While cedar outdoor furniture may be the most durable on the face of the earth, there are still some things that you should know in order to care and protect this wonderful furniture.
Outdoor furniture - regardless of if its made of plastic, metal, or wood - needs annual maintenance, some of which is pretty extensive and can also be time consuming.
Cedar outdoor furniture is the big exception to the rule and you do not need to do a lot or work or purchase expensive stains and weather protection products for it to maintain it.
Normal unfinished wood furniture would need to be finished with varnish or oil in order to prepare it for use indoors or out.
Wood furniture that will be used outside will need to have an extra protective finish applied to it to keep the elements from ruining it.
Cedar outdoor furniture that is unfinished, however, can stay unfinished and the elements will never ruin it.
Why? Cedar wood produces its own protective oils even after it has been processed into furniture.
This natural oil protects the wood from the weather, making cedar outdoor furniture the best purchase for you patio.
This is also why you will find that many people have chosen cedar outdoor furniture to decorate their gardens with.
Maintaining your cedar furniture is as easy as rinsing off the dirt and grime that float in the air and land on it.
You do this by hosing it down with your garden hose.
Let the wood dry completely before using the furniture as it will absorb some of the water.
By keeping the wood clean, you will also keep it from splintering.
The dirt and grime will work its way into the wood, causing rough spots which will make it susceptible to the elements and decreasing the life of your cedar outdoor furniture.
The next step of maintaining your cedar outdoor furniture is to bring it in during the winter and store it someplace like a garage, storage unit, basement, or attic.
The furniture is weather resistant, but it is not weatherproof.
It will age and the wood will begin to show the effects of the weather.
Picnic tables and Adirondack chairs are large and hard to move.
Consider covering these particular pieces with a cover before winter sits on, or simply cover them before using them the next spring if you are conscious of any flaws that may appear.
Finally, take a piece of ultra fine sandpaper to your cedar outdoor furniture when you bring it out for the season.
This will just give it a bit of a pick-me-up and remove any rough spots, remaining dirt from last year and other imperfections.
It will give the wood a smooth feel, help it release its unusual scent and brighten up your cedar outdoor furniture for use in the summer season.
Cedar wood furniture is a great investment and you don't have to spend hours trying to clean it.