With so many types of outdoor furniture available, what works best for the humid summer weather in Wisconsin?

Recycled Plastic

In both style and performance, recycled plastic patio furniture ranks at or near the top. Recycled plastic is extraordinarily strong and extremely durable. It’s resistant to moisture, rotting, and cracking and is impervious to salt water and stains. It also resists fading, because its color is intrinsic to the material. And best of all, most recycled plastic is made to resemble wood but requires none of the care wood does.

Benefits:

• Require little to no maintenance and is easy to clean
• Naturally resistant to fading and moisture – won’t produce mildew, rot, or rust
• Eco-friendly – many types made from plastic milk jugs and similar containers
• Withstands: Rain, humidity, wind, and extreme temperatures

Care Tips:

• Easy to clean – simply spray with clear water or a mild soapy mixture to remove dust, dirt and pollen

Care: Minimal

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Resin Wicker

Also known as all-weather wicker, resin wicker is a longer-lasting, weather-resistant synthetic fiber weave wrapped over a metal frame. While plant material such as cane and rattan are the traditional materials used to make wicker furniture, the term “wicker” actually refers to the woven style in which the furniture is made, not the material used. Resin wicker is typically made with thin strands of PVC, nylon, polyethylene, or high-density polyethylene. 

Benefits:

• Lends a traditional, homey feel to your outdoor area
• More durable than traditional wicker material
• Most high-end resin wicker is UV-resistant, so it won’t fade or crack
• Withstands: Rain, sunlight, and humidity

Care Tips:

• Remove pollen and dirt by spraying with water
• Let air dry
• If unsure about your furniture’s resistance to sunlight, keep in shaded area when not in use

Care Level: Minimal

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Steel Furniture:

Steel doesn’t dent or get bent out of shape as easily as some aluminum furnishings can. Lighter than wrought iron but heavier than aluminum, steel provides strength, stability, and endurance in extreme temperatures. Powder-coated finishes protect against rust and corrosion. Galvanized steel lasts longer and requires less maintenance than other forms of steel.

Steel Furniture Precautions:

Dining chairs, side tables, and other items that have to move frequently aren’t good candidates for heavy steel. Any kind of chip in the finish can allow rust to get going, too, so if you live in a humid or rainy area, steel won’t provide zero-maintenance ease.

How to Clean Steel Furniture:

• Wash dust and pollen from metal garden furniture using a periodic spray-down with clean water and mild suds.
• When you see a chip in the finish, act fast to touch it up. Wash the area, sand away any hint of rust, and apply a matching protective paint to the area.
• Apply clear liquid car wax at least once a year to protect the finish.