Care and Cleaning Tips for Benches

Welcome to Benches.com!
At Benches.com, we are thrilled to offer you an unmatched selection of benches for your garden, porch, patio, or deck. We have hand picked our selection of benches to ensure that you receive a quality bench at an unbeatable price. Start browsing our selection of indoor and outdoor benches today! Below are some "tried and true" tips for caring for your new bench.

What is a good wood bench for outdoors?
All of our wooden benches are suitable for outdoor use. Western red cedar is a fine-grain, dimensionally stable wood that is naturally weather resistant. Cedar benches will last a lifetime. Our Alder benches are painted wood with a high-gloss, two-coat, water-based enamel and is relatively stable. Cypress is a beautiful, distinctive and durable wood that assures years of trouble-free satisfaction. Mahogany benches seasons/weathers well with minimal shrinkage and checking. It should be pointed out that our EnviroWood line of outdoor benches is a bit different that standard woods because it requires no waterproofing, staining or similar maintenance when used in exterior applications.

How often should I refinish my garden bench?
The answer to this question is not as simple as you may think. Many factors are to be considered when caring for your bench. Consider the weather where you live. Is it sunny and hot, cool and wet? Do you store the potting bench in the winter? Cover it?

Consider the look you like. If you decide not to refinish your bench, you may let it slowly weather to a silver/gray. Many of our customers love this look while others prefer to keep the 'like-new' look. The sun and exposure to the elements change the surface color of unprotected woods but does not affect the structural integrity of the wood. It really is a matter of personal preference. Whether or not you decide to keep the 'like-new' color or let it gray, it is important to clean the rustic bench at least once a year. It should be pointed out that our EnviroWood line of benches is a bit different that standard woods because it requires no waterproofing, staining or similar maintenance when used in exterior applications.

How do I clean my park bench?
A pressure washer makes cleaning your bench super easy. Otherwise you can clean your outdoor bench with a soft brush and a good wood cleaner available at most hardware stores. Be sure to rinse your outdoor bench well and allow to dry thoroughly before applying any finish.

A mild soap and water bath once a week is a good inexpensive way to start your outdoor bench care program. Just use a pan of warm sudsy water and a cloth or paper towels. Follow up with a pan of clear water and rinse the soap off so that you don't end up with a soapy film on your outdoor bench. Be sure that the surface of your bench is dry after washing.

Spills should be wiped up as soon as they happen on your storage bench, especially carbonated beverage spills, they can be very hard on clear finishes and paint if left sitting.