How to Clean Garden Furniture by Material

How to Clean Garden Furniture: Teak, Metal, Stone, Cushions

By Alexandra PetterssonReviewed by Alexander TjernströmUpdated 6 October 2026

Short answer

Teak: soft brush, water
Metal: damp cloth
Never: pressure washer

Once a year in spring: teak with water, mild soap and a soft brush; powder-coated metal with a damp cloth; sintered stone with any household cleaner; cushions with mild soap, air-dried on edge. Never a pressure washer.

Garden furniture cleaning is mostly one session in spring and a rinse when birds or pollen arrive. The mistakes cost more than the dirt: a pressure washer tears teak grain, a scouring pad scratches powder coat, and cushions put away damp grow mould. Here is the routine by material, with what to avoid.

Teak

Water, a little mild soap and a soft brush, along the grain. Rinse with a hose and let it dry in the sun. If you oil it, oil only once it is clean and dry.

Grey teak is not dirty; that is the patina. Green or black spots are dirt and damp: brush them off early.

Powder-coated metal

A damp cloth, mild soap if needed, then dry. Check the feet and the welds, where water sits longest.

No abrasive pads and no solvent cleaners: they dull the coat. Colour marks lift with an alcohol-based cleaner. On a stainless frame, a chip in the paint does not rust through, but touch it up to keep it looking new.

Sintered stone

Any household cleaner and a cloth. Dekton does not absorb, so wine, oil and bird droppings wipe off even after a day. No sealing, ever.

Mesh and cushions

Outdoor mesh on Kenny, Elsy and Isa: brush off, rinse, let it drip dry.

Cushions: brush off dry dirt, wash marks with mild soapy water and a soft brush, rinse and stand on edge to dry. Store dry in winter.

What never to do

No pressure washer on wood or cushions. No bleach on teak. No plastic sheeting over furniture: it traps damp. No putting cushions away wet.

One spring session, the right tool per material

When: once in spring
Stone: any cleaner
Cushions: dry on edge

Soft brush on teak, damp cloth on metal, household cleaner on stone, mild soap on cushions. No pressure washer, no plastic sheeting. Stainless frames, teak and sintered stone, welded in Sweden, 10-year warranty.

Frequently asked questions

How do you clean wooden garden furniture?

Water, mild soap and a soft brush along the grain, then rinse and dry in the sun.

How do you clean metal garden furniture?

A damp cloth with mild soap, then dry. No abrasive pads.

Can I pressure wash garden furniture?

Not wood or cushions. It roughens teak and forces water into foam.

How often should I clean garden furniture?

Once a year in spring, and rinse off bird droppings and pollen as they land.

How do I clean a stone garden table?

Any household cleaner. Sintered stone does not stain.

How do I clean patio furniture cushions?

Mild soapy water and a soft brush, rinse, dry on edge.