If you’ve just spent money on a wooden swing set, or are planning to, you may wonder what you can do to make sure the investment that adorns your backyard doesn’t deteriorate with age and the constant exposure to the elements. This article outlines some simple steps you can take to ensure your wooden swing set survives and is able to provide your family with many years of active fun and entertainment.

Wooden swing set maintenance varies somewhat depending on the type of wood your swing set is made of. The good news is most wooden swing sets usually require minimal maintenance. That’s part of their appeal and the reason so many people choose a wooden swing set over other available types.

There are several different woods used in making swing sets, including redwood, cedar, cypress, and pine, which includes both red and southern yellow pine. Northern white cedar is the only one that is completely maintenance-free as far as the wood itself is concerned. But regardless of the wood used, there are certain things that must be done on a regular basis to keep your swing set not only looking good, but remaining safe for play.

For pine or redwood swing sets, a high quality stain or water seal should be applied according to manufacturers instructions. Some redwood sets require an application once a year to keep them looking their best, especially if you live in an area that gets a great deal of sun. In some cases, for both pine and redwood, sealant only needs to be applied once every 2-3 years. This is done to help preserve the wood and keep warping, splitting, and cracking to a minimum.

It’s possible to allow your redwood swing set to age and weather naturally. It will eventually turn to a grayish color. To keep it looking new longer, you can apply a stain. The California Redwood Association suggests a water repellant finish that includes a mildewcide and protection from UV rays.

It’s never recommended to pressure-wash your redwood swing set. No matter how careful you are, power washing is likely to destroy the softer tissue of the wood and your swing set will look more like it’s been sand-blasted than washed. Pressure washing ages your redwood like 30 years of weather compressed into one day.

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for proper upkeep of your redwood swing set, but generally speaking, you should avoid varnish finishes or polyurethanes. When used on exterior redwood, they tend to crack and will deteriorate rapidly. It’s also wise not to use pure oil as a finishing treatment as it promotes the growth of mildew. Oil based treatments are acceptable and are even better if they include a mildewcide.

In addition to maintaining the wood, there are a few things you should do each year as children begin playing on the swing set again to ensure their safety. None of them take very long to do, but they need to be done on a regular basis.

At the beginning of the warm season, before the swing set starts being used, give it a thorough once over, checking for sharp edges and making sure that all screws, nuts and bolts are securely tightened. You should check these things twice a month for as long as the children are using the swing set.

Once a month you need to oil any moving parts of the swing set that are made of metal. While you doing that, check the chains and the swing set seats for any signs of severe wear or evidence of rusting. If the chains are coated in plastic, or if the seats are made of plastic, these should also be inspected for any cracks that could indicate deterioration. If cracks are found, replacements should be installed.

Lastly, to prolong the life of plastic seats and any other plastic add-ons, when the weather turns cold, and especially when it falls below zero, take any detachable plastic accessories inside, and store them there until the weather begins to warm up again.