Outdoor furniture care in Dubai sun and dust

What does the Dubai climate do to outdoor furniture?

Four things wear furniture out here faster than in a mild climate.

• Sun. Ultraviolet light fades fabric, bleaches timber grey and makes plastic and synthetic wicker brittle. Dark metal frames in full sun become too hot to touch by midday in summer.
• Dust. Fine sand settles every day and works its way into weaves, slats and cushion seams. Rubbed in, it scratches glass and coated metal.
• Humidity. From June to September the night air is wet enough to soak cushions without a drop of rain. Foam that stays damp grows mould inside, where it cannot be seen.
• Salt and minerals. Sea air pits metal on the coast, and irrigation spray leaves white limescale on anything within reach of a sprinkler.

Wind is the occasional fifth. An open parasol in a strong gust will bend its ribs or go over, so close and tie umbrellas whenever they are not in use.

How should each material be cleaned?

Start every clean the same way: brush or vacuum the dry dust off first, then wash. Wetting dust makes mud that dries into the grain and the weave.

• Teak and hardwood. Wash with warm soapy water and a soft bristle brush, working along the grain, then rinse. Untreated teak weathers to silver grey, which is a change of colour and not decay. To keep it brown, apply a teak sealer to clean, dry wood once or twice a year.
• Aluminium. Wash with mild soap and a cloth. Touch up chips in the coating before white powdery corrosion spreads beneath it, and keep the small drain holes in the frame open.
• Stainless steel. Brown specks are surface staining from salt. Remove them with a stainless steel cleaner and a soft cloth, wiping along the grain, then rinse and dry.
• Synthetic wicker. Vacuum the weave with a brush head, wash with soapy water and a soft brush, and hose off at low pressure. Tip the piece to drain.
• Sling and rope seats. Scrub gently with soapy water, rinse well and let them dry under tension.

How do I stop outdoor cushions going mouldy?

Cushions fail before frames do, and moisture is nearly always the reason.

• Bring cushions in or put them in a ventilated storage box overnight during the humid months. A sealed plastic box traps damp.
• After any wetting, stand each cushion on its long edge with the zip side down so that water drains out of the foam.
• Brush dust off weekly with a soft brush. Dust that gets wet becomes a stain.
• Remove sunscreen, food and bird droppings on the day with mild soap and water, then rinse. Sunscreen leaves yellow marks that set in the sun.
• Wash removable covers cool with the zips closed, and dry them in the shade. Put them back on while very slightly damp so they stretch into shape. Do not tumble dry.
• Black spotting that returns after washing means mould in the foam. The inner needs professional cleaning or replacing.

What should I do with outdoor furniture over the summer?

Few people sit outside between June and September, so the furniture takes four months of the worst sun and humidity for no benefit.

• Wash and dry every piece completely before it is stored or covered. Dirt and moisture sealed under a cover do more harm than the weather.
• Store cushions and umbrellas indoors, in an air conditioned room if there is space, or in a shaded store with some airflow.
• Move frames under a pergola or against a shaded wall, and use covers made of breathable fabric with vents. Plain plastic sheeting sweats underneath.
• Raise the feet of timber furniture off wet paving and artificial grass with glides or blocks.
• Leave covers slightly clear of the ground so that air moves beneath them, and tie them down against wind.
• Lift the covers every few weeks to look for condensation, mould and insects.

In October, uncover everything, wash off the summer dust, tighten bolts and fittings that have worked loose as the frames expanded in the heat, and treat timber before the season starts.

What should never be used on outdoor furniture?

• Bleach on coloured fabric or timber, unless the maker of the fabric specifically allows a diluted solution.
• A pressure washer held close. It raises the grain of wood, strips sealer, tears wicker strands and forces water into cushion foam.
• Scouring pads and steel wool, which scratch coatings and leave particles that rust.
• Acidic limescale removers on natural stone tops, coated aluminium or stainless steel.
• Cooking oil or indoor furniture polish on teak. Both go sticky and hold dust.

When should outdoor furniture be cleaned professionally?

A yearly deep clean at the start of the outdoor season suits most villas and terraces. It is also the practical answer when cushions are stained through, wicker is grey with ingrained dust, or timber has gone patchy and needs stripping back before it is sealed again. The work combines hot water extraction for cushions and fabric, soft brush washing and low pressure rinsing for frames, mineral removal from glass and stone, and treatment of timber once it has dried. The MELLS looks at the furniture and the terrace on a site visit, quotes the scope in writing and has a supervisor check the result.