Outdoor furniture, as the name suggests, spends its time outdoors. That means it gets dirty. In fact, it can take a beating! With sun, wind, dirt, wet bathing suits and spilled drinks, we put our pool and patio furniture through a lot. If you want these items to look good and to have a long and useful life, you need to keep them clean!

Whether your furnishings are wood, metal or plastic, here are some tips for keeping them beautiful and protecting your investment in a delightful backyard.

When To Clean Patio Furniture

If you live in a locale that has four seasons, the obvious cleaning time is when you shut the patio down for the winter. This is the occasion for a thorough cleaning, especially if you’ve been busily enjoying the furniture all season rather than taking it offline to clean it.

If your outdoor arrangement gets vigorous use, you might want to give it a once-over a couple of times during the summer. And if it experiences staining or ground-in dirt, you ought to tend to it promptly rather than waiting for fall. Also, when you bring your patio back to life in the spring, a light cleaning is useful to wipe away any dirt and dust that accumulated during winter storage.

How To Clean Patio Furniture

A prime rule is to be careful in your choice of cleaning solutions. Patio furniture, whether it’s metal, wood, plastic or the upholstery, generally won’t stand up to harsh chemicals! A mild soap solution is the safest cleaner, though there can be other manufacturer-approved products.

Whatever your furniture is made of, start by wiping all the visible dust and debris from the surface. Then proceed with the washing, paying careful attention to the safety of the material you’re working with.

Metal

Soap and water is the strongest cleaner you should apply to most metals. If it’s aluminum, you can use a little polishing paste and a microfiber cloth to remove imperfections. Avoid ammonia and similar chemicals; they can cause oxidation. For all metals, you can gently buff off rust with a fine steel wool before touching up with touch up paint.

Wood

You can remove grime from wood with soapy water or with an oil-based commercial wood cleaner. Read the directions: for some wood you may have to dilute the cleaner with warm water. Use a cloth or a soft brush. For porous woods, don’t soak the wood but wipe it with a damp cloth. Hardwoods should at least occasionally be sanded and coated with a sealer, oil or stain. See manufacturer recommendations.Make sure wood that has been cleaned is completely dry before applying any sealers, stain or oils.

Plastic and Other Synthetic Materials

You can hose plastic down or even use a power washer if you’re careful to choose a gentle setting. Wash the furniture with soapy water. For tougher stains, you may add ½ cup of baking soda to your gallon of soapy water. You might also use Dawn or a similar dish detergent. Another option is a damp cloth with distilled white vinegar. Avoid chlorine or any cleanser with more than a touch of bleach; these might eat away at the material or actually damage the surface of the furniture.

How To Clean Patio Furniture Cushions

Cushions can be scrubbed with a mixture of detergent and warm water. Use a soft brush and work from the top to the bottom. Don’t let the detergent dry; clean a small section and rinse it before you move on. Rinse thoroughly with clear cool water when done to clean the fabric and core of the cushion.

Be sure to remove zippered cushions from their covers and clean the inside. Some cushion covers (casings) and cushion cores can go in washing machines. Read the cleaning labels, and don’t put them in the dryer.

Patio Furniture Cleaning Dos and Don’ts

· DO follow manufacturer’s instructions. Prefer soapy water and mild cleaners that are environmentally friendly. Don’t use bleach unless the manufacturer specifically says it’s OK.

· DO thoroughly rinse off all soap and cleaning solutions.

· DO get everything completely dry before you store it. It’s best to work on a sunny day and use the big yellow dryer in the sky. Stand cushions on end so they’ll dry quicker.

· DON’T blast your patio furniture with a power washer. Gentle settings are OK for some items, but power washers set too high act like a sand blaster and will actually damage the finish of outdoor furniture, fabrics and cushions.

· DON’T use petroleum-based cleaners on synthetics. They break down UV inhibitors, and you’ll see premature sun damage.

· DON’T wash outdoor fabrics in hot hot water or put outdoor fabrics in a dryer if washed in a machine. Excessive heat can damage outdoor fabrics. They need to be air dried.

Protect Furniture from Winter

The best protection is to bring your patio furniture indoors, but not everyone has that kind of storage space. The other solution is to cover outdoor items. There are protective covers made to fit just about every type of pool and patio furnishings, including tables, sofa, chairs and even fire tables and umbrellas. It’s still best to take pillows and cushions off and store indoors for off season months is possible..

Is It Time to Upgrade?

Before you complete your fall cleanup and put your patio away for the winter, ask yourself whether this is what you want out here in the spring. If you’d like new cushions, or if you’re ready for some new tables or chairs, now is the time to start shopping! Some of the best deals are available in August thru October for outdoor furniture and accessories.

Prices may drop even further as we move into winter, However, there are fewer selections, so if you see something you like, don’t wait too long! Other homeowners may be admiring it, too!

Even in midwinter, you might be able to find a good deal online or by placing an order at a brick and mortar store. What a pleasure it will be to unpack a new patio when outdoor living season commences next spring!