Removing pollen from garden furniture: plastic, metal, wood and fabric

Garden furniture and pollen: why accumulation happens so fast

Garden furniture stands outside and is exposed to pollen rain from outdoor air throughout the day. Horizontal surfaces catch pollen directly and are not kept clean by wind. At high pollen concentrations such as during birch bloom in April or high grass pollen in June a visible yellow layer forms within one night on all horizontal outdoor surfaces. More on the basic mechanism of ozone water: ozonewater.

Plastic garden furniture: most practical approach

Smooth plastic has little surface roughness and limited electrostatic charge so pollen grains adhere less strongly. The two-cloth method with ozone water is directly applicable to plastic tabletops and seating surfaces. With a heavy pollen layer after several dry days rinsing with water is an effective first step before ozone treatment. The two-cloth procedure: two-cloth method. More on the machine: ozone water machine.

Aluminium and coated metal

Aluminium garden furniture has a smooth surface comparable to plastic in terms of pollen removal. The two-cloth method with ozone water is directly applicable to aluminium surfaces. Seams and connections are attention points: pollen and water accumulate in those narrow spaces. A soft brush soaked in ozone water gives better access to seams and corners of aluminium furniture. Coated metal is treated like plastic: the coating protects the metal surface and makes pollen removal straightforward.

Hardwood and teak

Treated hardwood and oiled teak are dense wood types with a closed surface well treatable with ozone water via the two-cloth method. Use the cloth lightly moistened and dry the wood surface quickly to limit moisture penetration. Untreated or weathered teak is more porous: apply ozone water carefully and dry immediately. Annual or biennial re-treatment of hardwood garden furniture with teak or hardwood oil maintains a closed surface making pollen removal easier. More on removing pollen from windows: removing pollen windows.

Fabric cushions and textile upholstery

Fabric cushions and textile-covered parts of garden furniture absorb pollen grains into the fibre structure. Shaking outdoors is the first step. Then ozone water can be applied to the outermost fibre layer. For thorough pollen removal washing in the washing machine at minimum 40 degrees is the most effective method. Cushions not machine-washable can be brushed and treated with ozone water on the outside. After heavy rain fabric cushions should dry completely before reuse: damp cushions are more susceptible to biological deposits than dry ones.

Parasols and sail shades

Parasols and sail shades are large textile or plastic surfaces stretched directly above the seating area. Pollen accumulates directly on the top side from outdoor air. Treating the top side of the parasol fabric with a lightly moistened cloth with ozone water removes the surface pollen layer. Closing the parasol when not present is a preventive measure limiting pollen accumulation. Plastic sail shades are easier to treat than textile sail shades; for textile shade sails the same approach applies as for fabric cushions.

Floor and terrace paving

Terrace tiling, paving and wooden decking also accumulate pollen during pollen season. Those surfaces are large and the most efficient cleaning method is rinsing with water followed by a wet mop or brush. Ozone water is applicable on terrace tiles via a mop with freshly produced ozone water. After cleaning the terrace surface garden furniture is best treated directly so that falling pollen water from the furniture does not re-load the just-cleaned terrace surface. More on removing pollen indoors: removing pollen home.

Storing garden furniture: protection outside the season

At the end of pollen season a thorough cleaning of all garden furniture before storage is good practice. Pollen residues remaining on the surface during winter storage can promote biological deposits in humid conditions. Thorough treatment with ozone water followed by complete drying before storing in a furniture cover or covered storage gives the best protection during winter. Using breathable furniture covers prevents moisture accumulation under the cover that could lead to mould formation on the furniture surface.

Pollen and biological deposits: combined approach

On garden furniture alongside pollen accumulation during the outdoor season biological deposits also appear in the form of algae, moss and green growth. Those biological deposits consist of organic compounds that also react to the oxidation mechanism of ozone water. Regular treatment with ozone water via the two-cloth method removes both pollen and light biological deposits in one operation. With heavy biological deposits on plastic garden furniture a targeted algae remover or terrace cleaner is more effective as a first step; ozone water can then be used for regular maintenance. More on cleaning without chemicals: cleaning without chemicals. More on removing pollen in general: removing pollen.

