Aluminium garden furniture is popular because it's light, strong and weather-resistant. You can leave it outside all season, and it doesn't need oil or stain the way wood does. But low-maintenance isn't the same as maintenance-free. Pollen, bird droppings, tree sap and dirt that sits for months dull the coating and work their way into seams and woven strands. In this guide you'll read how to clean an aluminium garden set, lounge set or garden bench step by step, how to treat each part, what to do each season and how to get the set ready for winter. Along with the care tips the manufacturer gives with the furniture.
In brief: clean the frame with lukewarm water, mild washing-up liquid and a soft cloth, rinse and let it dry thoroughly. Treat rope, tabletop and cushions each in their own way. Give the set a thorough clean in spring and autumn, and only cover it once everything is clean and dry. White marks or rust? Then read can an aluminium garden set rust.
What does aluminium need?
Most aluminium garden furniture has a powder coating: a baked-on layer of paint that gives the frame its colour, such as carbon black, taupe or a teak look. That layer protects the metal and is smooth, so dirt doesn't cling to it easily. Maintenance therefore comes down to two things: keeping the coating clean and keeping the coating intact.
- Keeping it clean: dirt, bird droppings and tree sap that sit for a long time dull the paint and can leave stains.
- Keeping it intact: a scratch or damage is the spot where moisture and dirt get a foothold first.
- The rest of the set: an aluminium piece of furniture is rarely just aluminium. Rope, a Vironwood or Centostone tabletop and the cushions each need their own approach.
For why aluminium doesn't rust but can oxidise, and what to do about white deposits or a rusting screw, read can an aluminium garden set rust. More about the material itself is in what is aluminium. This article is about everyday maintenance.
What you'll need
You don't need any special products. Most households already have these to hand:
- A bucket of lukewarm water with a few drops of mild washing-up liquid
- A soft cloth, microfibre cloth or soft sponge
- A soft brush for rope, woven strands and seams
- A garden hose or a second bucket of clean water for rinsing
- A dry, soft cloth for drying
- Optionally, a fabric protector for the cushions
What you don't use: abrasive cleaner, steel wool, the rough side of a scouring pad, bleach and other harsh cleaners. These damage the coating.
Don't have these yet? Cleaner for aluminium garden furniture · microfibre cloths · fabric protector for the cushions on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Cleaning in 6 steps
This is the standard clean you give in spring and autumn, and in between if the set is really dirty. Allow about an hour for a complete garden set.
Take off the cushions, scatter cushions and loose accessories. That way you can reach everything and the cushions won't get wet. Knock loose leaves and sand off the frame and out of the woven strands.
Rinse the set with a garden hose on a gentle setting. Otherwise sand and grit will scrape over the paint like sandpaper as soon as you start with a cloth.
Work from the top down with a soft cloth or sponge and lukewarm water with a little washing-up liquid. Use a soft brush for rope, seams and the corners of the frame.
Rinse off all the soap residue thoroughly. Leftover soap leaves streaks and attracts new dirt.
Wipe the frame with a dry cloth to prevent limescale marks, then leave the set to air dry. Water likes to collect in the corners of seats and under the feet.
Go over screws and joints and tighten any loose bolts. Look for scratches or damage in the coating, and check that the caps under the feet are still in place.
For the thorough clean, choose an overcast, dry day. In strong sun the soapy water dries on the frame before you can rinse it, and then you're left with the streaks you were trying to remove.
Maintenance per part
An aluminium set often combines several materials. This table shows how to clean each part. The approach follows the care tips that manufacturers provide with the furniture.
| Part | Cleaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Powder-coated frame | Mild soapy water, soft cloth | Rinse and dry |
| Teak-look frame | Mild soapy water, soft cloth | No oil, it's paint |
| Rope | Lukewarm water, soft brush | Let it dry thoroughly |
| TPU rope | Damp cloth | No abrasive products |
| Vironwood top | Damp cloth or soapy water | No oil or paint needed |
| Centostone top | Soft sponge, soapy water | Don't scrub |
| Cushions | Cloth and lukewarm water | Store dry |
A teak-look frame resembles wood, but it's a finish on aluminium. Oil or stain does nothing for it. The same goes for a Vironwood tabletop: it has the look of wood but is plastic and doesn't need oiling. To find out how to care for a stone-look top, read what is a Centostone garden table and how do I maintain it. For rope there's a separate guide: how to maintain rope garden furniture.
