Outdoor spaces are important extension of everyday living, so caring for furniture pieces you have placed in your garden or by the poolside or porch are just as important as the maintenance of your interior furnishings. If you've invested on some ergonomically designed outdoor furniture, you can prolong their longevity with proper care.

Before even buying the furniture, you can read about the care required for every material and type you are planning to invest on. Outdoor furniture that has been exposed to the elements will require you to cleanse it of dirt and debris. For wooden outdoor furniture, regular cleaning and touching up cracks or bare spots may be in order. It may be worth every ounce of effort you expend, though, because the look, not to mention the feel and functionality of real wood furniture is hard to beat. By caring for it, you'll enjoy the use of your wooden furniture for many years.

The thing about wooden furniture is that with constant exposure to sunlight and the elements, you may find its color fading. You can sand the parts first with fine sandpaper, remove particles of dust and dirt, and then apply stain. You may also opt to clean the wood with mineral spirits before applying stain/sealer. Rusting screws and bolts need to be replaced as well, and the replacement hinges and wheels need to be lubricated with a silicone-based lubricant. A wood sealer should do the trick for cedar furniture, as it will prevent the grain from becoming raised.

For outdoor furniture made of bamboo or rattan, clean using a moist cloth with some mild soap. Try not to wet the plant material too much, though. Wooden furniture must not be left standing in water. Let it dry before usage, and let the furniture return to its original form.

Sturdy metal outdoor furniture likewise requires care and maintenance. Painted metal furniture must not hit or brush against hard surfaces because this will chip the paint and expose the metal to rust problems. Clean painted metal outdoor furniture with water and a mild detergent, and make sure that the furniture piece dries thoroughly, especially if you must store it after cleaning.

For your aluminum outdoor pieces, you can prevent corrosion by using a silicone spray or car wax. A coat of car wax will also protect the furniture from the sun's ultraviolet rays. For individuals who have purchased and continually used fabric garden furniture like cloth chairs and hammocks, the fabric must be machine-washed. Bleaching white fabrics may be required, too. If you opted for wicker sun loungers with cushions, the latter may most likely have mildew- and soil-resistant fabric covers. When the cushions get soiled, all you have to do is spot-clean them with some water and mild detergent solution.

Among the different types of furniture for the outdoor setting, resin furniture is among those requiring least care. All you have to do is spray it with clean water and then let it air dry. Scuff marks, if any, may be removed with a gentle abrasive. To remove mildew, use a mixture of a cup of bleach, two cups detergent and water. For those who do not have the patience, much less the time to keep cleaning furniture, the alternative is to get the easy-to-maintain furniture pieces that do not only meet high standards of quality in raw materials, but also construction, and can withstand constant exposure to weather.