Barlow Tyrie furniture is made up of four primary components, although depending on the range can be shortened to just one or two of these depending on the style and design.
These four components are; teak hardwood, metal (both aluminium and steel), Textilene, and lastly, cushions.
Although Barlow Tyrie is known for their fine crafting and grade A materials, each of the components used can vary in terms of how it ages, and how it can be cleaned or cared for.
Caring For Teak
Teak is a hardwood that has naturally occurring properties, slowing down the weathering process when used outdoors. Although, over time and as it ages, teak will organically blend from its original lustrous shades of golden brown to a silvery grey. This is a perfectly normal process and does not mean that the furniture hasn't been looked after, it's just what happens as wood ages and gets left outside under exposure to the elements. Read on for our guide on how to care for your teak, from restoring to general maintenance.
Teak Care Product Summary
- Teak Oil - Use before the teak begins to weather in order to prolong its 'as new' look. This oil stains the teak darker so is only recommended for minimal use. For general maintenance thereafter, use the colour guard.
- Teak Cleaner - Cleans and restores discoloured, grey teak to its original colour.
- Teak Colour Guard - Similar to teak oil, this colour guard helps maintain the golden-brown colour of new teak, without the risk of over-darkening/staining the wood.
- Teak Stain Guard - Adds an invisible layer over the teak, making spills such as red wine, oil, butter, spilt condiments etc easier to clean off without leaving a stain.
- Anti-Wasp Solution - After applying a thin layer, this formula harmlessly deters wasps from defacing the surface of the teak.
How To Restore Faded Teak Furniture
If your teak furniture has already aged to silvery-grey, or if you've inherited a piece of teak furniture in this form, and would like to restore it to that "as news" look, then look no further than Barlow Tyrie's teak cleaner, specially formulated for the restoration of weathered teak and other hardwood.
To use the teak cleaner, simply wet the surface of the teak first will a little clean water, apply the teak cleaner solution to the surface as directed, using the included pad to gently work the solution into the teak, simultaneously scrubbing out any dirt and debris.
You can then additionally apply the teak colour guard or teak oil, for maintaining the natural colour for longer.
How To Stop Teak Furniture Turning Grey
As the saying goes, "prevention is better than cure" - this rings true for keeping teak in its 'like new' golden brown condition and can be easily protected to delay the natural greying process.
Barlow Tyrie's teak oil is specially formulated to be used with Barlow's teak furniture and is simply applied as a thin coat with a brush or clean cloth over the wood before it has started to age and change. As the teak oil is a stain, it will darken the teak after each application, so is only advised to be used annually. In between using teak oil, Barlow's colour guard can additionally be used to continue to maintain the golden brown finish without the risk of over-staining.
How To Stop Wasps Eating Teak Furniture
If you find that wasps have become attracted to your new teak furniture, don't worry, it's not due to any food or crumbs being left on your outdoor dining table, and is a perfectly natural occurrence for them to engage in.
You may see the wasps "scratching" at your teak furniture, creating small marks and holes. This is due to the wasp's natural instincts of chewing off small pieces a little at a time, in order to take back home to then use in growing and expanding their nest - basically using it as their building material!
Frustrating as it can be, there is a simple way to prevent it, and that's Barlow Tyrie's anti-wasp solution. After a quick application of two thin coats to your furniture, either annually or bi-annually, the wasps will be harmlessly deterred.
This application doesn't kill the wasps, it simply deters them from using your garden furniture as their personal building material supply.
Caring For Aluminium and Stainless Steel
Metal garden furniture such as those that make use of aluminium and stainless steel require very minimal maintenance and care. Read on for our guide on how to care for the metal sections on your furniture.
Metal Care Product Summary
- Powder Coated Stainless Steel & Aluminium Cleaner - A ready-to-use cleaning solution for powder-coated metal furniture frames. Designed to easily remove dirt, grease, oil, pollutants, and mould.
- Stainless Steel Clean & Guard - A ready-to-use cleaning solution specially formulated for standard stainless steel, that also leaves a layer of Teflon® on top of the metal which helps to reduce future surface marks.
How To Clean Powder Coated Aluminium Furniture
The majority of Barlow Tyrie's furniture that makes use of aluminium framing, mainly the Aura collection, is powder-coated, which already protects the metal from weathering, rust and corrosion. This means that it's pretty much maintenance-free, with the only maintenance required being when your furniture gets naturally dirty from being outside.
In order to make cleaning the aluminium sections of your furniture as quick and as easy as possible, the Barlow Tyrie powder-coated aluminium cleaner is recommended. It's a ready-to-use spray-on formula designed to easily remove dirt, grease, oil, pollutants, and mould.
Simply spray directly to the metal areas of your furniture and leave for a few minutes. Remove any stubborn dirt with a sponge, then rinse off lightly with water.
How To Clean Powder Coated Stainless Steel Furniture
Furniture using powder-coated stainless steel, notably the Layout and Mercury collections, thanks to the powder coating process is already protected from weathering, rust and corrosion. This means that it's pretty much maintenance-free, with the only maintenance required being when it gets naturally dirty from being outside.
In order to make cleaning your powder-coated stainless steel furniture as quick and as easy as possible, the Barlow Tyrie powder-coated stainless steel cleaner is recommended. It's a ready-to-use spray-on formula designed to easily remove dirt, grease, oil, pollutants, and mould. Simply spray on, leave for a few minutes and wipe off with a clean cloth.
Simply spray directly to the metal areas of your furniture and leave for a few minutes. Remove any stubborn dirt with a sponge, then rinse off lightly with water.
How To Clean Standard Stainless Steel Furniture
Furniture making use of stainless steel (non-powder-coated) such as pieces within the Equinox collection is crafted from 'marine grade' 316-rated stainless steel. This means that it's pretty hardy and durable as it with very little maintenance required. The only main care required, as long as the furniture is stored away during winter, would be when it gets naturally dirty from being outside.
In order to make cleaning your stainless steel furniture as quick and as easy as possible, the Barlow Tyrie stainless steel clean and guard spray is recommended. It's a ready-to-use spray-on formula, with dual action. Firstly, helping to remove dirt, and then secondly, leaving a layer of Teflon® on top of the steel which helps to reduce future surface marks.
To use, simply spray onto a clean, dry cloth, then apply a thin layer to the stainless steel areas of your furniture. Leave for a few minutes, then buff with a separate, clean, and dry cloth, leading to a shiny finish.
Caring For Textilene
Textilene is the material used for the majority of slings, the woven fabric which is most commonly found on chair seats and their backs. Textilene is made from polyester and is quite suitable for long-term use outdoors due to its weather-resistant nature. However, may need occasion cleaning from the natural effects of being left outdoors for long periods of time.
Textilene Care Product Summary
- Woven & Sling Cleaner - A non-foaming formulae that helps to clean and maintain woven furniture and Textilene slings.
How To Clean Textilene Furniture
We advise Textilene sections of your furniture to be cleaned with the Barlow Tyrie sling cleaner as and when required.
To use, simply spray the ready-to-use solution onto a clean cloth and allow it to work for 30 seconds. Use a sponge to rub away any stubborn dirt and grime spots, then rinse the surface with water.