Folding chairs and collapsible furniture

Folding garden chairs are unfolded for use and folded for storage. When unfolding pollen grains trapped in the folds fall out. When folding pollen grains on the folding chair surface are pressed into the fold and remain fixed between the surfaces. Treatment with ozone water before folding removes loose pollen grains from the surface and limits pollen build-up in the folds over multiple fold and unfold cycles.

Patio heaters and outdoor lighting poles

Patio heaters and outdoor lighting poles are objects on the terrace that also collect pollen on their surfaces. Metal patio heaters with a lacquered or powder-coated surface are well treatable with ozone water via the two-cloth method. The top side of the reflector cap is a particularly relevant spot: pollen accumulates there directly from outdoor air and is fixed to the metal surface by the heat of the heater. Regular cleaning of the reflector cap before switching on the heater removes the pollen layer before it can be baked in by the heat.

Outdoor kitchen and barbecue

An outdoor kitchen or barbecue on the terrace also collects pollen on worktops, the barbecue lid and storage compartments. The high temperatures of the barbecue bake pollen onto the lid and side surfaces. Regular cleaning of the barbecue before use when the appliance is still cold with ozone water via the two-cloth method removes the pollen layer from the unheated surface more effectively than cleaning a warm appliance. For the complete overview of cleaning procedures: removing pollen car.

Terrace roof and veranda

A terrace roof or veranda offers protection against rain but not completely against pollen. Pollen carried by wind also reach covered terraces via the open sides. On a terrace with a roof pollen accumulates more slowly than on a fully open terrace but accumulation during pollen season is still significant. Garden furniture on a covered terrace therefore requires less frequent cleaning than furniture on a fully open terrace but regular treatment with ozone water is still worthwhile. More on cleaning without chemicals: cleaning without chemicals.

Pollen and garden sheds or storage

Garden sheds, storage boxes and wooden deck storage on the terrace collect pollen on the roof and horizontal surfaces. The roof of a garden shed is a large horizontal surface on which pollen accumulates directly. Treatment of the shed roof with ozone water is well executable via a ladder or step. For the sides and door of the garden shed the two-cloth method is directly applicable. Metal storage boxes are the easiest to clean: the smooth metal surface holds pollen less firmly than grooved plastic or wood surfaces.

Pollen protection via dust covers

A dust cover over garden furniture not used for longer periods protects furniture surfaces from pollen accumulation. A breathable polypropylene cover lets moisture through but largely keeps pollen grains out. When using a cover it is useful when removing it to do so on a windless day or by lifting the cover from the furniture rather than wiping it off: sliding movements put the pollen grains on the cover into the air and those then settle on the just-uncovered furniture surface. More on removing pollen from car for outdoor surface comparison: removing pollen car.

Cleaning products for garden furniture: ozone water versus conventional

The market offers various conventional cleaning products for garden furniture: terrace cleaners, anti-green agents, plastic cleaners and wood protection combination products. Those products are aimed at specific cleaning problems such as green deposits rust formation or wood discolouration. Ozone water is not a replacement for those specialised products but a water-based supplement for daily organic cleaning including pollen. A combined approach uses ozone water for daily pollen removal and regular maintenance and retains specialised products for the seasonal treatment of stubborn biological deposits or specific material treatment. That combination reduces total use of conventional outdoor cleaning products for the applications where ozone water is sufficiently effective.

Costs and affordability

An ozone water production system structurally deployed for removing pollen from garden furniture reduces consumption of conventional outdoor cleaning products for those applications. Questions? get in touch. More information: knowledge guide.

Testimonials

💬 "Our white plastic garden chairs stand yellow every morning during birch blossom season. Since we wipe them daily before use with ozone water they are always clean for use and the yellow layer does not build up." — Ozone water installation user

Further reading

Full overview: ozone water knowledge guide. Removing pollen general: removing pollen. Pollen home: removing pollen home. Pollen car: removing pollen car.