Metal furniture is a popular addition to both modern and retro decor schemes. There’s no doubt it looks great, and if cared for correctly, it should maintain its high quality finish for a number of years. In order to help you keep your metal furniture in tip top condition, we’ve put together the following step-by-step guide on how to clean indoor metal furniture. Let’s take a look at our top tips!
Consider the type of metal
Steel furniture, wrought iron furniture and aluminium furniture all require slightly different levels of maintenance. So, before you start cleaning, take a moment to consider the type of furniture that you’re dealing with. Aluminium is a durable metal that requires very little maintenance. Steel and wrought iron on the other hand, are more prone to rusting. Whilst rust is more of an issue when it comes to caring for outdoor metal furniture, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on, particularly in steel and wrought iron. With this in mind, it’s worth cleaning these types of metal furniture a little more regularly than you would with your aluminium furniture.
Avoid abrasive cloths and detergents
When it comes to discussing how to clean indoor metal furniture, one of our most important tips is to avoid using abrasive cleaners and scrubbers. These can scratch the metal, which will not only ruin the appearance of the furniture, but can also expose the metal to more moisture that will cause rusting and corrosion.
Remember to remove fabric cushions/ coverings
Before starting any cleaning, remember to remove any fabric cushions or covers that you may have on your furniture. You don’t want these getting spoiled during the cleaning process and you can simply replace them once you’ve got the metal frames looking shiny and new.
Dust with a soft brush or cloth
Before launching in with the soap and water, always make sure to brush off any dust or particles using a soft brush or cloth. This will enable you to see what further cleaning is required and to ensure that you don’t scratch the surface of the metal when scrubbing it with soap and water.
Mix warm water and washing up liquid
When thinking about how to clean indoor metal furniture, the last thing you want is harsh chemicals from cleaning products causing the metal to corrode. That’s why a good old fashioned concoction of warm water and washing up liquid is the perfect solution for the job.
Scrub with a cloth or sponge
As we mentioned earlier, abrasive brushes should be avoided when it comes to talking about how to clean indoor metal furniture. Instead, use a soft sponge or cloth to scrub the metal. This will remove dirt without causing any damage to the surface of the metal.
Rinse with clean water
Once you’ve scrubbed away any dirt and residue, make sure to rinse the furniture down with clean water. If you’re cleaning your furniture outside (which we’d always recommend), it’s probably easiest to spray the piece of furniture down with a hose, particularly for larger items such as metal tables or sideboards. If you don’t have access to a hose or the furniture has fabric elements that you can’t remove, you can use a clean, damp sponge or cloth instead. This is best for pieces that have smaller metal elements such as fabric chairs with metal legs.
Wipe the furniture dry
Metal and moisture are not a good combination which is why you should always make sure to wipe your metal furniture dry once you’ve finished cleaning it. This will prevent any corrosion or rusting and is an essential step to remember when it comes to thinking about how to clean indoor metal furniture.
How to remove rust from metal furniture
No guide on how to clean indoor metal furniture would be complete without mentioning how to deal with rust. Whilst cleaning your indoor furniture using the above guide will certainly help to prevent rust, if you do see signs of rust, there are some additional measures that you’ll need to take.
You’ll hear about many home remedies for removing rust, however the best option that we would always recommend is using white vinegar and salt. Simply add a pinch of salt to a cup of white vinegar and apply the mixture to the rusty area. Leave for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing off the rust with a cloth or scouring pad for more difficult stains. Once removed, make sure to rinse and dry the area. Once the rust is removed you can clean the rest of the furniture as normal, using the above steps.
If you have any further questions regarding how to clean indoor metal furniture, please don’t hesitate to contact us, where we’ll be more than happy to share more of our top tips.