White patio furniture offers several advantages over our darker colours that make it a great choice for your outdoor space.
However, whilst it is better at hiding dust and debris than grey and black, it is still susceptible to stains from plants, tree sap, bird droppings, insects, etc.
Our white furniture range is made from cast aluminium, which is highly resistant to rust and corrosion, unlike other metals such as iron or steel.
We then further protect the metal with a durable weather-resistant powder-coated finish to make it perfectly suited to outdoor use and the often wet, windy, and sometimes sunny UK climate.
Cast aluminium furniture is strong and durable, capable of withstanding the elements for many years without showing signs of wear.
It is easy to clean with just soap and water and doesn’t require any special cleaners or the frequent upkeep you would associate with other metals or wood.
The powder-coated finish makes it highly resistant to stains, chipping, and fading from the elements.
Keep it clean and it will make your outdoor area look more spacious and inviting, reflect sunlight, and bring brightness to your garden.
Our white cast aluminium collection is available in a variety of designs, from ornate and intricate metalwork to our more modern-classic latticework, so you can find the set that will perfectly fit and match your outdoor space.
White has a timeless and elegant appeal, and it complements a wide range of outdoor décor styles, from modern to traditional.
And while some metals can become hot in direct sunlight, white cast aluminium tends to remain cooler, making it more comfortable to sit on during sunny days.
Given these advantages, our white cast aluminium patio furniture is an excellent investment for those looking for durable, stylish, and low-maintenance outdoor furniture.
It offers the perfect balance of beauty and practicality, making it a popular choice for many homeowners.
To keep it looking its bright-white-best, in this article, we’re taking a closer look at how we clean and remove common stains such as tree sap, bird droppings, and insect excrement/residue from our white metal patio furniture.
How to clean white cast aluminium patio furniture
Removing stains from white metal patio furniture involves a few steps, depending on the type of stain.
Before applying any cleaning solutions to your white garden furniture, always test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the furniture (such as the underside of a chair) to ensure it won’t damage the paintwork or finish.
This is our process for giving our white furniture a clean, which will remove the majority of dirt and debris:
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Supplies
All you need is a soft-bristle brush, washing up liquid or car shampoo, a bucket of warm water, and a sponge or soft cloth. -
Brush
Start by brushing off and sweeping up any loose dust, dirt, and debris on and around your furniture. -
Wash
Mix a little washing-up liquid or car shampoo (our preference) in your bucket with warm water. Use the sponge or cloth to wash down the furniture, focusing on the stained areas such as chairs and tabletop, and making sure you get into the latticework. -
Rinse
With a garden hose on a spray setting, rinse off until all soap residue is gone. -
Dry
Towel dry if need be or leave it to air dry in the sun. -
Wax
Apply a light coat of car wax or a specialised metal furniture protector to reduce the need to clean it and give it a nice finish.
To remove more stubborn food and drink stains, we like to add the following to the steps above between the wash and rinse stages:
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Supplies
Get some white vinegar or lemon juice, baking soda, a soft brush (like an old nail or toothbrush), and a microfibre cloth. -
Apply
Pour a little white vinegar or lemon juice directly onto the stain and sprinkle a teaspoon of baking soda over the vinegar or lemon juice. -
Leave
Let it sit and fizz for around 15 to 20 minutes. -
Scrub
Scrub the area gently with a soft-bristle brush. -
Dry
Follow steps 4, 5, & 6 above and rinse, dry, and wax.
If you come across any spots of mould or mildew - which is uncommon and more likely on parasols or cushions that have been left outside or stored damp - then the best way to clean off and prevent spreading is as follows:
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Supplies
You need 1/2 cup of bleach, a spray bottle, warm water, a soft-bristle brush, rubber gloves, and protective eyewear. -
Mix
Add 1/2 a cup of bleach to the spray bottle, top it up with water and give it a good shake. -
Apply
Wearing protection, spray the solution on the mildew or mould stains and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. -
Scrub
Gently scrub the affected area with a soft bristle brush. -
Wash
Wash with car shampoo or washing-up liquid. -
Rinse
Rinse thoroughly with the garden hose and let it dry. -
Finish
Please leave it to air dry in the sun and then apply a light coat of car wax to finish.
These steps should help you to remove most stains and the general outdoor muck that builds up over time from your white metal patio furniture.
Three of the more tricky things to remove, especially if they’ve been exposed to direct sunlight, are insect excrement, bird droppings and tree sap, but we have a couple of simple go-to ways to remove them from our white-painted finish:
How to remove bird droppings from white metal patio furniture
Removing bird droppings from white metal patio furniture requires a bit of care to avoid damaging the powder-coated finish.
