Plastic is everywhere today. That’s mainly because it’s so versatile and economical. But we all know that one of the problems with plastic is that it does not biodegrade. Bury it in a landfill, and it will still be there a hundred years from now. 

Today’s poly furniture is made from plastic lumber, a material that was developed in the 1990s to give plastics a second useful life and to take advantage of their durability. In fact, plastic lumber is so rugged that it’s been used for building bridges and making railroad ties. 

This long-term durability of plastic, so undesirable in a landfill, makes it an excellent choice for furniture in the landscape. When you choose poly furniture, you are investing in long-lasting products that need virtually no maintenance. Even so, once you’ve made an investment you want to know how to take care of it. That’s why we’ve put together this guide—to help you understand your furniture and to keep it looking like new.

Poly furniture and the elements

Your furniture can handle virtually any weather condition, so you won’t need to do much for it—no matter the weather.

• Wind. Because poly furniture is fairly heavy for its size, it won’t blow around your patio like other things might. It can remain outdoors even on windy days.

• Water. Poly is impervious, which means that water can’t penetrate it and cause damage. This means that it isn’t bothered by rain and will last through years of stormy weather.

• Salt. If you’re like us and live near the shore, you know the damage that saltwater can cause. But salt doesn’t bother poly furniture. If your furniture is near the beach or often catches saltwater spray, it’s a good idea to occasionally wipe it down with water—but this is primarily to keep salt from accumulating on the fasteners and causing corrosion.

• Sun. Your furniture is naturally resistant to the sun’s rays, so the material won’t degrade. In addition, when the lumber was made, a UV inhibitor was mixed in to keep the color stable year after year.

• Heat. The HDPE plastic from which the furniture is made won’t warp or distort in the heat of summer. Of course, since it is plastic, you’ll want to keep your furniture from getting too close to other sources of heat like fire rings and candles, and you’ll also want to use pads to protect the surface from hot dishes.

• Cold. Poly is as unaffected by cold as it is by heat. In this, it’s different from those stackable patio chairs that get brittle and break in frigid weather. Cold or snow, your furniture won’t care.

Maintaining your poly furniture

Since poly is resistant to so many of the elements, there’s very little work you’ll need to do to keep it looking new. If your furniture does start to accumulate dirt or debris from overhead trees (or from flying birds), the cleaning process is easy. 

Cleaning your furniture

Because plastic doesn’t have pores to absorb spills, cleaning the surface is about as easy as can be.

• Soap and water. These two standbys are probably all that you’ll need for your furniture. Simply start by brushing (or vacuuming) off any dry debris, then take a rag or soft bristle brush to scrub down the furniture with dish soap and water. (Remember that the surface of your furniture is soft and can scratch, so please don’t use hard bristles or abrasive pads.)

• Magic eraser. If you find a particularly difficult spot to clean, you can try using a magic eraser without fearing that it will damage your furniture.

• Bleach/water mix. If you want to disinfect your furniture, you can use a bleach/water mix at a rate of one part bleach to two parts water. 

• Pressure washer.  You shouldn’t need a pressure washer, but it’s fine to use one if you keep two things in mind. First, never allow the pressure to exceed 1,500 psi. And second, keep the nozzle at least 10” from the furniture—and keep it moving. Keeping it in one spot can mar the surface.

Cleaning cushions and pillows

Cushions and pillows are made to weather the elements, but they are more prone to dirt and wear than poly lumber is. If you need to clean them, soap and water is your friend.

Minor repairs

Other than cleaning, there are just a couple of things to keep in mind.

• Check the fasteners. We recommend that you occasionally check the fasteners on your furniture and tighten them if they feel loose. Although this isn’t likely to happen, tightening any loose fasteners will keep the furniture from developing movement that could lead to premature wear.

• Dealing with scratches. Poly is durable, but that doesn’t mean it won’t show signs of use. If you find an area that gets scratched, you won’t be able to sand out the scratch like you could with wood. While you probably won’t be able to hide the scratch completely, pressing down on it and rubbing it with a hard, blunt object (like a hammer head) may help to hide the blemish.

Poly furniture in the off season

Because of poly’s durability and resistance to the elements, you don’t need to bring it inside for the winter. Of course, it certainly won’t hurt to cover or shelter it when you won’t be using it for an extended time, and it may add a little time to its years of usefulness. We do recommend that you cover up your cushions or pillows when not in use for an extended time.

Enjoying your poly furniture

We know that choosing poly furniture over wood is an investment, but we think that it’s money well spent. Having made the choice, the best thing for you to do now is to sit down and enjoy the outdoors—without thinking about splinters, paint, or rotting wood!