Metal chairs, tables and benches brighten up a garden or patio, but they spend the whole season in rain, sun and dew. Without care, rust soon appears on welds, legs and fixings, and folding mechanisms start to stick.
A few simple steps in spring and autumn will keep your furniture going for years and save you buying new. All you need is a brush, a cloth and a product that displaces moisture.
What you will need
Important: Before sitting on the furniture or putting the cushions back, wipe all product off the seats and backrests, otherwise it may leave greasy marks on clothes and fabric. Do not spray near open flames, a barbecue or a hot grill.
Step 1
Prepare the furniture
Remove cushions and covers; washable covers are worth a quick wash. Move the furniture to a level spot where you can work all round it, and lay a sheet underneath to protect paving or the lawn.
Step 2
Brush off the dirt
Go over the dirty areas with a soft brush: legs, under the seats, the joints. Pay special attention to gaps and decorative curves where dust, leaves and cobwebs collect and hold moisture.
Soft bristles remove dirt without scratching the paint. A scratch in the finish is exactly where rust starts.
Step 3
Remove the rust
Lightly sand any rust spots on the legs and welds with fine sandpaper. Then spray them with WD-40 Multi-Use, leave for 1-2 minutes and wipe with a cloth: the loosened rust comes away with the product.
Use the brush on stubborn areas and repeat until the metal is clean. If the paint has come off down to bare metal, touch up the spot after cleaning.
Step 4
Apply a protective layer
Treat all metal surfaces evenly with WD-40 Multi-Use. It displaces moisture and leaves a thin, clear film that makes water run off, so the metal resists rust for longer. For a large set, WD-40 Trigger Pro with its trigger sprayer is quicker. Leave it to air for a few minutes.
Step 5
Treat hard-to-reach areas
Use the thin straw of WD-40 Smart Straw to direct product into tube joints, holes in the legs, the hinges of folding chairs and backrest adjusters. Fold and unfold the chair a few times so the product works into the joints and the mechanism moves without squeaking.
Step 6
Wipe off the excess
Use a clean cloth to remove excess product so only a thin, even protective layer remains on the metal. Wipe seats and backrests particularly well, and only then put the cushions back.
Tip: In autumn, before winter, repeat the treatment and move the furniture under cover or into a dry shed. If it stays outdoors, use a breathable cover and stand the legs on pads so they are not sitting in meltwater.
What next
Treat the furniture in spring before the season, in autumn before storage and after long spells of rain. The same works for a metal swing, an outdoor barbecue and garden tools: keep WD-40 Multi-Use in the garden cupboard.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».