Dealing with cushions separately
Brush off loose grime and wipe the covers with a cloth and lukewarm water. Some removable covers can go in the washing machine on a low temperature; check the label first. A fabric protector helps against dirt and moisture. More tips are in cleaning garden cushions.
Maintenance per season
Aluminium needs little, but it helps to have fixed moments in the calendar. This is what a garden year looks like.
Spring: getting the set back into use
Take off the cover or bring the set out of the shed and give it the full treatment from the 6 steps. After winter there's often a green or grey film from dust, pollen and damp. Tighten screws, especially on chairs and adjustable parts that were used all last season. Clean the cover too, and let it dry before you store it.
Summer: little and often
In season, it's mainly about keeping on top of things. Wipe away bird droppings, tree sap, spilt food and drink straight away with a damp cloth, before it dries. Bring cushions inside or into a cushion box when rain is coming, and only put them back once the frame is dry. If your set stands in full sun, a dark frame can get hot to the touch; a cushion or throw placed on it prevents burns.
Autumn: clean and dry before putting away
Fallen leaves collect in corners and under cushions and leave brown marks. Give the set another thorough clean before you cover or store it, and let everything dry completely. Store the cushions dry. Use this session to look closely at the coating: it's easier to touch up damage now than after a wet winter.
Winter: covered outside or stored indoors
A powder-coated aluminium frame can stay outside, preferably under a breathable cover. If you have room in the shed or garage, that's even better. Check now and then that the cover is still secure, shake snow and water off its roof, and remove leaves that have settled on it. You can read more about the winter period in what to do with garden furniture in winter.
Checklist: storing the set
Are you putting the set away for winter or for a long holiday? Then go through these points.
- Take all the cushions off and let them dry completely
- Give the frame a wash, rinse and wipe dry
- Clean rope and woven strands with a soft brush
- Remove leaves and sand from seams and corners
- Tighten any loose screws and bolts
- Check the coating and touch up any damage
- Only cover the set once everything is dry, using a breathable protective cover
- Store the cushions in a dry, ventilated place
For the best way to store cushions, read storing garden cushions. Not sure whether you should cover the set at all? Then read whether to cover garden furniture or not.
Dull coating and small scratches
Does your set look dull and blotchy after a few years? That's usually not wear, but a layer of dried-on dirt and limescale. A thorough clean with soapy water and a soft brush, followed by careful rinsing and buffing dry, often fixes it.
- Bringing back the shine: after cleaning, you can use a non-abrasive wax for painted surfaces, such as car wax. Apply it thinly with a soft cloth and buff off without pressing hard. Test first on a spot you don't see.
- Small scratches: clean and dry the spot and touch it up with a metal touch-up pen in a matching colour. If you're unsure, ask the manufacturer which product suits the coating.
- White, powdery patches: that isn't dirt but oxidation. For how to deal with it, see can an aluminium garden set rust.
Prevent scratches rather than repairing them
Lift chairs instead of dragging them across the paving, don't place heavy plant pots or barbecue trays directly on the armrests, and keep the caps under the feet intact. That way the coating stays protected for years.
Common mistakes
Covering the set while it's still wet
Under a cover a wet frame hardly dries. Moisture lingers for weeks and causes stains and mould on cushions and rope. Only cover once everything is dry.
Leaving cushions under the cover
Even under a good cover, cushions absorb moisture. Store them separately and dry, especially in winter.
Letting the soapy water dry on
Soap that dries in the sun leaves streaks and a sticky film. Work in sections and rinse straight after.
Oil on a teak-look frame or Vironwood top
It looks like wood, but it's paint on aluminium or plastic. Oil doesn't soak in, stays sticky and attracts dirt.
Forgetting the cover
A dirty cover transfers grime to your clean set. Wash it now and then with mild soapy water and let it dry thoroughly before you use or store it again.
Maintenance tips from our range
Manufacturers themselves state how to maintain their furniture. Below are five aluminium pieces from our range, each with a different combination of materials, and what the product information says about care. You can see current prices on the cards.
Aluminium only: Bruno park bench
A two-seater garden bench with a taupe aluminium frame, 150 cm wide, and a cushion with a polyester cover. The manufacturer's care tip is exactly the basic routine from this guide: "Keep your Bruno park bench aluminium taupe valley sand in top condition by regularly wiping the frame with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Rinse with clean water and let it dry thoroughly. In long periods of bad weather or in winter, store the product dry, preferably with a protective cover."
