Here’s How to Refresh Your Patio Furniture

Blog written by: Jyll Mackie

Jyll and her family are slowly renovating their 70’s side split home. Through her renovation journey, she is sharing attainable design and DIY ideas for every style. Follow along on Jyll’s journey on her Instagram and Pinterest.

We recently completed a massive backyard renovation and while all new patio furniture would be ideal, it just wasn’t in the budget this year! We ultimately decided to make do with the furniture we have had for at least another season however it was looking sad. The outdoor couches are 5 years old and we weren’t always the best at covering them. The wood was looking worn and faded, and the cushions were stained.

I teamed up with Home Hardware to give them a little facelift and make them last at least another season (if not more!) - Here’s How to refresh your patio furniture:

Here’s what you need:

Benchmark Pressure Washer
Folex
ScotchGuard
BeautiTone Wood-Shield Semi-Transparent Stain (I used the colour Woodland Meadow but you can get samples tinted of all the colours to be sure you pick the right one!)

Pressure washers are most commonly used for cleaning hard surfaces like decks and driveways, but did you know you can use them on your patio furniture cushions?? **Be sure to test a spot on the back of the cushion first**

What I loved about the Benchmark Pressure Washer is that it came with multiple different nozzles labeled with their different uses. I started with the soap foaming nozzle for some upholstery cleaner. I then switched to the cleaning nozzle to get any tough mildew stains out. I left the cushions in the sun to dry for about 12 hours (this may vary depending on your temps).

After the cushions were dry, I went in with a bit of Folex on some of the tougher stains - this stuff seriously works miracles. Finally, once all the stains were out and the cushions were dry, I sprayed them with a generous coat of ScotchGuard because, kids!

While I had the power washer out, I used it on the wood of the couches because some areas still had a finish that was uneven. I essentially wanted to get down to raw wood so the stain would absorb evenly. Again, always test an inconspicuous area first, start from further away and then move closer. I used the stripping nozzle for this which removed any remaining finish to prep for stain. Another tip is to always wear closed-toe shoes while pressure washing!

After a day of drying in the sun, we were ready for stain! I chose BeautiTone Wood-Shield Deck and Siding Stain in a Semi-Transparent finish because I wanted to see the wood grain. If you prefer a more opaque (think painted look), BeautiTone also makes a solid stain that would work wonderfully. Both these stains are an alkyd (oil) and acrylic mix which means you get the penetration and protection of an alkyd (oil), and the rich colour and mildew resistance benefits of an acrylic. And bonus, it still cleans up with soap and water!

I used a rag to wipe the stain into the slats. You could also use a roller, brush, or even a sprayer for this part depending on the style of your furniture. I did one coat and then followed the instructions to apply the second coat between 8-48 hours later. The first coat really sunk into the wood and the second coat added a beautiful richness to the colour.

After letting the stain dry for 72 hours I put the cushions back on and to be honest, I was in shock at how amazing the set looked! It literally looked brand new! Take a look for yourself!

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Here’s How to Refresh Your Patio Furniture

Here’s what you need:

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