Spring is here. Doesn’t that sun feel good? I love Spring! After spending the whole Winter inside and breathing that nasty, recycled heater air, it is such a treat to go outside in my garden and relax…Well, I would love to actually relax but I have Spring cleaning fever. Yes, my house needs a good dusting but I love being outside. I am busy planting my organic garden, some flower beds and pulling out all the outdoor patio furniture. I own several pieces of cast iron garden furniture. My favorite ones are the 4 piece love seats I use for company and my wonderfully selfish chaise lounge. Time to beat out the dust and sun the cushions. It is also time to do a little cleaning and maintenance on the cast iron.
I used to live in Hawaii, then Florida and now I live in Northern California. These are all warm places that get a lot of moisture. I always bought cast iron furniture because it is incredibly durable and can handle harsh conditions. That being said, I also take care of my stuff! Cleaning cast iron furniture is easy. All you need to do is get a little soap and water to wipe away the grime. This is also a great time to inspect your furniture. Anything gooey like barbeque sauce stains or ice cream can usually be taken care of with a product like Soft Scrub. But if you see any cracks in the paint or rust, it’s time to take action. Cracks can be easily touched up with an epoxy resin based paint. If you see rust, you need to get some fine steel wool and sand away the paint to remove the rust. Then, one coat at a time, apply three or four coats of paint. It is crucial to seal the exterior to prevent further rusting.
This type of furniture was meant to last a lifetime and it may last several generations with the right care. Try to keep your furniture under cover when not in use. Certain styles of furniture may have areas where rainwater pools, be aware of this and wipe it up when you can. The sun can be as harsh as the rain. After cleaning I like to wipe down my furniture with liquid car wax to protect the paint. Then, it is all about relaxing in the shade and watching the flowers grow.
