* Teak oil will protect hardwood furniture from the elements and keep it looking new. Before you start, make sure the furniture is dry and lightly sand it with a fine-grade sandpaper. Using a rag, apply the oil, rubbing in gently and following the grain. You can add more than one coat of oil, but make sure they dry thoroughly before you apply the next.

* If your hardwood furniture is a few years old and has silvered with age, you can restore it to its original colour by using a specialist wood restorer. Paint on, leave to work for up to 15 minutes, then wash off. 

* If you have plastic garden furniture, simply wash it down with hot, soapy water with a splash of bleach in it to get rid of any dirt or stubborn stains. Use a sponge rather than anything abrasive, so as not to scratch or mark the surface, and rinse thoroughly before the furniture dries.

* For a quick spruce up, run the brush over the surface of the wood, plastic, metal or fabric – the bristles will get into all the awkward nooks and crannies, and get rid of any loose dirt, dust or cobwebs that have built up over the winter.

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