So while it's still potentially warm enough to eat outside, save yourself some money, employ a little TLC and bring your garden furniture back to life for any end of season al fresco entertaining.

There are two types of aluminium furniture available – painted and unpainted. The painted aluminium can be tackled like any other painted metal surface. Simply clean it with a mild soap and plenty of warm water, rinse it to remove the soap, and then protect it with a good car wax polish.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

The unfinished aluminum garden furniture doesn’t rust, however, it will oxidize in our climate. This type of corrosion is actually what protects the metal from the elements, but it isn’t very nice and spoils the look of your garden furniture. This can be easily rectified by using a metal polishing paste. This type of paste contains a very fine abrasive that will remove the oxidation. Once you’ve shined it up, again just protect the surface of the furniture with a good quality car wax.

Severe oxidation can cause some pitting that looks like small specks, however the metal polish will probably not remove any deep pitting marks, so look after your furniture from the start to avoid this happening. And please be careful with the products you use. Alkaline cleaners will simply further oxidize the aluminium, so please avoid chemicals like ammonia (generally found in glass polish) and cleaning products/degreaser that contain Trisodium Phosphate. If the furniture is just lightly oxidized you can also try a simple acidic solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water.

So to shine up your aluminium garden furniture, just follow these simple steps.

1. Use a stiff wire brush to remove any loose rust.

2. Wearing rubber gloves, scrub around the frame with a non-abrasive scouring pad dipped in kerosene or a commercial aluminum brightener. Take care to keep the liquid off straps and webbing, as it could stain them.

3. Rinse the frame with warm water, and dry well with a cloth rag.

4. To help prevent corrosion and add shine, you can wipe on a very light coat of car wax with a cloth rag.

Painted aluminium garden furniture, although designed for outdoor use, will become weathered over time. The shine will fade from over-exposure to the sun and elements during summer months. So if you’ve neglected your garden furniture and can’t afford the cost of replacing, a can of spray paint and some TLC will make it look almost as good as new!

1. Scrub off any loose paint or rust with a stiff wire brush.

2. Abrade the entire surface of the piece with 180-grade aluminum-oxide sandpaper. This will provide a better surface for the paint to stick to.

3. Cover the area under the piece with a drop cloth. If you’re planning to use a spray paint, make sure that all nearby areas are also covered/protected.

4. Apply a metal primer, either the brush-on or spray variety and let it dry.

5. Brush or spray on the new enamel/metal paint and let it dry. If you are making a drastic change in color, or if it is recommended on the manufacturers guidelines, always apply a second coat.

A wire brush will remove rust and flaking paint

Cast and Formed Iron Garden Furniture

You’re bound to be aware of this but, just in case you’re the new, proud owner of iron garden furniture, exposed to the elements of British weather, it has a tendency to rust. Keep this in mind and, with a few simple precautions, you can keep it looking as good as new…

When you wash it, always check for any paint damage/flaking as this is the first sign of rust. If you catch this damage early enough, it can prevent a great deal of further damage. Start by sanding the rust off, along with any damaged paint. Sand it right down to bare metal, apply a metal primer and then paint with a rust resistant metal paint. To wash, use a mild detergent, scrub the surface gently and rinse with a low pressure hose. Dirt and dust on the surface of iron garden furniture will trap moisture against the paintwork, which will deteriorate the paint over time. To keep your iron furniture in good condition, always keep it clean.

Apply a couple of coats of a car wax polish, as this will help keep moisture away from the surface. This can be a little tricky with some of the more intricate designs, but there are several spray on liquid car polish waxes that are available from places like Halfords. This type of wax is not as long-lasting, however it will easily reach into tight corners and doesn’t need to be polished up as vigorously.

To re-paint wrought-iron garden furniture, simply follow these steps:

1. Work on your furniture in an enclosed area, but be sure to have plenty of ventilation and a respirator mask. Remove any wood, plastic or cloth surfaces from the wrought iron. A screw driver or allen key will usually do the trick . This is also a good time to replace any of these parts if they’re damaged.

