for years, neglect it and it will not last, no matter what you paid.
We have had customers come back after thirty years with furniture they bought from us, still holding up so well that the only reason they replaced it was to change the look. The care is what got them there, and none of it is complicated. Here is how to keep yours looking new, by material.
The short version
Three habits do most of the work.
Get these three right and good furniture can last for decades.
Vacuum the cushions
Every couple of weeks, run a vacuum over the cushions. Lifting off the pollen, dust, and debris that settles out of the Florida air is what keeps mold and algae from ever taking root.
Rinse with soapy water
A garden hose with a pressure nozzle and a little dish soap is all it takes to wash down frames and cushions. No special products, no fuss.
Match care to the material
Poly and aluminum are wash-and-rinse. Teak can weather naturally or be sealed. Performance fabrics can take bleach. A little know-how goes a long way.
When a storm is coming
Protecting your outdoor furniture in hurricane season
There is no special hurricane routine for outdoor furniture. The everyday care is the same all year. When a storm is actually on the way, the move is simple: bring what you can into the garage, a shed, or another grounded structure, and store the cushions so they do not soak through or blow away. If a piece has to stay out, tie it to the house.
One myth worth killing: never toss aluminum furniture in the pool to save it. The chemistry and the pressure warp the frames, and the set never sits right again. Coastal homes take the worst of the wind, so anything that can move should be secured. Here inland, around Orlando and Longwood, we sit behind the coast and see fewer of the extreme gusts, but a loose dining chair can still find a window. Not sure what your pieces can take? Bring photos to the Longwood showroom and we will tell you straight.
The care guide
How to care for it, by material.
Cushions (do this first)
Vacuum them. Every couple of weeks, run a vacuum over the cushions to lift off the pollen, dust, and debris that settles out of the Florida air. That one habit matters most: dirt left on the surface is what lets mold and algae take root and become hard to remove. Beyond that, a garden hose with a pressure nozzle and a little dish soap in water is all you need to wash them down.
Aluminum and all-weather wicker frames
The same soapy water and a hose. A quality powder-coated aluminum or resin-wicker frame is built to take Florida heat, humidity, and even the salt air near the water when it is finished well, so keeping the frame clean is most of the job.
Teak and natural woods
Teak weathers naturally to a soft silver-grey, and it lasts for many years either way. If you want to keep the original warm color, a teak sealer or protectant applied periodically will hold it. If you do not mind the grey, you can leave it alone entirely.
Poly and HDPE (Polywood, Berlin Gardens)
About as easy as it gets: wash and rinse. Recycled-poly and HDPE furniture does not absorb water or stain, so a rinse with soapy water and a hose keeps it looking new with almost no effort.
Performance fabrics like Sunbrella
Solution-dyed acrylics like Sunbrella are colored all the way through the fiber, which is why they hold up so well outside. They resist fading under UV, and you can clean them aggressively: bleach and stain removers are fair game for a spilled glass of wine, and pool chlorine, salt, and a wet bathing suit will not hurt them. There is more on our outdoor cushions and Sunbrella fabrics page.
Visit or call
Come see it in person.
Visit the Longwood showroom or call to talk through your project. No appointment needed to browse.
Longwood, FL 32779