New What Not to Do with an Outdoor Porch Swing

An outdoor porch swing is relaxing and pleasant to own. But many children mistake it for a plaything and end up abusing it with possible injury their persons. At the same time, neglect of maintenance can turn your favorite piece of furniture into a hotbed for tetanus and splinters. Like any large piece of furniture, an outdoor porch swing requires a certain amount of upkeep and respect, but at the same time, it isn't just any old piece of furniture. Learn and show kids how to be safe around furniture so that everyone has a good and safe summer.

Horseplay is prohibited As much as it looks like a toy, this particular kind of swing is no plaything. But with kids, horseplay is pretty much impossible to avoid at some point or another. Moving parts, combined with a heavy swing and metal chain can all injure someone who doesn't display caution. Caution children from jumping on and off from the swing, as well as hanging on chains or crawling around and underneath.
Keep weight evenly distributed For the best maintenance, try and keep riders spaced out evenly, even if it's just yourself swinging. If you tend to sit on the same side of your outdoor porch swing, then the prolonged wear will affect one side more severely than the other. After a time, that side may begin to sag or worse yet, the distressed chain will snap.
Put it together right the first time Most models of outdoor porch swing do not come completely assembled; typically the buyer is required to put together 10-30 percent of the job. Doing a sub-par job or not following instructions the first time around will only result in more problems down the road.
Respect the weight limits All suspended seats will come with a precaution of weight limit, which is a guideline, not a suggestion. If it says the limit is 500 lbs, you'd better believe it. Any more weight could cause the chain to break or the seat itself to break. Even lighter people jumping on the swing can max out the limit by the downward force applied. The best course of action is to keep the number of riders at a minimum and make sure that children are seated when riding.
Maintain furniture in good shape Outdoor furniture requires yearly upkeep, and something with moving parts like an outdoor porch swing even more so. If the suspension chain is rusty or if one of the swing pieces is cracked or broken, make sure to repair it before using it again. Rusting chains are more apt to break, and may even lead to tetanus, while cracked or splintered slats might break or at least cause a splinter.
Find a good spot for it For the smoothest ride, place your outdoor porch swing in an open area with nothing around to bump into. Also, whether it be a deck, patio or yard, make sure the ground is level so that the swing base sits evenly.