Have you recently created a tranquil oasis at home with fresh plants, stylish furniture, and beautiful accessories? There’s nothing more exciting than updating your outdoor furniture. However, most people are unaware of how damaging the Australian sun is on upholstery, wicker and wooden materials. To ensure your brand-new furniture lasts, we’ve written a blog listing our best tips to protect your latest investments from being damaged by harmful UV rays.

Invest in an Outdoor Umbrella

The beauty about outdoor umbrellas is that they can protect your skin, furniture and keep you cool all at the same time. Outdoor umbrella’s offer a practical solution for added comfort when lounging outside under the midday sun. They’re also made to be a great styling accessory too! With a variety of fabrics, patterns and installation options on offer, outdoor umbrellas will continue to be an ongoing trend for protecting your alfresco furniture.

Cover it Up

 It’s a simple suggestion, yet it’s something people tend to forget. Covering up your tables, chairs, and lounges, with a durable and weatherproof cover will help to ensure your brand-new settings aren’t being ruined by the sun. The ultra-violet rays, especially in Australia, are strong. These will eventually wear away the sheen and gloss on your furniture. In some cases, this can cause surface damage and in more severe scenarios, structural weakness! So, if you’re going away for a longer period of time (1 – 3 weeks) or simply not using your furniture, covering it up will best protect it.

Protect Your Upholstery

At Daydream Leisure Furniture, it is extremely important to us that we stock high performing and durable upholstery that support the quality of our outdoor furniture range. This I why we 100% support Sunproof Fabrics. They have proven to us time and time again that their fabrics match the quality and standards of our Daydream product range. To best maintain the ‘Sunproof’ Slings and ‘Sunproof’ cushions that we stock in-store, the following product care instructions should be followed.

‘Sunproof’ Slings: We recommend that Sunproof Textilene slings should be washed down regularly with warm water and any stains should be cleaned when they happen!

‘Sunproof’ Cushions: You should never store these wonderful cushions while wet. Removable covers should only be washed by hand or a very delicate machine cycle, and stains tended to immediately.

 Despite the high-quality fabrics of the Sunproof upholstery, please follow these steps as general maintenance and care. This will ensure the extended life and vibrancy of these products. For a full description of the Sunproof Fabrics product care, click here.

Protect Your Wicker Furniture

To slow down the ageing process of your Wicker Furniture, we highly recommend that you do not place Wicker furniture in direct unfiltered sunlight for extended periods of time. Despite the high quality of the Wicker line we carry, the harsh Queensland climate can still cause damage if not protected. Because of this, it’s only recommended that these products are placed in semi-exposed environments at best. A simple wash with mild soapy water is also heavily dependent on the furniture’s use and location. For a full review of the ‘PE Wicker’ product care, click here or consult your local furniture specialist on what outdoor furniture range is best suited for you!

Protect Your Wooden Furniture

At Daydream, we stock two lines of wooden furniture; the Kwila and Teak product ranges. Whilst both of these lines are extremely tough and durable, a few product care steps are needed to ensure they’re both properly tended to.  During manufacturing, our Kwila and Teak timbers are dried in kilns which is a process that ensures the wood reaches consistent moisture content. Without this process, most cheaper timber furniture is prone to warping and twisting. Further care needs to be taken to both wooden lines such as regular oiling to ensure it doesn’t look weathered. As well as, avoiding any bleaches or strong solvents that can harm the timber surfaces. Specific to the Kwila line, a few rinses may be necessary to accelerate the bleeding process of resin/sap. This is to avoid any staining on ground surfaces or clothing etc. For a further in-depth explanation of this process, click here.

For the strongest protection against the harsh Australian climate, we highly recommend that you follow these handy tips. This will ensure your outdoor furniture stays vibrant and in good condition all year round. A little care goes a long way when protecting your new home investments.

If you are looking to refresh your outdoor setting feel free to contact us! We can suggest to you our professional advice on which products are most suited for your outdoor area. Short for time? Fill out our quick online form and one of our friendly team members will get back to you at a time that suits. With two showrooms located on the Sunshine Coast, find the closest store to you.