Why You Should Paint Outdoor Furniture With A Tanning Mitt

Because it's exposed to the elements year-round, your outdoor furniture typically needs to be painted or varnished at least every other year. It's not the most exciting task, but skipping it can leave your furniture looking weather-worn and even shorten it's lifespan. If you want to make your outdoor furniture last, the next best thing is to make the job as easy as possible. Enter the humble tanning mitt.

Swapping your paintbrush for a tanning mitt turns an otherwise time-consuming and tedious task into something surprisingly manageable. You finish in far less time, there's less chance of you getting paint on your hands, and it makes getting at tricky spots — including between the wooden slats — a breeze. It's also more user-friendly and cost-effective than purpose-made paint mitts, which is a win for any savvy DIYer short on time but who still wants an eye-catching end result. We're not saying this hack makes you love painting your outdoor furniture, but you might stop pretending to be busy just to avoid it.

Preparation is everything, so start by giving your furniture a good cleaning with soapy water. Let it dry completely, and if the surface feels rough or if it's peeling, sand it to help the paint go on smoothly. Finally, apply a primer to make sure your finish holds up. Remember to put a drop cloth down to protect the surrounding area so you don't have to Google genius ways to remove paint from your concrete floors. With the prep work out the way, give the paint a good stir, put your mitt on, and dip your palm lightly into the paint or stain. You can safeguard against getting paint on your hand by wearing a latex glove inside the tanning mitt.

Now comes the fun part. Rub the paint onto your furniture using long, even motions. Because the mitt molds to the shape of your hand, it's easy to wrap it around chair legs and maneuver around curves. The larger surface area also means you make quick work of large, flat areas such as outdoor loungers, plus you don't have brush marks, which often show up when painting intricate details. Lastly, add a coat of sealant to your furniture. When you're done, wash the mitt right away so it's ready for your next DIY project.