How To Clean Outdoor Furniture

How to Clean Outdoor Furniture

After the warmer months of the year, it’s time to give the outdoor furniture a good clean and put it away until next year. When you clean outdoor furniture, you notice how grotty they get from the outdoors. Generally, most outdoor furniture items can be wiped down with warm soapy water and paper towel and allowed to dry in the sun. For stubborn stains make a paste with baking soda and vinegar to scrub. Eucalyptus oil is effective on fabrics as is a mixture of liquid laundry soap and vinegar.

How to Clean Outdoor Cushions

Make up a spray bottle with 235ml warm water, 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and 1 tablespoon of borax.  Saturate the cushions on both sides with the spray, paying special attention to crevices and creases. Stand each cushion out of direct sunlight to dry. Then hose off the mixture and again allow the cushions to dry in the sun.  They will come up as good as new!

When Outdoor Furniture Goes Mouldy

Outdoor furniture is notorious for getting mouldy, particularly in Winter when the furniture gets wet and it takes a long time to dry out.  Fill a spray bottle with 100% white vinegar.  Whenever you see some mould, give it a good spray with the vinegar and allow to dry in the sun.  White vinegar is gentle compared to bleach, which will discolor cushions.

How to Clean Outdoor Tiles

Pour boiling water into a bucket (at least 2 litres) and add one cup of ammonia.  Dip your mop into the hot water and mop the area well.  Allow to dry.  If stubborn dirt and crime persist, re-do the ammonia and boiling water and use a scrubbing brush to loosen any stubborn areas.

If you do this regularly, your tiles will always look spic and span!

How to Clean Wooden furniture or decks

Wood is beautiful, but a bitch to keep looking good, especially if you live in a wet climate such as Victoria.

To remove grease stains on wood sprinkle baking soda onto the surface, leave for an hour then sweep away.

To freshen up timber furniture and decking, add four litres of hot water to a bucket, one cup of white vinegar and a teaspoon of washing up liquid. Use a large sponge to wipe down the furniture.  Allow to dry.  Outdoor furniture really does well with a bit of wax to really bring out the colour in the grain and protect the timber from the weather.

How to Clean Your Barbecue

Scrub BBQ grill with mixture of baking soda and vinegar then rinse. Very stubborn grease and grime could benefit from a dose of oven cleaner.

How to Clean White Plastic Furniture

White Plastic Furniture is easily cleaned with a solution of hot water and white vinegar.

How to Clean Coloured Plastic or Resin Furniture

Try warm soapy water, if still not clean an all-purpose cleaner like spray and wipe may assist. Use a scrubbing brush for stubborn dirt. Prolonged exposure to the sun will fade coloured furniture fast. Consider storing infrequently used furniture away undercover for the winter months when you are not likely to use it anyway.

With regular care and cleaning, your outdoor furniture’s life will be sure to be extended.