Taking Care of Wrought-Iron Patio Furniture
If you have just purchased wrought-iron furniture that you will be using in an outdoor environment, there are a few steps you can take to keep it looking nice for years to come. Even with the best care, wrought iron may begin to rust in time. It is important to add a coating of paint over the iron at the first signs of rust to help keep it from deteriorating any further. Here are some instructions for you to use to help keep your furniture from becoming rusted prematurely and how to handle rust if it is noticed.
Cleaning
When cleaning wrought iron, use a nonabrasive sponge so there is no risk of scratching the surface of the metal. If it becomes scratched, rust will settle in. Place a quarter-sized drop of liquid detergent on a sponge and dip it into a bucket of water to add some moisture. Scrub the furniture by hand and rinse using a garden hose. Allow the furniture to dry completely before making any repairs or adding paint.
Making Repairs
After cleaning your furniture, you will be able to see any spots where rust has settled in. If your furniture was painted in the past, use a wire brush to scrape off any spots that have bubbled or cracked so that your new color will adhere to the metal instead of peeling or flaking off with preexisting paint. Wherever you see rust, sand it off of the metal using a piece of medium-grit sandpaper. When the rust is no longer present, use a piece of fine-grit sandpaper on that spot to smooth the surface for painting.
Adding Color
Before you add paint to your furniture, add a coating of rust-inhibiting primer to help keep rust from forming underneath your paint job. Allow it to dry for a full day before starting to paint. When painting furniture, you may want to use a sprayer if there are several small intricacies in the patterns on your pieces. Place a tarp on the ground to protect foliage or your driveway before starting. Give your wrought iron furniture two coats of color, allowing the paint to dry thoroughly between coatings.
Protecting
To prolong the life of your furniture, add a coating of spray wax once a year. To help keep rust away, put your wrought-iron furniture in storage or use furniture coverings during winter months. Clean your wrought-iron furniture monthly to remove spiderwebs, insect carcasses, and other debris that become embedded in crevices, as moisture can become trapped underneath, causing rusting to occur.
If you are interested in purchasing wrought-iron furniture or have more questions about how to care for it, consider searching the term "patio furniture ft lauderdale fl" in your Internet browser.
Share