Crafted for the harshest elements, you expect outdoor furniture to be comfortable, functional and last. What you don’t expect is rust, mould or mildew to appear—but, unfortunately, this can happen. 

At King Living, we recognise the importance of being transparent about what you can expect from your outdoor furniture.    

In this article, you will learn about potential risks of mould, mildew, rust and weather damage, how to clean your outdoor furniture and how to clean outdoor cushions. 

Featuring the 1977 Outdoor Sofa in Element Basalt, Luna Outdoor Chair, Crescent Outdoor Ottomans and Oasis Pedestal Side Table

How to clean and protect your outdoor sofa

Crafted with high performance solution dyed acrylic upholstery, King Living Outdoor Sofas are waterproof, UV stable, and backed by a five-year fabric warranty on selected fabrics and a five-year outdoor frame warranty.

While King Living Outdoor Sofas, are designed to withstand rain and other outdoor elements, they can develop mould or mildew if not protected or cleaned correctly.

Knowing what you can realistically expect from your outdoor sofa will help you maintain your furniture and protect it from potential damage.

Cleaning your outdoor sofa

To maintain your outdoor sofa, brush off dirt as often as possible before it becomes embedded in the fabric fibres and wipe up spills as soon as they occur to prevent permanent staining. 

When cleaning up and removing a spill from your outdoor sofa: 

• Remove foreign matter. 
• Dampen the fabric with a light spray of water before applying King-Care® Fabric Cleaner. 
• Gently brush the solution into the fabric and leave for 2-3 minutes. 
• Rinse with clean water before wiping over with a soft dye-free cloth.  
• Allow to air dry. 
• Avoid scrubbing, hard bristle brushes, or any other abrasive cleaning method. 

To avoid any marks or water rings, we recommend cleaning the entire surface area of the fabric, from seam to seam, instead of spot cleaning or only treating the affected area.  

Featuring the Aura Outdoor Sofa in Element Basalt.

Removing mould and mildew stains from your outdoor sofa

While the King Living range of premium outdoor fabrics are mould and mildew-resistant, it can still grow on dirt and other foreign substances if not removed from the fabric.

Your sofa may also develop mould or mildew if it is constantly exposed to moisture and unable to dry thoroughly.  

To remove mould or mildew from your outdoor sofa:

• Prepare a solution of 1 cup of bleach with a 1/4 cup of mild soap and mix with 4 litres of water. 
• Spray the solution on the entire area and allow to soak into the fabric for 15 minutes. 
• Clean entire surface area with a sponge, clean towel and a very soft bristle brush. 
• Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue. 
• Allow to air dry. 

To avoid any marks or water rings, we recommend cleaning the entire surface area of the fabric, from seam to seam, instead of spot cleaning or just treating the affected area.

*Before cleaning your outdoor furniture, carefully read the terms and conditions to ensure you don't void your warranty. 

Use outdoor furniture covers

While the fabrics on King Living Outdoor Sofas are weather resistant and designed to keep moisture at bay, prolonged exposure to the rain can cause wear, particularly if your sofa is constantly saturated and unable to dry.

King Living WeatherGuard Covers create a barrier between your sofa and potential environmental stressors. To avoid over-exposure to rain and outdoor debris, which can cause mould and mildew, we recommend covering your outdoor furniture when not in use—but particularly if rain or bad weather is expected. This will also help prevent foreign matter from building up on your furniture.  

Although we have built in breathability panels for our WeatherGuards, if your sofa gets wet, allow the fabric to air dry thoroughly before covering. Allowing moisture to sit in the fabric can also cause mould and mildew to grow. We recommend ensuring that the sofa is completely clean as well as dry before covering with your WeatherGuard™ as the debris on the sofa is what is more likely to cause mildew to grow.

Designed to keep your furniture clean and protected from the elements, we recommend using your WeatherGuard™ Cover year-round.  

Featuring the Plateau Outdoor Dining Table and Plateau Outdoor Bench in Teak with Salt Powder Coat Frame, and Luna Outdoor Dining Chairs in Salt Powder Coat.

How to clean and protect your outdoor dining table

At King Living, our Olive Outdoor and Quay Ceramic Dining Table, are crafted from a powder coated aluminium frame with a UV stable and stain resistant ceramic tabletop.

Suitable for outdoor elements, the high-performance ceramic tabletop beautifully retains the look and tactical properties of natural stone while being easy to maintain and clean.

The Plateau Dining table is also created with a durable powder coated frame and features a natural teak table. Teak is known for its natural resistance to the elements, ability to repel moisture and protect against UV damage.

Caring for and cleaning your ceramic outdoor table

Unlike natural stone products that need a little more attention and care, ceramic tabletops require very low maintenance and won’t patina with wear.

