Maintaining your Tiki Bar

Maintain your tiki bar's fabulous looks by following a few simple steps. Learn more about storage, cleaning, maintenance, and selection to keep your outdoor collection as good as new for years to come.

Care And Cleaning For Tiki Bars And Outdoor Furniture

Keeping tiki in tip-top shape

Although designed to survive in all kinds of weather conditions, outdoor furniture requires a certain amount of planning, maintenance, and follow through in order to remain in peak condition season after season. A little foresight, some basic care, and a few easy tricks can assure your swinging outdoor tiki furniture stays sharp another season.

An ounce of prevention

Before you invest, make sure you've selected a material suitable for your climate. Outdoor tiki furniture appears in many forms, such as metal, wood, bamboo, and plastic. Wet climates can pose challenges for metal surfaces, as they can rust. Many kinds of wood resist rot and decay, such as red cedar, cypress, mahogany, or teak. Unique in appearance, each kind of wood thrives in a particular environment. Make sure you've selected a material that not only looks good, but wears well. All wood furniture must be thoroughly sealed and treated, with periodic refinishing. Finishes for sunny climates should include some form of extra UV filtration, while damp climates call for mold protection.

As years go by

Outdoor tiki furniture should be regularly cleaned with mild soap and water. A weekly sudsing can make the difference between a drab decor and stylish ambiance. Rinse thoroughly and try to dry off any excess water on the surface of the furniture. Go after spills as soon as they happen to prevent stains. A pressure washer makes clean-up a breeze, but a little elbow grease and a brush or rag can do the trick as well.

Paint can be used to protect wood furniture as well, so long as the furniture has been thoroughly cleaned and primed before application. A fresh coat of paint can look great, but if the material underneath has not been cleaned, sanded, or primed, the effect won't last.

When the party's over

Winter your garden furniture indoors, if possible. Although it will survive the winter unaided, months of moisture and cold can lead to rust, warping, or mold. If bringing the whole set into a garage or shed proves impractical, consider separating the cushions from the frames. If you cover the furniture, thoroughly dry all fabrics inside the tarp or plastic, so that mold can't form.