I would like to give you some free information to read on the cleaning and maintenance of your new aluminum patio furniture. Improper care and maintenance will reduce the longevity of your new furniture just as it will do with your car or truck.

Not cleaning and waxing your new aluminum furniture frames. The most damaging materials are those that you would never guess, suntan oils, human perspiration, and environmental pollutants. When these materials are cooked by the sun into the finish of your aluminum furniture day after day without proper cleaning and waxing, damage to the finish will result.

Now that we've covered what not to do, let's talk about proper care and maintenance. Many commercial pool areas have signs that require people to put down towels before sitting or lying on the furniture. If exposure to suntan oil, body oils and acids is limited, then the vinyl won't stain as badly. This is difficult to enforce and doesn't prevent all contaminants from reaching the finish. What does work is regular cleaning with a mild detergent and a brush with a long handle on it, such as is used for cleaning cars.

I personally like dish washing detergent, because it has emulsifiers that break down oils and is almost scum free. I recommend that you clean your outdoor aluminum furniture this way every three weeks, and ideally try to get the pollutants off immediately. The aluminum frames parts of your patio furniture should be waxed with a light, non-compound car wax, such as "Turtle Wax".