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Extreme weather can take a toll on outdoor furniture. Cleaning, brightening, and refinishing can bring new life to even the most weathered wooden chairs, benches and tables.
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Start by spraying down dry furniture with a hose. This will allow the solution to apply more evenly, and not dry out too quickly. |
Wetting down the surface under the furniture will dilute any runoff solution. |
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| A deck cleaner and brightener solution
like Thompson's
Water Seal product removes accumulated dirt and restores
the original color of the wood. |
Pour the solution into a pump sprayer. |
Start applying the solution at the bottom and work your way upward, to avoid streaks. |
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| Allow the solution to sit for a few minutes, then scrub the wood lightly with a brush to loosen stubborn dirt and sun-damaged wood cells. |
Use a smaller brush to reach into narrow gaps. |
Rinse the remaining solution from the furniture with a hose to reveal a clean, bright layer of wood. Allow the furniture to dry completely. |
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| Once the piece is completely dry, it will be evident that the grain of the wood has been raised. Smooth the wood by lightly sanding with 100-grit sandpaper. Be careful not to oversand, or the wood will not be able to absorb a new coat of finish. |
Use a folded sheet of sandpaper to lightly sand the tight spots by hand, in the direction of the grain. |
A coating of stain will add color
to the wood, while protecting it from the elements.
A gel
stain is great for outdoor furniture with slats, because
it will not drip. Start by applying the stain to
the edges of the sanded wood with a paintbrush. |
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| Use the applicator pad that comes with the gel stain to coat the flat surfaces of the furniture. The pad spreads evenly and works the material into the grain of the wood. |
Once the stain dries, you'll have bright and beautiful furniture that will last you through the summer, and beyond. |
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