Sunshine Coast patio furniture has a rough autumn into early winter. The salt-laden air, the humidity that does not drop off until June, and the rain events that keep cushions and timber damp for days at a time create a mould environment that most mainland furniture is not built for. By May the visual evidence — black spotting on cushion piping, green film on timber arms, white powder on metal — is at its annual peak.

Three practical patterns we use on Sunshine Coast jobs that hold up:

Cushion treatment. The cushion covers should come off and go through a warm wash with a fabric-safe mould treatment. The inserts, if they have stayed dry inside the covers, can be aired out in direct sun for a full day. If the inserts have got wet through, they need to be replaced — the mould inside foam will not come out, and the smell will return within weeks. The covers, once washed, should be sprayed with a fabric protector before going back on. The cushion zip should be downward-facing when reassembled so that water runs out rather than in.

Timber arms and frames. The black spotting on outdoor timber is usually mildew on the surface, not deep penetration. A diluted bleach solution (one part household bleach to ten parts water) applied with a soft brush will lift most of it. The timber should be rinsed off after, allowed to dry, and then re-oiled if it is a teak or eucalypt frame. Painted timber needs a wash, a light sand, and a maintenance coat. The mistake we see is owners using a high-pressure hose, which drives water into the joins and makes the next mould bloom worse.

Powder-coated metal. The white powder on aluminium and steel patio frames is oxidation, not mould, and it brushes off with a soft cloth and a mild detergent solution. The frames should be rinsed and dried. Any chips in the powder coat should be touched up with a manufacturer-matched paint — exposed steel under powder coat will rust through quickly in the salt air.

Three things to stop doing:

Storing cushions on the chairs through the wet season. The cushions need to come off and be stored inside in a dry environment. The cushion storage box on the patio is rarely as dry as the marketing implies.

Using cheap mould sprays on fabric. The chlorine-based products bleach the fabric. The oxygen-based products work better and do not damage the colour.

Ignoring the umbrella. The patio umbrella collects water in the canopy and is the most common source of mould transfer to the rest of the furniture. The umbrella should be closed when not in use, opened to dry after rain, and washed annually.

For the bigger ongoing maintenance question — how often the patio furniture needs a deep clean, when to replace cushions, when to recoat timber — the honest Sunshine Coast answer is that the furniture closer to the beach needs more attention than the furniture in a Hinterland courtyard. A property at Marcoola or Coolum sees more salt and more wind than a property at Bli Bli or Buderim. The maintenance cycle should be calibrated to the location.

By the time the September sun returns, the patio should be ready for spring. The work done in May and June is what gets the furniture there.