If you’re considering investing in some Kettler garden furniture, then it’s important to know if it’s waterproof for outdoor use. Hopefully this article should help.

Kettler garden furniture is designed and manufactured to be weatherproof and waterproof. It’s wood and synthetic rattan products can be left outside year round, and only its steel mesh furniture needs to be taken inside during longer periods of wet weather.

Let’s dive down into Kettler’s brand heritage and product suite in more detail, so you can make an informed buying decision should you choose to make a purchase. We’ll also consider the waterproofing characteristics of Kettler’s various pieces of furniture – and look at how you should care for them to ensure they have a long life.

Can You Leave Kettler Garden Furniture Out in The Rain?

Kettler garden furniture is designed for outdoor use, and doesn’t need to be protected from the rain. Kettler’s wood and synthetic rattan patio furniture can even live in your yard during the winter months. However, Kettler steel mesh furniture should be brought indoors during prolonged wetter weather.

Even if you have gone for super-tough synthetic rattan furniture, you might still choose to cover it during the winter or periods of heavy rain. Protective covers for outdoor furniture are easy to get hold of online and in homeware stores. Just make sure the furniture is dry and free from debris before you cover it, or dirt and moisture will simply be trapped in the case.

If your furniture comes with cushions, we’d always recommend taking those in if rain is forecast. Even cushions labelled “water resistant” or even “waterproof” will last longer if they’re not kept outdoors permanently. We take ours in every night to protect them from the damp night air and morning dews.

Are Kettler Cushions Waterproof?

Ketter furniture may be tough and weather resistant; however the cushions are not. Kettler recommends storing the cushions away when not in use, or at least, covering your patio set if it’s going to rain.

Why does a brand that’s known for making robust outdoor furniture not use waterproof cushions? Kettler actually explains the reason behind using open-cell foam cushions on their UK website (after all, the Brits know a lot about rain). The company feels that while waterproof fabrics can be useful, “we believe our cushions are safer and more comfortable for not being waterproof.”

The open-cell structure of the foam cushions keeps its shape for longer, and is comfier to sit on. If the cushions stay dry, the fire-retardant coating can’t be washed off, making them safer from fire pit sparks or other accidents.

Kettler recommends using protective covers for its outdoor furniture sets. If it looks like rain, simply cover the cushions until it passes over. Take them off and store them somewhere dry overnight,

If you want to find out more about waterproof and water-resistant fabrics, take a look at our recent blog about outdoor cushions.

Is Kettler Garden Furniture Good Quality?

Kettler has been a leading brand of outdoor furniture and games for decades. Over the last 70 years, the company has developed plenty of expertise in what makes good quality garden furniture.

The materials are key. For example, aluminum frames provide a lightweight and weather-proof structure for pieces such as faux rattan sofas, while the synthetic wicker itself is treated to prevent fading. Choose from wood, synthetic rattan, and resin furniture, and many of Kettler’s products are made from recyclable materials.

There is also an eye for neat design details. For example, they have a patio table that can be adjusted in height, turning from a dining table into a coffee table. They also have a range of reclining and folding furniture, a testament to their camping supplies heritage.

Kettler furniture is designed for comfort (and a surprising amount of furniture doesn’t seem to be!). Look out for features such as curving armrests and ergonomic seat designs. As we mentioned earlier, Kettler prioritizes comfort over easy care, opting to use cushions that are less water-resistant but comfier to sit on.

Where is Kettler Garden Furniture Made?

Ketter is originally a German brand, and as far as we can tell, their factories are still in Germany. The company was founded in 1949 by Heinz Kettler, who started a small business in an attic in his hometown of Ense. The business really took off when Kettler started designing and manufacturing camping furniture in the 1950s.

The company has now been trading in the US for 40 years, and Kettler USA is based in Virginia Beach, VA. The current parent company is Heinz-Kettler-Stiftung, which operates from Ense, which is in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. In total, Kettler furniture is sold in over 60 countries around the world.

Kettler Outdoor Furniture Reviews

We took a look at the Amazon reviews of the stylish white resin lounger by Kettler. We found a Kettler comfortably shaped lounger that can be folded and reclined and comes with wheels so you can always relax in the perfect sunny or shady spot.

The average rating was 4.3 stars out of 5. Customers like the robust build quality, and there’s a fantastic story in one 5-star review about the lounger surviving a hurricane in 2015. A gazebo roof landed on the lounger, and it survived! That’s a strong recommendation if you’re looking for durability.

Customers also like the comfortable shape (there are comments that it’s even comfy before you add a cushion), and it’s wider and roomier than some other designs. There’s some criticism about the wheels (not the sturdiest) and lack of English language instructions.

We also checked out the reviews of folding armchairs and a table on Amazon, and they say pretty much the same thing: sturdy, well-made, and comfortable to sit on/use.

These customer reviews are echoed by favorite pro reviewers, BBQ Guys. They like the robust build quality and “thoughtful design”, and describe the price point as “affordable”.

How Do You Clean Kettler Furniture?

Kettler USA recommends a thorough clean at the start of the summer, another at the end, and one in between (or even more, if your family likes to sit around the fire pit in the winter). Also, if you are planning to winterize your furniture indoors or under cover, it’s always best to give it a deep clean before you store it away.

How you clean your Kettler furniture depends on what material it’s made from. Here’s a quick guide to the different types of Kettler furniture, and the different ways to clean it. Before you clean any furniture, first brush, dust or even vacuum off any dirt, old leaves, cobwebs and other debris.

Please remove any cushions before starting. These will have to be cleaned separately, and a surface wipe with clean water is usually the best way. The key with cushions is making sure they are thoroughly dry afterwards, in case mildew sets in.

Wicker: Use a soft brush to reach inside all those crevices. Use warm soapy water, but make sure the brush is damp rather than soaking. Go over it with clean water to rinse away the soap. If you can, repeat this every few weeks to stop debris building up in the gaps (and bugs from setting up home).

Aluminum: Be careful not to scratch aluminum, so take a gentle approach to cleaning this furniture. Again, use soapy water, but use a damp cloth rather than a brush. Rinse it with clean water to prevent soap scum. Regular washing will keep your aluminum furniture looking neat and shiny.

Resin: Auto paste wax is brilliant on resin furniture, as it repels dust and dirt. Give your new resin furniture a coat of this, and you’ll save yourself a whole lot of cleaning. Of course, you’ll still need to clean it eventually, and you can do this with (you’ve guessed it) soapy water and a rinse. Never use bleach or harsh chemicals on resin, even if it’s white. It damages the resin, and it will start to deteriorate.

Wrought iron: This will also benefit from auto wax. Again, soap and water followed by a rinse with clean water, and no harsh chemicals.

Final Thoughts:

Kettler garden furniture is high quality and is made to resist the elements.

As such, it’s synthetic rattan and wood furniture can be left outside all year if you want, and its only the steel mesh products that need to be stored in a shed or garage if the weather turns really rainy for long periods.

Aside from that, Kettler outdoor products are competitively priced, low maintenance and easy to clean – so they’re well worth a look if you’re in the market for some new backyard furniture.