Cleaning your patio furniture is essential if you want to prolong the life of your chaises, chairs and cushions. A routine scrub will prevent mold, mildew discoloration and deterioration. Whether you have teak or plastic furniture, there’s a cleaning solution for you.
1. Rattan
Rattan is a durable, eco-friendly material that looks like bamboo but is actually a vine-like palm from Asia. People have been making furniture out of this plant for more than a century. However, adding lacquer to rattan furniture to prolong its life is a relatively new practice.
To clean rattan, add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of water. Then, mix the solution until bubbles form. Dip a soft cloth into the bubbles and wipe down the furniture to remove dust and dirt. Clean the cracks and crevices with a toothbrush and use a few drops of detergent to remove stains. Avoid over wetting rattan as it may damage the material.
2. Colored Plastic and Resin
Use an all-purpose cleaner and a cloth or paper towel to wipe off colored plastic and resin furniture. You might also use a brush and a solution of vinegar and water to remove algae and grime. Then, rinse well with water to prevent sunlight from fading the colors. Maintain the shine by applying wax with a soft cloth. Let it dry and then buff it off.
While plastic and resin stand up to the elements well, it’s best to clean them as soon as you notice dirt. Otherwise, the sun may cake it on, making it more difficult to remove. It’s also wise to store your colored plastic furniture in a shed or other shady spot to prevent fading and warping.
3. White Plastic
Cleaning white plastic furniture requires a slightly different approach than cleaning colored plastic. While you may use the same process to remove dust and dirt, restoring your furniture to their original brilliant white calls for bleach. As long as you don’t mix it with other cleaners — like ammonia — using bleach is a safe and effective way to remove stains and keep your furniture clean.
Pour one-fourth cup of bleach in a large bucket of hot water. Then, slip into a pair of rubber gloves and dip a scrub brush in the solution. Scrub the chairs and footstools and allow them to sit for a few minutes. Then, rinse well with water, dry them with a cloth and return them to your patio.
4. Teak
If you’re lucky enough to own teak patio furniture, it will require special cleaning methods. However, all your hard work will pay off. With the proper care, your teak will resist mold and rot and last for many years.
To prevent your teak from losing its natural color and succumbing to mildew, clean it often using a solution of one cup vinegar and one-gallon warm water. use a soft plastic brush to apply the solution directly to the wood. Once you’ve scrubbed away dirt and grime, allow the teak to sit for 15 minutes. Then, rinse with water. Use furniture polish to restore the shine, repel water and prevent further staining.
5. Cushions
Cushions can make even the most rigid furniture comfortable. Yet, fabrics are more prone to damage and deterioration if you don’t care for them properly and clean them often.
Remove urine, grass and other stains by hand washing your cushions. Lay them out on a deck or driveway and spray down each one with water. Mix two tablespoons dish detergent and one-half cup of Borax in a bucket of water. Then, scrub the cushions using your homemade solution and a hard-bristle brush. Allow them to sit for a few minutes, then rinse them with a garden hose. Squeeze out excess moisture and prop them up to dry.
6. Canvas
If your furniture happens to have canvas backing or coverings, you may be able to remove them and wash them in your laundry machine. However, some canvas isn’t detachable. In this case, you must wash it by hand.
Mix two gallons of warm water with about a half cup of laundry bleach-free detergent. Then, dip a sponge with the solution and scrub the canvas. Then, use a scrub brush to remove tough stains and thoroughly clean the seams. Finally, spray with a garden hose and air-dry in a shady spot to prevent fading. Use an outdoor-fabric protector to repel water and stains.
Clean Furniture, Happy Guests
Now that your patio furniture is all clean, you can feel confident inviting family and friends over for a fall bonfire. Enjoy the company and your clean furniture as the season comes to a close. Cozy up on those nice clean cushions and gather around the fire to roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories and watch the stars come out.
Your guests will be happy — and so will you. Plus, you’ll have less cleaning to do when next summer rolls around!
