How to Clean a Sun Lounger?

How to Clean a Sun Lounger?

If you want to know how to clean a sun lounger? then you’ve come to the right place!

A sun lounger is a great addition to any garden but, over time, it can become dirty and smeared with bird droppings or dirt. Left unchecked this could lead to the material becoming stained and looking unsightly. Luckily cleaning a sun lounger is pretty straightforward but there are some important things to keep in mind.

The type of material your sun lounger is made from will determine the best way for you to clean it.

So, let’s go through some tips on how to clean each of the different types of materials e.g., rattan sun loungers, wooden sun loungers, fabric sun loungers, and white plastic sun loungers.

Cleaning Rattan Sun Loungers

Rattan sun loungers are often treated with special oils to keep the material from drying out and cracking. This makes them harder to clean so it is important that you follow the manufactures instructions.

Most modern rattan sun loungers can be cleaned using warm water and washing up liquid. The washing-up liquid will help remove any dirt and dust build-up on the rattan material, as well as soaking up any of the oils that have been applied to it.

Once the surface has been cleaned you should rinse it with clear water to ensure all of the cleaning product is removed and leave it somewhere to dry naturally in a sunny position if possible.

The best way to clean your rattan furniture is to use a soft, lint-free cloth and warm water. While washing up liquid should be ok, you should avoid using harsh or abrasive cleaning products which could damage the material.

Cleaning Wooden Sun Loungers

Wooden sun loungers are very easy to clean. When cleaning a wooden sun lounger do not use any chemicals or abrasive products as this may damage the wood.

You should always wash it with warm water and washing up liquid and then use a soft cloth to dry the material.

Wooden sun loungers should be wiped only gently so that you do not damage the natural look of the wood.

Untreated wood is probably porous so once you’ve washed down your lounger, sit it in the sunshine and let it dry off completely to prevent any warping.

Cleaning Fabric Sun Loungers

Most fabrics can be cleaned in much the same way as wooden sun loungers but some fabrics are obviously more delicate than others.

Fabric sun loungers can be cleaned using warm water and either a mild washing-up liquid mix or, preferably, a laundry detergent that is designed for fabrics. The detergent can be applied to a wet cloth that you wipe over the fabric.

Once the cloth has been rinsed away you should rinse the area with clear water to remove any detergent residue. You can then dry the material in a sunny position if possible or leave it to dry naturally

Cleaning White Plastic Sun Loungers

At some stage, white plastic sun loungers will become stained from bird droppings, dust and dirt. It is important that you take care of this by cleaning it immediately as this can lead to discolouring or staining of the materials.

To clean a white plastic sun lounger, just use a damp cloth with warm water and soap detergent (washing up liquid works as good as anything). After washing, you should wipe the material gently to remove any excess water and then leave it to dry naturally.

Being plastic, these types of sun loungers are more tolerant to more stringent cleaning but they also stain easier. If you have access to a garden hose ( or even a jet wash) at home, it can be a great way to quickly clean this type of furniture. Be careful about possible staining if you leave pools of water and dry it in the sun, its always better to have a quick wipe down after you’ve cleaned it before letting it dry naturally.

Getting rid of fabric stains on sun loungers

Sweat, sun cream, wine, BBQ Sauce, you know, sometimes, you just can’t avoid staining on your sun lounger. As with any stain or spill, it’s always best to tackle this as soon as possible. It will always be much harder to remove a stain that has been allowed to dry and set in.

So, if you spill something on your lounger then get busy and clean it up as soon as you can. Baby wipes are brilliant for small stains or, a damp cloth can work wonders so long as you act quickly. Spilled your glass of red wine over your lounger? Water it down, soak it with the hosepipe, if necessary, it could save you a lot of hassle later.

But maybe you missed the stain, you’ve put the sun lounger away and forgotten about it and now you’re left with an unsightly splodge that you want to remove. Let’s have a look at some solutions for this:

The first thing to do here is to remove as much of the stain as possible. Baby wipes work well here: wash them out, blot them up, and then simply wipe … like magic your lounger will be spotless.

You can use a mild soap to wash out any sun cream or wine spills but remember not to get it all over, these stains tend to set-in and you need access to them for the full cleaning process. If the sun cream/sunscreen is a little stubborn, use warm water mixed with a little washing-up liquid. This helps loosen things up and allows you to scrub them off.

If you need to remove a BBQ sauce stain on your lounger then take a damp cloth and gently rub it over the area for a couple of minutes. The grease will loosen and then simply wipe off using a soft non-abrasive dishcloth or towel.

To find out how to clean sun lounger cushions read our handy article.

And for the most stubborn of stubborn stains…

Does the fabric cover come off the sunbed? Do you have a washing machine?

Check the labels on the fabric for washing instructions or just put it on a low heat cycle, you could find it comes out as new. Hang it up and let the fabric dry naturally rather than in a tumble dryer before re-fitting it to your lounger.

Lifehacks! Apparently, baking soda and vinegar fixes just about everything but the best place to start here is with a Google search for “fabric cleaning lifehacks” and have a dig around in the results. Always test some new method in a discrete area before you fully commit.

Now your sun lounger is nicely cleaned up

Hopefully, some of the tips in this article will help you keep your sun lounger looking in tip-top condition for longer so you can enjoy some of our lovely British weather without having to worry too much about how your furniture looks.

If you haven’t bought your sun lounger yet then why not take a look at some of the best-selling sun loungers on the market and don’t forget to protect you sun lounger with an appropriate Sun Lounger Cover