2. Take the wrought iron sections apart. This will ensure a good cleaning and paint coating for all surfaces. Place all of the nuts, bolts and screws etc into a sealed container so they don’t get lost. You may even want to take them to your local DIY store and replace them if they’re a little rusted.

3. Use a wire brush to clean all surfaces of the wrought iron. A little one is great for brushing out the tiny spaces and scroll work on the wrought iron sections. Make sure you have removed all rust, dirt and flaking paint.

4. Take the pieces outside and spray them down with the garden hose to remove the dust from wire brushing them. Run your hand over all the surfaces to make sure they are smooth. Let them dry in the sun before attempting to paint them.

5. Attach the spray paint handle to the spray paint can. The handle is easier to use than holding your finger on the spray can button. Shake the can thoroughly and begin to paint one of the sections.

6. Rest each section on the work surface that has been covered with newspaper. Use small blocks of wood to prop it up, if necessary. Spray the sections in a back and forth motion. Keep moving or you will create runs in the paint. Let the sections dry and turn them over and repeat spraying on the other side.

7. Inspect the dry sections. Touch up any areas that you missed and let that dry. Reassemble the wrought iron furniture using your new nuts, bolts or screws. Reattach any wood, plastic or cloth parts.

Plastic Patio Furniture

Just as with metal, plastic furniture will become weathered and need a good clean.  Most plastic patio furniture is made of a resin plastic, which is very durable, and low cost. However it’s one failing is that the finish, while being very smooth, is also slightly porous and it will attract and hold stains. It is wise to again protect new furniture with a car wax to repel dust and make future cleaning a little easier. This is made all the more difficult when you consider the most popular colour choice of plastic garden furniture is white. Also, as garden furniture is generally left outdoors for seasons, if not years at a time, then washing these chairs in the springtime, and again in the winter before you store them away, will help keep them new(ish), as does storing them in your shed or garage through the autumn/winter.

To clean plastic garden furniture, simply spray it down with a garden hose, scrub with a mild detergent and warm water, then rinse the furniture off. To help brighten white furniture, set it to dry in direct sunlight for the natural bleaching effect of the sun. You can even wax these chairs with car wax and this will make water bead off, and make washing them in the future a little easier. Bleach can be used for cleaning, however it is not good for the environment, or your garden. And when cleaning plastic garden furniture, avoid solvents as they can eat away the plastic and ruin your furniture

Painted wooden garden furniture

As always, the secret of a fine finish is in the preparation. Use exterior gloss paint and don't rush; allow plenty of time for drying between each step.

Clean all surfaces with warm water (scrub if necessary) and allow to dry thoroughly.

Lightly sand down any rough parts, and wipe over with white spirit to remove any dust and grease. If the wood is in a bad condition, apply a coat of exterior primer, and allow to dry (this takes about eight hours).

Stir the can of gloss paint thoroughly. Turn the furniture upside down, and, using a small brush, paint underneath and allow to dry. Then turn the right way up, finish off, and allow to dry for at least eight hours. Apply a second coat if necessary.

For a more subtle finish use coloured woodstain

Make sure the wood is clean and dry. Sand back all grey weathered wood to a clean bright surface. Wipe over with white spirit to remove any dust or grease, and allow to dry.

Stir the can well - and again as necessary during the job. Brush on evenly along the grain of the wood. This finish should be touch dry within one hour.

Wait at least eight hours and apply a second coat. You may need a third  coat to get an even colour.

Restoring the original colour

The simplest solution is to use a garden furniture restorer. This is a liquid that puts colour and sheen back into weathered wood. Try "eco-friendly" Ecolibrium Garden Furniture Restorer

• ·Step one: remove excess dirt from old garden furniture

• ·Step two: apply garden furniture restorer liberally with a paintbrush

• ·Step three: work the restorer into the surface of the wood

Remove excess dirt from old greying wood with a stiff bristle brush. Wash down and allow to dry. Apply garden furniture restorer liberally with a paintbrush then use a mild abrasive scouring pad to work the restorer into the surface of the wood. Leave for no more than 15 minutes.

Wash the restorer off with plenty of clean, warm water and allow to dry and finally sand down to remove any loose fibres, and to bring out the wood's natural sheen.