How to Care For Your Outdoor Furnishings

Caring for Your Outdoor Furniture

We believe that your outdoor space should be an extension of your beautiful home. The pieces you choose should be characterised by quality and perfect finishes that compare to the finest interior furnishings.

Our furniture experts have put together some tips and techniques for the general, day-to-day care of your new McKenzie & Willis furniture piece as a quick reference.

Teak

Teak is used in the entire outdoor range, because we know there is nothing better for outdoor furniture. All teak is sourced from Indonesia where it is grown in sustainable forests, purely planted for manufacturing purposes.

Grade A teak taken from the heart of the wood at the centre of the teak tree is characterised by a close grain and a warm honey colour, with very few knots present in the wood. Due to its exceptionally high quality and impeccable finish, we choose to use A grade teak across our entire outdoor range.

Teak is rich in natural oils that protect the teak from splitting, weathering and other potentially harmful elements. All teak is sold with a shield coating on it, which offers an extra layer of protection against the harsh New Zealand climate.

In the first year you can expect the teak will begin to silver off, this can depend on your climate as to how quickly this can happen. Over the first 2 years you can expect the teak to completely silver in the sun, it often looks even more stunning this way. Due to its high level of natural oil, teak will bleed or ‘leach’ out the excess oil, this can be seen as tiny black spots which will fade as the teak silvers off.

If you choose to bring the teak back to its original colour it will require a little maintenance:

Every 6 months, simply sand with a light sander, using long strokes and light pressure, this will bring your teak back to its natural golden colour.
Once sanded, take Devon Teak protector and apply sparingly to all areas. This protector will keep your teak looking golden for longer and protect your items from water but won’t protect against food and oil, therefore we recommend a shield for all dining tables etc.
Once a year, a teak shield can be applied on top of protector, but it doesn’t last as long because it can’t penetrate the wood as well, therefore use the shield onto raw teak where possible for year-round protection.

Click here to watch a short video on teak maintenance.

Powder Coated Aluminium

All metal used throughout our outdoor collection is powder coated aluminium, the best metal for outdoor use. Aluminium is resistant against rust, therefore doesn’t break and is incredibly durable against the natural elements.

The second layer of strength is the powder coated colour that is sprayed then baked onto the aluminium frame giving another protective layer. The added advantage of this is it’s very hard to scratch, so perfect for vertical surfaces like dining tables.

Maintenance:

Your powder coated aluminium outdoor furniture requires little to no maintenance. Simply just spray with the hose and wipe with a soft cloth.
Mild soapy water can be used if required and within minutes your furniture will be perfectly clean and dry.
Click here to watch a short video and learn more about powder coated aluminium.

Rope & Weave

Many of our outdoor items are hand woven by families in Indonesia that have handed the skill down from generations before. Each woven item is hand woven onto a frame as most items can’t be done by machinery giving each piece its own unique touch. All woven products have a powder coated aluminium base for strength and longevity to support the weave.

Traditional wicker, though beautifully textured and woven can become dry and cracked, which has led to the development of the synthetic wicker. Made from synthetic fibres it performs extremely well against heat/sun/salt and is treated to withstand fading and cracking.

Our rope is made from a blend of textaline and polyolifin which is UV resistant and very strong.

Maintenance:

Only requiring simple maintenance, we recommend keeping dirt build up at bay by regularly cleaning with clean or soapy water and a cotton cloth or soft brush.

Concrete

The concrete range is made from glass fibre reinforced concrete, giving you the look of concrete but much lighter. Surfaces are coated with a food safe water-based sealer that will protect the porous concrete material and creates a layer that limits staining and scratching of the table surface.

Maintenance:

Simply clean the surface with a damp microfibre cloth.
For more stubborn stains use a mild household cleaner such as washing up liquid, be careful not to use anything abrasive or that contains chlorine/bleach or ammonium.
Water spotting may occur if large patches of water can dry naturally, say a large spillage.
Do not place hot objects directly onto the surface, always use a table mat or trivet where possible.
Consider resealing your table after 12 months for extra protection.

Cushions & Fabric

All fabric in our outdoor collection is Marine grade fabrics, specially engineered for the outdoors. Outdoor fabrics are saturated with highly UV stable pigments, making them resistant to fading and damage from sunlight as well as resilient against mould or mildew.

The cushions inner are Quick-dry foam which features an open cell structure for easy drainage and fast drying cushions.

Click here to watch a short video and learn more about Quick-dry foam.

Maintenance:

When needed, use soapy water and a cloth or soft brush to remove built up dirt from the surface.
In exceptional wet conditions, we recommend storing your cushions in a cool dry place.

Umbrellas

Our collection of outdoor umbrellas is made from a powder coated aluminium frame with a granite base. All fabrics are solution dyed acrylic yarns from the Sunbrella® PLUS Marine collection. All fabrics have a surface finish that makes the fabric waterproof, mildew and stain resistant and keeps its drying time to a minimum.

Maintenance:

The frame of the umbrella should be cleaned with a damp cloth, mild soap and water to remove any dirt build up.
To avoid staining to your outdoor umbrella fabric, spot clean and brush of any dirt build up when required. Simply use a damp cloth or soft brush and mild soapy water, rinse well to remove any soap and allow the fabric to air dry before folding down.
For extra protection, you can apply an invisible film to make the canopy stain and water repellent by using a textile protector.
When not in use, cover with a protective cover and store in a dry place.
We also recommend inspecting the installation fittings, mount bolts, rib spacers, etc. on a regular basis and tighten if necessary.

By following this simple advice you will get the most out of your gorgeous McKenzie & Willis outdoor furniture. Our sales consultants are always available to offer further advice on any of our furniture should you need it, simply call your nearest McKenzie & Willis showroom.

Please Note: All of the items in the McKenzie & Willis range come with care instructions from the individual manufacturers. It is important that you read these carefully and refer to them as they are specific to the product and the materials used in its construction.