During your cleaning, also spot-treat any rusted parts of the piece. Cleaning the furniture outside will be easier and lessens any mess.
Things You Will Need
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Take the piece of furniture outside on a sunny, dry day. Remove any cushions or fabric covers.
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Fill a 5-gallon bucket with warm water. Add 3 tablespoons of liquid dishwashing soap.
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Dip a nylon scrub brush into the warm, soapy water and scrub the entire surface of the piece of furniture.
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Dip an old toothbrush into the water and use it to scrub any grooves or corners that the larger brush could not reach.
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Rinse the piece of furniture with clean water from a garden hose. If there are unremovable pieces of fabric on the piece, rinse out a sponge and run the damp sponge over the fabric to remove any dust or dirt.
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Wipe the furniture dry with a towel.
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Remove any rust spots by scrubbing them with a wire brush until all of the rust flakes off.
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Spray the bare spots where the rust was with a spray-on metal primer. Allow the primer to dry according to the package directions. Once it dries, you can paint over it or leave it as it is.
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Replace any cushions or fabric covers and take the piece back inside.
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Apply a coat of liquid or solid car body wax to the metal parts of the furniture. Follow the package directions for application instructions.
The Drip Cap
- Metal furniture collects dust and grime just as easily as wood or plastic furniture, and has the added risk of developing rust.
- Remove any cushions or fabric covers.
- If there are unremovable pieces of fabric on the piece, rinse out a sponge and run the damp sponge over the fabric to remove any dust or dirt.
- Wipe the furniture dry with a towel.
- Spray the bare spots where the rust was with a spray-on metal primer.