Seasonal Maintenance Tips for Commercial Outdoor Furniture
Preserve the Aesthetics and Performance of Exterior Fit Outs
At Cape Outdoor, we partner with commercial clients who demand performance, reliability, and enduring style. MAMAGREEN’s commercial outdoor furniture, crafted from sustainable and reclaimed teak, marine-grade stainless steel, powder-coated steel, premium textiles and high-pressure laminates are engineered for high usage environments across resorts, hotels, restaurants, rooftop bars, leisure facilities, community facilities, and corporate offices. To ensure your investment continues to deliver both aesthetic and functional value, here’s our Seasonal Maintenance Tips for Commercial Outdoor Furniture – a guide to maintaining MAMAGREEN furniture in commercial settings.
1. Spring: Refresh and Reimagine
Spring is the season of renewal, perfect for refreshing your outdoor setup and preparing for the warmer months ahead. Before reopening terraces, courtyards, or pool decks, ensure all furniture is refreshed and ready for high use, creating alluring visual harmony and setting the scene for wonderful moments enjoyed outdoors.
- Frames: Check for wear and rust. Polish stainless steel with any household stainless steel polish (aim for every 6 months), and wipe down powder-coated frames with lukewarm soapy water and a soft cloth.
- Teak inspection: You don’t need to worry about minor cracks in teak as they don’t affect structural integrity. In the event that major cracks or damage has occurred, please consult our team.
- Cushion care: Wash or replace covers. Use recommended fabric cleaners for Sunbrella, Agora, or Batyline textiles
- Design update: Refresh layouts, curate finishing touches and explore new arrivals at Cape Outdoor to elevate your outdoor furniture aesthetics
With teak, you can either preserve its smooth, youthful finish or allow it to develop a natural silver-grey patina over time. If the timber has weathered and you wish to restore its original warmth, lightly sand the surface to remove the top layer, then clean thoroughly, allow it to dry completely, and apply a quality outdoor furniture oil.
2. Summer: Protect and Prevent
Victoria’s Summer sun is glorious but intense. Protecting commercial outdoor furniture from UV exposure and heat is essential, especially in hospitality and public-facing venues.
- Spills & Staining: Avoid placing moist items like pot plants directly on teak tables, as they may leave marks. Clean spills and stains regularly with mild soap and lukewarm water using a soft brush or sponge
- HPL table tops: Wipe with a soft cloth and detergent. Avoid placing hot objects directly on the surface and never use abrasive cleaners or scrapers
- Stainless steel frames: Clean with a soft cloth and stainless steel polish every six months to prevent tea staining. Avoid acidic or alcohol-based cleaners
- Powder-coated finishes: Use a soft cloth and mild soap. For stubborn stains, a Magic Eraser is recommended
With regular use, maintaining a fresh and well-presented appearance is key, especially in high traffic commercial settings. During quieter periods over the busy warmer months, perform light cleaning to keep furniture looking its best. For woven elements, a gentle vacuum or soft bristled brush helps remove trapped debris. For most other surfaces, including fabrics, frames and table tops, use a soft cloth with mild cleaning agents to blot up stains and wipe away spills and contaminants. Never use abrasive tools or strong ethanol-based cleaning agents
3. Autumn: Clean and Condition
As outdoor usage tapers, this is the ideal time for deep cleaning and minor touch-ups across commercial outdoor furniture projects and fit out installations.
- Teak: Brush regularly to prevent organic build up in textured surfaces. For smooth finishes, wipe with soapy water and dry with a lint-free cloth.
- Powder-coated frames: Clean with a soft brush or cloth. Avoid abrasive pads and ensure water drainage holes remain open to prevent frost damage
- Buy protection: Invest in some covers and suitable products that protect your outdoor furniture, in preparation for the coming Winter period. Sometimes severe weather happens out of season, so having these items ready early is wise
Autumn is a good time to wash cushions when usage tapers off and the conditions are mild and dry. Most MAMAGREEN textiles require little more than regular soap, lukewarm water, and a soft-bristled brush or soft cloth to remove stains and wipe down surfaces. For more thorough washing, remove covers from inner cores and wash both separately by hand. While MAMAGREEN cushions hold their shape and dry relatively quickly, due to their unique open cell structure they will need adequate drying time.
4. Winter: Store and Safeguard
Melbourne’s winters can be damp and chilly, while across Victoria temperatures and rainfall greatly fluctuate. While MAMAGREEN furniture is built to endure, smart storage extends its life. It’s time to protect commercial outdoor furniture assets. If furniture is still in use, add some protection from rain, wind, and cold. If your commercial venue needs an upgrade or you’re building a new venue, now is the time to order your customised designer commercial outdoor furniture from Cape Outdoor’s MAMAGREEN collections.
- Storage tips: If not in use, store furniture indoors or under cover. Ensure all surfaces are dry before covering and elevate covers to allow airflow – this is an essential when storing teak tables.
- Avoid mould: Never cover damp furniture. Air regularly and avoid trapping organic debris under covers. Bird poo and tree stains should be removed before storing, as these can cause rot.
- Frame care: Powder-coated and stainless steel frames are durable, but benefit from protection against salt and frost with covers or placement in sheltered areas.
In coastal, salty or alpine regions, powder-coated and stainless steel frames benefit from regular cleaning with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. This simple routine helps preserve the finish and prevents build up of contaminants from these harsher environments that can compromise surface integrity over time. Teak is a robust wood that can easily be restored to its original look before the peak seasons ahead - protecting it with teak oil is the first step to prevent greying.
Sustainability Meets Style
MAMAGREEN’s commitment to using sustainable materials and responsible sourcing means every piece carries a story. By following these seasonal care tips, you not only preserve the furniture’s integrity but also honour its environmental ethos. Whether you’re outfitting a luxury resort, a coastal café, or a rooftop lounge, Cape Outdoor’s curated MAMAGREEN collections offer timeless design with enduring performance. Visit our Melbourne showroom or browse online for expert advice and inspiration for furnishing commercial outdoor rooms with style. Let your commercial outdoor space tell a story of elegance, resilience, and thoughtful design season after season.
Material options
MAMAGREEN sustainable commercial furniture collections are available in a range of options for frame, surfaces (tables), cushions, slings, and weaves. For further information and downloads of customisable options, please view our page on material selection for commercial outdoor furniture.
For comprehensive care instructions, download the MAMAGREEN maintenance guide
