Though patio furniture is manufactured to stand the test of time and the ravages of nature, it doesn't mean that it won't show some strain over the year. Light-colored furniture, like white Adirondack chairs, look great when there are first bought or painted, but this color is also the first to show dirt and other discoloration. Keep your patio sets looking fresh with yearly maintenance and you won't have to spend more money buying all new furniture.

Plastic White Adirondack Chairs
Much of today's furniture is made out of synthetic poly resins, a cheaper and lighter alternative to wood. Plastic can be molded to emulate the look and feel of wood, so it's perfect for crafting Adirondack chairs. Although it lacks the natural durability of wood, plastic is incredibly easy to clean. To wipe them down you can use any number of mild or strong cleaners and simply spray off using your garden hose.

Strong stains can be attacked with chlorine or bleach. Just make sure to clean off any substances used to prevent against residual soap scum or gooey buildup, as well as slowly eating away at the chair itself (as in the case of caustic solvent liquids like bleach).

However, though plastic has a smooth, easy wipe finish, its surface tends to be somewhat porous. To protect against moisture and stains setting, coat new white Adirondack chairs with an automotive paste wax. It will protect the plastic against dust and moisture, while making it have more of an overall sheen. Plus, they will be easier to clean as well.

One especially nice thing about white Adirondack chairs is no worry of fading. In fact, setting furniture in the sun will serve to bleach them further and make the white color appear even whiter. However, if you do notice that the finish is wearing down and beyond cleaning, you can apply a Krylon spray paint to clean, dry furniture.

Wooden White Adirondack Chairs
Wood is a little more complicated matter because unlike plastic, in which the entire chair is actually dyed white throughout, wood furniture can only be painted white on the surface. This means that there is more of a problem keeping chairs the color they are supposed to be, since weather, sunlight and the passage of time all contribute to peeling and chipping of paint. That's of course in addition to the staining and dullness that also plagues plastic furniture.

If your problem is simply discolored or dull-looking white Adirondack chairs, but the paint itself is intact, then you can probably get away with simply washing the surface. Use soap and warm water, or a mild detergent that's safe for use on wood. Avoid power spray washers that can flake off paint. Like plastic furniture, chlorine and bleach solutions mixed with water can be employed on tougher stains, but be extra careful not to leave any traces of the solution on furniture afterwards.

If you're experiencing peeling or flaking paint, you will need to start from square one. Sand down white Adirondack chairs with medium grade sandpaper to remove all traces of paint and varnish. Once the surface is smooth and even, wipe off sawdust and clean the surface using a wood cleaner. When that's dry, it's time to choose paint.

Various types of wood take differently to paints and finishes so you will need to keep that in mind. Some woods, like cedar and teak, produce their own resinous oils, so you can get away with using non-oil based paints, like acrylic latex. Softer woods like oak are more prone to decay and damage, so it's a good idea to first use a sealant before even applying paint. Use one to two coats of paint, and once that has dried completely, you can also apply clear sealants and high gloss finishes.