Our high-performance ceramic is UV stable, heat resistant, and non-porous, meaning the ceramic will not absorb spills or stain. The ceramic is also not susceptible to cracking from frost or low temperatures.

While spills and stains won’t absorb into the ceramic, we still recommend you clean up any spills when they occur to avoid surface build up. For a thorough clean use a soft cloth and water with a mild detergent.

How to care for teak outdoor furniture

Teak is an incredibly durable timber for outdoor furniture. Its density and naturally high oil content prevent rot and protect against fungus and wood-boring pests. King Living products are finished with an outdoor oil coating for extra protection.

If teak is exposed to outdoor elements, it will gradually develop a beautiful silver-grey patina. This is a natural characteristic of timber that strengthens its natural defenses against external elements over time. The rate that weathering occurs depends on climate, exposure to outdoor weather, and commitment to care and maintenance.

During the outdoor season, weekly cleaning is recommended. Sweep furniture with a soft hand brush and clean with mild (pH-neutral) soapy water and a microfiber cloth or sponge. Hose the furniture to keep the teak as wet as possible, and wipe in the direction of the wood grain during cleaning.

Featuring Luna Outdoor Chairs in Salt, Eucalyptus and Rock.

Will outdoor furniture rust?

At King Living our designs feature either a durable steel or aluminium frame.

Both materials are heavily treated to protect against rust, but does mean they are completely rust proof and what happens if you do find rust on your King Living outdoor furniture?

What causes rust?

Almost all types of metals, including steel, have the potential to rust.

The main factors contributing to rust include:

• The materials used and iron content of the metal.  
• Exposure to the elements. 
• Exposure to environmental iron particles. 
• If the metal does not have a protective coating or if the protective coating is damaged or chipped.

Rust is the result of oxidization when the iron particles become exposed to water and oxygen.  

To prevent rust, a protective coating is applied during the manufacturing process. Depending on the metal and the product, the coating could be galvanizing, zinc coating, E-coating, or powder coating.  

While metals without an iron content, including aluminium, may no show signs of visual rust, they can corrode if not treated or protected correctly.   

Additionally, iron particles exist in the environment including in the air and soil. These particles can bond to your furniture resulting in surface rust, which can then comprise the protective coating and metal frame.

How is outdoor furniture protected against rust?

At King Living, we use a powder coating method to protect our outdoor furniture from the elements, corrosion and rust. This is applied to both aluminium and steel frame designs.  

Powder coating is the process of applying a dry powder substance made of acrylic, polyester, epoxy, polyurethane or similar to metal. The powder coating is applied electrostatically and cured under heat. 

While the result resembles the appearance of paint, powder coating creates a barrier to protect the metal from exposure to moisture and oxygen. As this process creates a barrier, the metal is protected from exposure to the elements and different types of corrosion, including rust. 

The exclusive KingCote® powder-coating application combines a multi-process treatment with a sophisticated finish to ensure steel and alloy components are rust resistant and will last for years to come.

Even with rust protection coatings, all outdoor furniture comprised of steel has the potential to rust.  

Powder coating prevents rust by eliminating exposure to moisture and oxygen. For this process to be effective, the coating must remain intact. Any weaknesses or cracks in the layer will expose the metal to the elements allowing rust to form.   

To help prevent iron particles from bonding to your furniture resulting in surface rust, clean your furniture regularly and cover when not in use.  

When cleaning your outdoor metal furniture, avoid scrubbing, hard bristle brushes, harsh chemicals, or any other abrasive cleaning method, as these can compromise or damage the protective powder coating.  

If rust forms on your outdoor furniture, refer to your warranty. The terms and conditions specify the warranty period and exclusions.

*Before cleaning your outdoor furniture or using any cleaning products, carefully read the terms and conditions to ensure you don't void your warranty.

Featuring the Plateau Outdoor Sofa, Crescent Ottomans and Luna Outdoor Chair.

Curating your outdoor space

When the mercury rises and the days are long and beautifully sunny, there is nothing more enjoyable than lounging on a comfortable outdoor sofa or enjoying meals with family and friends around an outdoor dining table.  

While outdoor furniture is crafted to withstand the elements, the furniture is not invincible. Care and cleaning are needed to maintain the quality and prolong the life of your outdoor furniture.  

For more outdoor furniture cleaning information, view the King Living product care advice. 

Explore more outdoor articles: 

• Luxury sun lounges for your outdoor oasis 
• Explore the 2024 Outdoor Furniture Collection 
• Discover the King Living modular outdoor sofa collection 
• Maximise your outdoor space with outdoor accessories