Plastic furniture is excellent furniture to use for it lasts long, is durable, easy to maintain, and is quite cheaper than wooden or metal furniture. While this furniture indeed seems to do well indoors, it may not be ideal for outdoors – especially in the garden. The good thing however is that there is ways how to revive plastic garden furniture, and there are a few of them.
Reviving plastic garden furniture
Garden furniture is a great way to improve the aesthetics as well as the value of the garden. However, outdoor furniture is exposed to sun, winds, rain, snow, and other natural elements which can damage or cause wear and tear on the furniture. While this may seem inevitable, there are certainly a few ways how you can revive them.
Restoration of the furniture means addressing a specific problem. Here are a few of the common problems with reviving plastic garden furniture.
Fading from oxidation
One of the common problems with any plastic that is exposed outdoors is fading from oxidation. As plastic is exposed to the sun and moist, its hue or color fades which makes the material look old and faded. To remove the fading, one should first consider the kind of plastic that is being dealt with. Plastic materials that don’t have paint or coating can be cleaned or revived by scrubbing them with sandpaper along with soap. Depending on the smoothness and penetration desired, you can choose from smooth sandpaper to rough sandpaper. Wash with water every time the surface is polished to determine the level of pressure you need for cleaning.
For plastic furniture with sensitive coating or outer layers, you can also use cleaning agents such as bleach, detergent, or vinegar combined with baking soda to remove the fade out of the plastic. Use a rough or smooth cloth, or sponge depending on the surface of the metal. If you don’t want the plastic furniture to have any scratches while cleaning, simply use the smooth side of the sponge. Soaking or letting the plastic sit on these chemical agents can also relieve the fading. Simply spray with water pressure after soaking to clean rinse the furniture.
Repainting to hide fading
At times, scratches, damages, and fading on plastic furniture may seem unrepairable, and the only way to fix it is by painting over it. When painting plastic furniture, you need to make sure that you’re using the right paint – there are many types of paints and each is made to be used for specific materials.
Now to start painting your furniture to hide fading, you need to set up an area where you can paint the furniture. Lay a cloth or paper on the ground and set the furniture on top of it – this is done to avoid painting the ground in the process. Next is to cover the parts or areas on the furniture that you don’t want to be painted. This includes parts with other colors, glass parts, and other parts that are made from other materials. Cover them with plastic bags, paper, or tape.
Painting can be done using a roller and a brush however the ideal way of painting is by spraying for faster and cleaner results.
Start with a primer, and paint from the top of the furniture going down. After which, cover with the finishing paint after the primer has set. As you repaint the furniture, always make sure that the paint has been set before performing other procedures. Also, do not expose the furniture to moist and strong winds to avoid patches or air bubbles in the paint.
Other means
For the other means of reviving your plastic garden furniture, you can also use cleaning agents and products. Among which is WD-40 which is a popular cleaning agent and degreaser that can be used to clean and revive plastic.
The use of plastic rejuvenators is also common as this help clean and leave a protective layer over the plastic without the need to repaint it. Simply spray over the furniture and wipe it off with a dry cloth. For better results, try to have a second coating.
Now, these are only a few of the many ways how you can revive your plastic furniture. What’s important to bear in mind is that all the tedious work or reviving the furniture can be avoided if you take care of your furniture well. As they say, ‘prevention is always better than cure.’ So, make sure to take care of your plastic furniture. Cover it up when not in use, keep it clear from moisture and too much sun, and regular polishing can keep it looking nice for a long time.