Maintenance
General maintenance
Aluminum maintenance
Aluminum is a non-ferrous metal, which combines great mechanical rigidity with light weight. If treated correctly, it has a good resistance to corrosion. By powder coating aluminum, this corrosion resistance is even enhanced. We use ultra-durable and scratch-resistant polyester powder coatings that guarantee a UV-resistance. Powder coated aluminum is easy to clean with clear water and a fluid detergent. If necessary, use a soft brush to remove the dirt from the pores.
Wicker Maintenance
Very little maintenance is required to maintain the beauty of your resin wicker (High Density Polyethylene or Synthetic Rattan). However, Artkiteca recommends a periodic cleaning to remove any dirt, dust or oils that may collect over time to keep your wicker looking new.
The wicker may be washed with mild detergent and water when it becomes soiled using a wet sponge, cloth or a soft plastic bristle brush. Rinse and allow to dry thoroughly before use. Do not use solvents, scouring agents, carbon tetrachloride, undiluted bleach, janitorial cleaners, or gasoline. If in doubt about using a detergent, choose an inconspicuous area and test the cleaner.
Rope Maintenance
Gently de-dust the fabric with a vacuum cleaner or non-metallic soft brush. Wash it tenderly with a soft brush or sponge with mild natural soapy water. Rinse well and allow drying completely in the open air, well spread out for air circulation. Do not use solvents or abrasives, or chemical cleaning products as it may be harmful or damaging the textiles or fabric materials. Do not pull hard on the material as it can be stretched out of shape.
Sling Maintenance (Textilene)
De-dust the fabric with a vacuum cleaner or non-metallic soft brush. Wash it with a soft brush or a sponge, using mild natural soapy water. Rinse well and allow drying completely in the open air, well spread out.
Do NOT use solvents or abrasives, or chemical cleaning products as it maybe harmful to the textiles.
Fabric Maintenance
To keep fabrics looking good, the best is to brush off dirt before it becomes embedded in the fabrics and wipe up spills or clean soon after a stain occurs. The quicker you clean spills and stains, the easier they can be to removed.
Should there be a new spill or stain on your fabric, try the following first:
• Blot (don’t rub) liquid spills with a clean, dry cloth. For oil-based spills, apply an absorbent such as corn starch, then remove with a straight edge.
• Spray on a mild cleaning solution of soap (such as Dawn or laundry soap) and water.
• Rinse the fabric thoroughly to remove all soap residue. Then air dry. If this doesn’t get the stain completely out, here’s how to clean the fabric:
Artkiteca strongly recommend hand washing of all fabrics and upholstery. Soak fabric in a solution of 1⁄4 cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water. Use a sponge or very soft bristle brush to lightly agitate the stain. Then rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue and allow fabric to air dry. Refer to the specific fabric manufacturers instructions below for more details.
Cushions Maintenance
The fills of quality outdoor cushions are designed to allow water to pass directly through them as quickly as possible. Should your cushions get wet, tilt them up on their sides and let them dry naturally outside in the breeze.
Teak Maintenance
Apart from being very stylish, teak is durable and it needs very low maintenance. Don’t oil outdoor teak furniture. Oiling teak is a good thing if you are planning on using the furniture indoors. Outdoor teak furniture should not be oiled. It will not make it last longer, but it will tie you into a tiresome maintenance routine.
Left outdoors, teak furniture will naturally weather to a silver-gray color. You will begin to notice this “graying” in a few months, depending on the amount of sun and rain your furniture is exposed to.
If you don’t like the grey color and want to keep the original dark color of the teak, your furniture can be restored, by cleaning it with mild, soapy water and a soft bristle scrub brush. A good teak cleaner is also very effective. A teak sealer can then be applied after cleaning, which will help to maintain the honey-like color of your teak. Teak sealer needs to be reapplied about once a year and should not be applied to new teak. Remember to wipe your teak furniture clean with water and a mild detergent and then let it dry – before you apply the sealer. Apply the sealer in a thin layer! Cleaning your teak furniture every now and then is a good thing. It helps maintain the general appearance and prevents dirt from building up. Hosing it will do the trick, so it’s not that much of an effort.
Tzalam, Parota and Cumaru Maintenance
Artkiteca furniture is designed for outdoor use and is weather resistant. Even so, we recommend following these steps to keep your furniture in the best possible condition.
Protection: Although Tzalam wood is very resistant to the outdoors, it is important to apply a product that protects it so that the furniture has a long life. There are a wide variety of products on the market for this purpose and they are easy to obtain, but the important thing is that they are wax-based.
Mode of Application: The application of these products is very easy and quick. Only a brush or cloth is needed and this is passed all over the furniture. The furniture should be left to dry for a couple of hours before use.
Frequency of Application: This product should be applied once a month. Not all climates are the same so the customer can decide the frequency depending on the need of the furniture.
In very humid and rainy places, it is advisable to cover the furniture with a tarp to protect it even more.
Download Care & Maintenance Instructions in PDF