How to Clean & Care for Rabbit Garden Statues

A pair of the Large Moon-Gazing Hares Ornament Set placed at the corner of a south-facing border catch the eye well in March, when the heads are tipped back and the gravel is still wet from the last frost. Cast resin, bronze-effect painted finish, light enough to lift one-handed but substantial in feel. After a UK year, they show the same green algae as any other garden ornament, plus a half-shade of summer fade on whichever flank faces the sun. The cleaning routine is short, and the same one we use across the wider rabbit garden ornaments range.

Why Rabbit Statues Need Seasonal Care

A rabbit or hare figure outdoors year-round weathers four things: prolonged wet, frost cycles, summer UV and the occasional knock from real wildlife brushing past. The material is almost always cast resin with a painted finish (UV-stable, frost-proof, lightweight), sometimes reconstituted cast stone for the larger pieces. Both are designed for British weather and both reward a small amount of attention twice a year.

What Wet Januarys Do to Resin

Resin is non-porous. The painted finish on top collects a film of algae spores and leaf tannin through a wet winter, particularly around the ears and across the upturned face of a moon-gazing hare where rain pools briefly. Wiped off in late February the film lifts cleanly; left until April it bonds with the paint.

How Frost Affects Reconstituted Stone

Cast stone rabbits, heavier and less common, take up small amounts of water through surface pores. Frost expands the water and over time can lift a flake. A breathable masonry sealer in spring keeps the surface tight enough to shrug off a normal winter.

UV Bleach in Summer

Painted resin in full south-facing sun fades by a half-shade across a hot summer. Bronze-effect finishes on hares show this less than brighter colours, but the high points on the back and the tips of the ears still lighten over time. Rotate every six weeks through July and August.

Step-by-Step: Cleaning a Rabbit Garden Statue

Pick a mild, dry afternoon. Tools: soft brush, bucket of lukewarm water, one drop of mild washing-up liquid, soft cloth, garden hose on a soft setting.

Dry Brush First

Lift the piece out of its border position. Brush off loose grit, cobwebs and dried leaf matter with a soft brush, paying attention to the back of the ears, the underside of the chin, and the gap behind the front paws. Brushing dry first prevents grit being dragged across the painted finish during the wash.

Mild Soap and Lukewarm Water

One drop of washing-up liquid in a bucket of lukewarm water. Wipe with a soft cloth from ears to base. Use a soft brush for the deeper recesses around the eye sockets and the fur lines on the back.

Rinse with Hose at Low Pressure

Rinse with a hose set soft at a metre's distance. Never a jet wash. Pressure washing strips the painted finish in seconds on resin and pits cast stone. Work top to bottom.

Air-Dry Before Re-Positioning

Stand the piece on a dry flagstone in the shade for an hour or two. Setting a wet base on damp ground restarts the algae cycle within a fortnight.

Material-Specific Care Notes

Rabbits and hares in the catalogue are cast resin almost without exception. The Large March Hares Ornament Set and the Medium Bronze Moon-Gazing Hares Ornament Set share the same material reality: lightweight cast resin under a painted topcoat, either bronze-effect or a natural-stone effect.

Resin

UV-stable, frost-proof, lightweight. Cleans with soap and water. A wax polish in spring brings the depth of the bronze-effect topcoat back where summer has flattened it. Avoid solvents.

Reconstituted Stone

Cement blended with crushed stone, poured and cured. Heavier than resin, takes a soft lichen patina over two winters. Apply a breathable masonry sealer in spring.

Cast Bronze and Metal

The bronze-effect hares in the range are painted resin, not genuine cast bronze. The metallic look is a paint finish on lightweight cast resin (the practical choice for a British garden, with no theft risk and no real-metal cost). Care is the same as any other resin piece.

What to Avoid

Three habits cause most preventable damage.

Pressure Washers

A jet wash held close strips painted resin in seconds, particularly on the bronze-effect finish where the topcoat is the visible identity of the piece. Use a normal hose, set soft, at distance.

Wire Brushes

Wire brushes leave scratch tracks that catch dirt and dull the surface faster. Soft brush, every time.

Solvent-Based Cleaners

Bleach strips paint. White spirit, methylated spirit and patio cleaners with biocides all damage the finish. Soap and water is enough.

Year-Round Protection

Three short jobs across the year, each one well under an hour.

Winter: Lift Smaller Pieces Under Cover

Smaller rabbit and hare pieces under 5 kg benefit from a sheltered porch, garage or shed from late November to February. The bronze-effect topcoat keeps its depth better under cover. Larger pieces stay out, but check the underside for standing water and tip them slightly so rain runs off.

Spring: Re-Seal Porous Stone

March or April. One coat of breathable masonry sealer on any cast stone pieces, applied in dry weather. Let cure for 24 hours.

Summer: Rotate for Even UV

July and August. Turn south-facing rabbits and hares a quarter-turn every six weeks. The high points on the back and the ear tips fade fastest, and even fade reads as "weathered well" rather than "looks tatty on one side".

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my rabbit garden statue?

Twice a year covers most positions. Once in March or April after the worst of winter, and once in November after the leaves are down. A piece sited under a tree or near a bird feeder benefits from an extra wipe in late autumn to clear leaf tannin and droppings before they bond with the painted finish.

What cleaner is safe for rabbit statues?

Lukewarm water with one drop of mild washing-up liquid. Nothing stronger is required. Bleach strips paint, patio cleaners with biocides dull the bronze-effect topcoat, and solvents damage cast resin. Soap and water has handled garden ornaments since the form began.

How do I remove algae and lichen?

For green algae on resin, a soft brush with diluted white vinegar (one part vinegar to four parts water) lifts it cleanly. For lichen on cast stone, leave it: it takes years to settle and looks the part on a weathered piece. Scrape only if it's actively lifting paint.

Are rabbit garden statues weatherproof?

Yes. Cast resin is UV-stable and frost-proof; reconstituted cast stone is rated for British winters including frost and named-storm gales. Painted finishes fade gently over years in direct sun; cast stone develops a lichen patina that most owners keep.

Do you deliver across the UK?

Yes, with free UK delivery on orders over £50. Most pieces in the rabbit range ship within three to five working days, packed for couriers and protected at the ears and tail where damage is most likely in transit.