Outdoor Wrought Iron Furniture Care and Maintenance
Wrought iron has long been a popular metal used in outdoor furniture for many reasons. It is durable, heavy, and can be made into many different styles and designs. With all of the benefits of wrought iron, it does have one major drawback--rust!. The following tips will be useful for maintaining and extending the life of your wrought iron outdoor furniture:
If your wrought-iron furniture has already begun to rust, here are some ideas:
- Start by scrubbing the rust lightly with a wire brush. Scrub hard enough to remove any rust flakes, but be careful not to scratch the paint (unless the rust is so bad that you'll have to repaint the furniture).
- If you see rust stains but no flaking, use a very fine steel-wool pad dipped into kerosene, and brush out the stains. Be sure to wear safety goggles and rubber gloves when working with kerosene, and (of course) stay well away from open flames.
- If rust has developed in the joints of the furniture, it may be easier to disassemble the furniture and work with the individual pieces.
- When you've finished removing the rust, coat the furniture with liquid wax, available at most automotive stores. The wax will help protect the finish against further rust.
- Severe rust problems can be treated with naval jelly, which dissolves rust--but be careful because this will usually dissolve the paint. Some products convert the rust into a primer so the metal can be painted later.
- A good quality exterior-grade spray paint is best for use on wrought iron. These are available in many different colors at your local hardware store.
Perhaps the most important tip is the following:
Covering your wrought iron furniture is the most important thing that you can do to make it last! Investing in a good quality outdoor furniture cover will most likely prevent you from having to use the above tips!
Happy Holidays!
Sam