Bruno park bench aluminium taupe
Aluminium and Vironwood: Edison garden table
An oval garden table measuring 180 x 115 cm for 4 to 6 people, with a powder-coated carbon black aluminium frame and a Vironwood top in a light teak look. According to the manufacturer, the aluminium frame needs hardly any maintenance and you don't need protective oil or paint: cleaning with soapy water and a soft cloth is enough.
Edison oval garden table 180x115 cm
Aluminium, rope and Vironwood: Allasio corner set
A lounge-dining corner set for 6 people with a dark grey aluminium frame, rope backrests and armrests in natural, a Vironwood tabletop and 10 cm thick cushions. The care according to the product information: wipe the aluminium frame with mild soapy water, keep the rope clean with lukewarm water and a soft brush, treat the cushions with a fabric protector and store them dry in bad weather or in winter. Clean the Vironwood with a damp cloth.
Allasio lounge-dining corner set 5-piece
Teak look and TPU rope: Decala lounge set
A lounge set for 5 people with an aluminium frame in a light teak look finish, TPU rope armrests, an aluminium side table and 10 cushions. The usage instructions: "Clean the aluminium frame regularly with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Rinse with clean water and let it dry thoroughly. Clean the TPU rope armrests with a damp cloth. Clean the aluminium tabletop with a soft cloth and mild soapy water."
Decala lounge set 4-piece light teak look
Aluminium and Centostone: Nice lounge table
A round lounge table, 60 cm in diameter and 45 cm high, with a taupe aluminium frame and a Centostone top. According to the manufacturer, the top is scratch-resistant and non-porous, so stains and water rings don't leave marks. Clean the top with a soft sponge and mild soapy water, the frame with a damp cloth, and don't use abrasive products.
Nice round lounge table 60 cm taupe
In brief
- Lukewarm water, mild washing-up liquid and a soft cloth are enough for the frame
- Always rinse and let it dry thoroughly
- Rope with a soft brush, tabletops with a damp cloth
- No oil on teak-look or Vironwood
- Store cushions separately and dry
- Only cover once the set is completely dry
The right cover
A cover saves a lot of cleaning: leaves, pollen and bird droppings no longer end up on your set. Choose a cover that breathes, so moisture can escape, and one that's a little larger than your furniture. To find the right size, measure the outer dimensions of your set, including the chairs around the table. A cover also needs care: the manufacturer of the AeroCover covers advises cleaning them with a mild soap solution and a soft cloth, and letting them dry thoroughly before putting them back on.
AeroCover garden bench cover 130 x 75
View cover →
AeroCover garden table cover 180 x 110
View cover →
Coverit garden set cover 205 x 190
View cover →You'll find more sizes in protective covers and lounge set covers. Still looking for a new set? Browse our aluminium garden sets, aluminium lounge sets, aluminium garden tables and aluminium garden benches, or use the selection guide if you're not yet sure which type suits your garden.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you clean aluminium garden furniture?
Give your set at least two thorough cleans a year: in spring when you bring it into use, and in autumn before you store or cover it. In between, wipe the frame down with a damp cloth whenever you notice dirt, pollen or bird droppings. If the set stands under a tree or by the coast, clean it more often.
What should you clean aluminium garden furniture with?
Use lukewarm water, a few drops of mild washing-up liquid and a soft cloth, sponge or soft brush. Rinse with clean water and dry off. Powder-coated aluminium needs nothing more. Do not use abrasive cleaners, steel wool, bleach or other harsh chemicals, as these will dull the coating.
Can you use a pressure washer on aluminium garden furniture?
Better not. A hard jet at close range can damage the coating at edges and seams, attack rope and cushions, and force water into the frame tubes. A garden hose with a soft brush works just as well. If you do use a pressure washer, keep a good distance and choose a wide spray pattern.
Should you cover aluminium garden furniture?
The frame can withstand rain, but a cover keeps out leaves, pollen and bird droppings and saves a lot of cleaning. Only cover the set when it is clean and completely dry, and choose a breathable cover with ventilation. Under a sealed sheet, condensation will collect.
How do you restore dull aluminium garden furniture?
Start with a thorough clean, as a dull layer is often just dried-on dirt or limescale. Rinse, dry well and then look again. If you want the shine back, use a non-abrasive wax for painted surfaces and test it first in an inconspicuous spot. If you see white chalky residue, it is oxidation, so follow the approach in our article on rust.
How do you care for the cushions of an aluminium lounge set?
Knock or brush off loose dirt and wipe the covers with a cloth and lukewarm water. Removable covers may sometimes be machine washed on a low temperature; always check the label first. Let cushions dry completely before storing them, and keep them in a dry place during bad weather and over winter.