Here's how we like to tackle this job:
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Supplies
Soft microfibre cloth, kitchen towel, soft-bristle brush, washing-up liquid or car shampoo, bucket, warm water, white vinegar, and rubber gloves. -
Remove
If fresh, wear rubber gloves if you prefer to avoid direct contact, use a paper towel to gently remove as much as possible. -
Avoid
Do not be tempted to scrub if the droppings have been dried in the sun as they could scratch the surface. -
Soften
If hard then soften first by soaking a soft cloth in your bucket of warm soap water and leaving it to sit on the droppings for a few minutes to loosen the dried material. -
Wash
Use a soft sponge or soft-bristle brush to gently scrub the area. -
Tough
If the above steps don’t work and for more stubborn droppings, dip your sponge or cloth in a solution that is equal parts white vinegar and water and repeat steps 4 and 6 with this mix but let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. -
Rinse
Rinse the area with clean water to remove any soap or vinegar residue. -
Dry
Wipe the area dry with a clean towel to prevent water spots and leave your furniture to fully air in the sun. -
Protect
Apply a light coat of clear car wax with a microfibre cloth t prevent future staining and make removing bird droppings easier.
By following these steps, you can safely remove bird droppings from your white metal patio furniture without damaging the painted finish.
How to remove tree sap from white metal patio furniture
Removing tree sap from white cast aluminium furniture can be tricky, especially if the sun has had a chance to bake it. However, with our approach, you can do it without damaging the surface of your white furniture:
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Supplies
Hand sanitiser with isopropyl alcohol, soft cloth, car shampoo or washing up liquid, bucket, warm water, soft sponge or soft-bristle brush, sap remover (optional), and car wax. -
Soften
Dampen a soft cloth with a good squirt of the hand sanitiser. It must have at least 70% isopropyl alcohol as this is what helps to soften and take the stickiness out of the sap. -
Rub
Gently wipe the sap with the cloth, applying light pressure. The alcohol will dissolve the sap, making it easier to wipe away with a paper towel. -
Repeat
Repeat as necessary until all the sap is gone. -
Remove
If the above doesn’t work, you can use a commercial or car sap remover such as Goo Gone or Car Gods Bug & Sap Remover. -
Apply
Spray a small amount of the sap remover onto a soft cloth following the manufacturer's guidelines for application. -
Wipe
Wipe it away gently with a soft cloth or kitchen roll. -
Wash
After removing the sap, wash the furniture down with a little car shampoo or washing up liquid in a bucket of warm water and a sponge. Make sure you wash away any leftover residue from the sanitiser or sap remover. -
Rinse
Rinse the area with clean water to remove any soap or chemical residue. -
Dry
Wipe the furniture dry with a towel to remove watermarks or leave it to air dry in the sun if it is a nice day. -
Protect
Apply a light coat of car wax with a soft cloth. Buff to a nice lustre and add some extra protection against future sap deposits.
Sap can be pretty stubborn stuff so if any remains, simply repeat the process after the first attempt to remove fully.
By following these steps, you can effectively remove tree sap from your white metal patio furniture, leaving it clean and protected.
How to remove insect stains from white metal patio furniture
This is a common issue on white garden furniture and the little black insect stains are generally caused by a variety of small insects, such as spiders, aphids, flies, or gnats, that leave behind excrement or residue.
These stains can be stubborn in the summer but are usually removable with our approach.
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Supplies
You need some washing-up liquid or car shampoo, a bucket, warm water, a soft cloth or sponge, a soft-bristled brush (like an old nailbrush), white vinegar and baking soda or a car tar and bug remover. -
Wash
Mix up a little car shampoo or washing up liquid in a bucket with some warm water. Use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe down the furniture, focusing on the areas with insect stains. -
Apply
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Apply the solution to the stains using a soft cloth and let it sit for a few minutes. Gently scrub with a soft brush or sponge. -
Scrub
For particularly tough stains, make a paste using baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the stain and gently scrub with a soft brush. -
Tough
If the stains are still visible, apply a non-abrasive car tar and bug remover like Turtle Wax or Meguiar's and apply as per the manufacturer's instructions for a car. -
Rinse
When clean, rinse thoroughly with the garden hose on a spray setting to remove any soap residue or cleaning solutions. -
Dry
Dry with a clean towel to remove water spots and leave to fully air dry in the sun -
Prevent
Regularly clean your furniture to prevent the build-up of insect stains and, if it is a regular problem, you can also apply an insect repellent spray or a peppermint essential oil spray.
By following these steps, you should be able to remove the black insect stains from your white metal patio furniture and restore its clean appearance.
If you need to touch up our white painted finish then you'll find pots with application brush in stock in our Spare Parts Shop.
If you own our white patio furniture then we would love to see a few photos of it in situ for our Do Some Good charity campaign. You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or Upload Here.