Indeed, nothing lasts forever. Eventually, even the most expensive high-quality furniture will age with time.
Fading is a frustrating furniture problem (especially for patio furniture). Sure, the piece of furniture might be intact with no damage.
However, fading sucks the life out of it and makes it appear ancient and tasteless.
So, how can you prevent patio furniture from fading? Continue reading to find out.
We mentioned earlier that even the most expensive furniture ages with time. Nevertheless, a high-quality piece of patio furniture will last longer than its lower-quality counterpart.
We’ve seen plenty of buyers make the mistake of buying lower-quality patio furniture to save on money.
At first, it might seem like a good idea. Nonetheless, a piece of cheaper outdoor furniture also means it lacks some of the additional features that would have elongated its lifespan.
Did you know that cheaper plastic outdoor chairs tend to have thin coats of paint? Why? The manufacturers intentionally do this to save money.
You’ll also find that higher-quality chairs tend to have thick coats of paint. Thick coats improve the chair’s endurance.
What is that? Are you interested in high-quality patio furniture? Visit https://wickerpark.ca/collections/patio-furniture-toronto.
Do you want your patio furniture to last longer without fading? Then applying a UV protectant is among the best ways you can ensure that. Think of it as applying “sunscreen” on your furniture.
So, what are UV protectants? UV protectants are special chemicals designed to protect your furniture and fabrics from UltraViolet Light.
Did you know that UV light from the sun accelerates fading?
The UV protectant works to reflect away UVA and UVB light from your furniture and fabrics. Therefore, they’ll not penetrate your furniture and cause fading.
We advise you to apply UV protectants on all your patio furniture. It doesn’t matter if they are cheap or high-end. UV protectants are a requirement if you want them to remain “fresh” for longer.
Do UV protectants work all surface types?
Yes, there is pretty much a UV protectant for all furniture surfaces like wood, fiberglass, plastic, and rubber. Just make sure you confirm they are compatible before use.
How do you apply a UV protectant?
Of course, UV protectants come in all forms like paste, paint, and sprays. Specifically, we found protectant sprays to be the most convenient. All you have to do is spray your patio furniture, and you are good to go.
In addition to that, we’d also want to inform you that the protective effects are temporary. To be safe, you’ll have to keep on reapplying the UV protectant every couple of months.
You can always find out from the manufacturer how long you need to wait before reapplying the UV protectant.
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Besides chemicals, you can also use “natural” solutions to protect your patio furniture from the sun’s UV rays. You can have your furniture under shades to protect them from direct sunlight.
Nonetheless, your furniture will still be vulnerable to indirect sunlight. We won’t lie to you. Your furniture will still experience some fading.
However, it will take several years of indirect sunlight before your furniture starts fading.
If your home has a wide roof, you can consider placing your furniture in the shade when you are not using them.
If not, then you’ll have to invest in a few patio umbrellas. Do this, and you’ll have to worry about lack-luster furniture.
UV rays are indeed the main catalysts behind furniture fading. Nevertheless, other factors cause furniture fading.
Dirt is the other factor you should prevent. It’s easy for owners to forget about their outdoor furniture.
After all, most of these pieces of furniture can withstand natural elements. Despite that, we advise you to clean your patio furniture at least once a week.
Dirt is a slow but deadly substance that can age your furniture. At first, it’s easy to clean with a piece of cloth.
However, accumulated dirt is difficult to clean and can even permanently disfigure your patio furniture. The effect is worse on furniture fabrics.
You should be aware that fabrics are more sensitive to UV rays and dirt. When not in use, always make sure that all the cushions are stored indoors.
It will protect them from fading and staining—It’s one of the main reasons we always advise buyers to go for furniture with removable cushions and fabrics.
Furniture covers can act in place of shades. Nonetheless, you’ll need plenty of them to cover all your patio furniture.
We advise you to use both shades and covers. Why? Because shades can protect your furniture from direct sunlight.
However, they will not protect your furniture from dirt. Furniture covers can protect your patio furniture from both UV rays and dirt.
Of course, the furniture covers should be easy to use, weather-resistant, and thick enough to reflect the UV rays.
“Use your furniture” is probably the most shocking piece of advice you’ll get from us. Nonetheless, it works.
By using your furniture, you’ll be acting as a shade. Therefore, the UV rays will not be able to reach your outdoor furniture.
Now, of course, this is not the most efficient way to prevent patio furniture from fading. However, by using them, you’ll be more inclined to clean your patio furniture, thus preventing staining and fading.
Remember, UV rays from the sun are the main catalysts for fading in patio furniture. On top of that, we also advise you to stay away from plastic furniture because they are more prone to fading.
While you are at it, get your hands on foldable patio furniture. They are easy to store when not in use.
Also, have you ever heard of retractable awnings? They work like umbrellas and offer shade to outdoor furniture.
