5 Must-know Tips for Patio Furniture Cleaning

Constant exposure to harsh weather elements such as the sun, rain, snow and wind can damage your patio furniture badly. That’s why we must know how to protect it and preserve it for years to come. Patio furniture usually includes a sun umbrella, different kinds of seating elements and a table, all made of different materials.

The most popular patio furniture materials include distinct wood types, plastic, fabric, rattan, glass, metal and aluminium. To keep your patio furniture sparkling and looking new, you need to know how to clean and maintain it properly. Take a look at some simple cleaning tricks for outdoor furniture.

1. Taking care of plastic patio furniture

There are quite a few must-know tips for cleaning outdoor furniture to sparkling perfection. Let’s start from the basic and most affordable material usually used for patio furniture – plastic. It is relatively easy to keep plastic furniture clean. All you need is baking soda and warm water: mix ½ cup of baking soda with a gallon of warm water. You will achieve the same effect if you mix three tablespoons of mild detergent with the same amount of water.

What is important to remember is that you should avoid using chlorine and bleach on white plastic as it tends to destroy the material. For stains that won’t come off when applying any of the mixtures as mentioned earlier, use a soft cloth dampened with white vinegar and wipe off the stain.

Another way to get rid of stains is to sprinkle some baking soda on a sponge and use it to scrub away the stain gently. This method won’t damage the plastic. However, abrasive cleaners will. As a final touch, you can protect your plastic patio furniture by coating it with a thin layer of automotive wax.

2. Cleaning metal and aluminium patio furniture

As far as metal and aluminium patio furniture is concerned, cleaning is essential for maintaining shine. You can start by removing dirt by applying a metal polishing paste or a mixture of vinegar and water.

Aluminium furniture is best cleaned frequently by using a soft cloth dampened with a nonabrasive cleaning product. You can coat the furniture with the automotive wax as well after cleaning it.

To protect metal and aluminium furniture from rust, you can sand it off together with damaged paint. Then clean the residue with a damp cloth. Finally, apply a paint primer before applying a fresh coat of paint.

3. Maintaining wood and wicker furniture properly

If not taken care of properly, wood and wicker patio furniture can end up looking dirty and dull, and on top of all, it can shorten its lifespan considerably. For cleaning this type of furniture, mix mild soap with warm water, or you can make your power mixture by combining ¼ cup of ammonia, two tablespoons of white vinegar, and 1 quart of warm water.

Regularly wipe the wood with these mixtures to protect it by removing dust, debris and dirt which piles up quickly. For wood furniture, consider sanding it once a year and applying a coat of protective wood finish. You can clean wicker furniture by hosing it down every few weeks.

However, if you are a busy person who still wants to enjoy a neat and clean patio, you can have it cleaned alongside your home. These days, weekly or fortnightly cleaning rates can include a certain amount of discount for the same, thorough cleaning job.

4. Keeping outdoor fabrics looking fresh

Patio furniture pieces such as sofas, chairs, ottomans and cushions, covered in fabrics are best cleaned by brushing off the dirt and hosing it down. Next, you should combine mild soap or detergent with water and remove dirt with a soft brush. The final step is to rinse it and leave it in the sun to dry.

5. Sprucing up the glass patio furniture

When it comes to glass furniture such as glass tables, you can use a glass cleaning product and wipe it off with a soft cloth. You can also make your glass cleaning solutions with detergent, white vinegar and water. It would be a good idea to cover it when not in use. To fix scratches, use a glass repair kit.

Taking care of your outdoor furniture

If you want your patio furniture to last long and remain to look as good as new, you must take care of it properly. That means cleaning it promptly and properly by using the appropriate products and protecting it with specially designed waterproof covers.

About the author

Ayla Anderson is an avid reader and an enthusiastic blogger who writes articles on home improvement, business, Family and beauty. She is also an MBA student who spends much of her time advising new small businesses on how to grow their businesses. You can follow me on Twitter.

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