Care Instructions

• Wipe the surface down regularly with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth to clear away pollen, dust, leaves, and grit before they have a chance to build up.
• After rain, wipe away any standing water, paying particular attention to the places where it pools on the top or collects around the joints and the bottoms of the legs, and let the surface dry fully.
• Set hot dishes on a trivet or pad, and lift items rather than dragging them across the top, since grit caught underneath can scratch the finish.
• Expect the color to shift over time. Hardwoods left in direct sun gradually lighten and take on a silver-grey tone, which is natural for any wood used outdoors, and while the finish slows that change, it does not stop it entirely.

What to use. A microfiber cloth dampened with water is the best and safest way to clean your furniture. For anything more stubborn, mix a small amount of Dawn dish soap into water and wipe gently with a microfiber cloth, then go back over the surface with a clean, damp cloth to lift any soap residue before drying it with a towel.

Never use. Pledge, furniture oils, household cleaning sprays, bleach, or a pressure washer, all of which will either damage the finish or force water deep into the wood.

Outdoor exposure wears a finish faster than life indoors, so plan to refresh it more often than you would an indoor piece.

A worn or scratched spot. Apply a small amount of Rubio Hybrid Wood Protector to the area with a clean cloth and buff it in. If the mark is still visible, lightly hand sand the spot with 150 grit sandpaper, working with the grain, then vacuum or wipe away the dust and reapply the protector before buffing again.

A full refresh. Look the piece over each spring. Once the surface starts to look dry, dull, or grey from the sun, it is ready for a fresh coat. Lightly sand the entire surface with 150 grit, working with the grain, and vacuum away all of the dust before wiping on a thin, even coat of Rubio Hybrid Wood Protector with a clean cloth and buffing off the excess. Allow it to cure for the time listed on the product before putting the piece back into use.

How often. A piece kept in full sun and weather may need a full refresh about once a year, while one kept shaded or covered can often go a year or two longer between coats.

No one can predict everything the weather will bring, but a few simple habits go a long way toward reducing wear.

• Keep the piece out of direct sunlight whenever you can. Steady sun dries the finish and drives greying faster than anything else, so shade, an umbrella, or a covered spot all help.
• Cover it through the winter and any other time it will sit unused for a stretch. Choose a breathable cover rather than sealed plastic, and make sure the wood is dry before covering it, since a sealed cover traps moisture against the surface.
• Keep snow from piling up and melting into the surface by brushing it off, or by keeping the piece covered or moved under shelter once winter sets in.
• Once or twice a year, check that the legs and joints are still snug, and tighten any hardware that has loosened.

Solid wood expands slightly in warm, humid months and contracts in cold, dry ones, and every Woodford outdoor piece is built to allow for that movement.

As a new piece settles into its outdoor home, particularly through the first year, you may notice fine surface checks along the grain. These are a normal characteristic of solid wood used outdoors rather than a defect, but if you ever see a crack that appears to be opening up or affecting the structure, please contact us.