How To Clean And Care For Your Outdoor Furniture?

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Why Should You Clean Your Outdoor/Patio Furniture?
2. How To Deep Clean Outdoor Furniture Of Different Materials?
3. How To Clean Your Wood Furniture
4. How To Clean Natural Wicker Furniture
5. How To Clean Plastic Outdoor Furniture
6. How To Clean Metal Outdoor Furniture
7. Common Steps To Clean And Maintain Any Type Of Outdoor Furniture
8. Do You Want To Reduce The Outdoor Furniture Cleaning Frequency
9. Conclusion

Is spending more time in your home's outdoor space your favorite ME time? Be it alone or with your loved ones, if you are more inclined towards this, here's a reminder: clean your outdoor furniture.

Because your outdoor furniture might look healthy, and you may assume that they are resistant to all weather conditions. But here's a catch: furniture that lives can get dirty and dusty. So, at least once or twice a year, we recommend deep cleaning it.

If you want to get started with cleaning your outdoor furniture but are not sure how to, keep reading this extensive guide. We have covered how to clean outdoor materials made of different materials.

Why Should You Clean Your Outdoor/Patio Furniture?

Just like you protect yourself while going out on a sunny day, your outdoor furniture that stays out 24/7 also needs some love and care.

While most of your outdoor furniture is made to be resistant to any kind of weather condition, remember that the varying weather conditions, along with the insects, mold, dust, and dirt, can still pull down the lifespan.

And we all know that any furniture is an investment and you don't want that to go in vain. So, cleaning it keeps them in good shape and increases the lifespan.

How To Deep Clean Outdoor Furniture Of Different Materials?

There are different outdoor furniture materials and each requires different cleaning methods to keep it in good shape. From wood to metal to plastic, you can clean the outdoor furniture by following the instructions given below:

1. How To Clean Your Wood Furniture?

To say goodbye to dirt and dust on your wooden outdoor furniture, follow the steps given below:

1. Take clean, warm water and mix mild laundry detergent.
2. Mix a little amount of vinegar or powdered oxygen bleach. (This is optional). If your wooden furniture is troubled by moss or mold, this extra ingredient helps eliminate them.
3. Apply the solution and let them stay for a few minutes. But remember, never, strictly never scrub perpendicularly to remove the dirt.
4. Rather, go along the wooden grain lines to clean each part of the legs, arms, or furniture parts individually. Finally, give it a thorough wash and let it dry.

How Do You Deal With Stubborn Dirt And Stains On Your Wooden Outdoor Furniture?

Are you noticing the silver weathered platina developing all over the furniture? Relax; it's quite normal for wooden outdoor furniture to showcase this as they age and if they aren’t treated with any coating.

To remove this or any kind of roughness or rust stain, you can use sandpaper.

1. You may need a medium-rough grit 80-grade sandpaper, fine-grit 120-grade sandpaper, a duster or a soft, clean, lint-free cloth.
2. First, ensure that the furniture has fully dried. Next, start sanding where you find the silver platina using a rough 80-grade sandpaper. Apply even force on the surface except for the places that have some stubborn stains.
3. Next, use fine-grit sandpaper of 120 grit. This helps restore the wood surface's smoothness and luster.
4. Again, avoid sanding in your own direction. Rather, go with the wood grain's flow.

Quick tip: Avoid using electric or power sanders as they can generate excess heat that could damage the wood. You can also use a wood cleaner that is commercially available. But ensure that the chemical is not harsh, as it can wipe away the wood's natural oil.

Say no to pressure or jet washers, as they can also strip away the natural oil present in the wood.

How To Remove Mildew Stains From Your Wooden Outdoor Furniture?

To remove mold/mildew stains:

• Take one gallon of hot water and mix powdered oxygen bleach
• Apply this solution to the stains and leave it for a few minutes
• Now scrub the area using a soft bristle brush
• Next, rinse the wooden furniture with clean water
• Finally, pat dry it with a lint-free cloth

2. How To Clean Natural Wicker Furniture?

Wicker furniture is known to bring a relaxed tone. This is weaved from rattan or any kind of natural fiber, and it is important to know how to clean it so that it looks its best and ages gracefully.

1. Vacuum or dust the Wicker furniture regularly.
2. Often this material deals with mold and mildew issues. So, use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water and scrub them slightly to eliminate them on wicker because wicker is soft or fragile when wet.
3. Leave it to dry completely because wicker slackens when it's wet so you should not let anyone sit on it. When it dries, it tightens.
4. Next, condition your wicker furniture. Conditioning is crucial if you don't want the wicker to become brittle, especially if it's not painted. So use a wicker conditioner or any kind of mineral oil and let it sit for 15 minutes and buff away any excess.

How To Clean Outdoor Synthetic Wicker Furniture?

To clean synthetic wicker, you just have to hose it down and then scrub it using a mild detergent. Then, rinse away the dirt and grime. Consider washing your outdoor wicker furniture during a sunny or breezy day, as it helps dry it quickly.

Brownie point: Excess exposure to the sun can affect wicker. So, always consider covering wicker furniture if you plan to leave it outside without using it for more than 2 or 3 weeks.

3. How To Clean Plastic Outdoor Furniture?

Often, plastic outdoor furniture is cheaper than others, lighter, and weather-resistant too. But the downside is that they get dirty really quickly and require regular cleaning. You can choose the cleaning solutions based on the type of dirt you are dealing with:

• Dishwashing Liquid Solution

Pour one gallon of lukewarm water into a bucket and mix in one-fourth cup of dishwashing liquid. Next, stir until the soap is well-dispersed. This solution is great for cleaning most plastic outdoor furniture.

• Baking Soda Solution

For tougher stains, mix one-half cup of baking soda with a gallon of lukewarm water. Stir until it's fully dissolved. This solution is best to deal with the stubborn grime or odors your chairs are holding.

• All-Purpose Cleaner Solution

If you are looking for a strong cleaning solution, add one-fourth cup of all-purpose cleaner to a gallon of lukewarm water. This mix works best on heavily soiled or greasy areas.

To Clean This Type Of Outdoor Furniture, Follow These Steps:

Take any solution and wash the chairs from top to bottom. Use a sponge or brush to lift the dirt, grime or stains. Wash off the entire furniture once and let it dry.

1. To Clean White Plastic Outdoor Chairs

If you want to whiten dingy and stained chairs, use an oxygen-based bleach solution. Oxygen bleach is a gentle bleaching agent that helps in removing stains and brightens plastics.

It works slower than chlorine bleach but it doesn't damage the plastics and is more environmentally friendly.

2. To Clean The Chairs Using This Solution:

Wear rubber gloves and take a sponge to apply the oxygen bleach solution to the chair. After applying the solution, let it sit for at least 15 minutes so that the solution can whiten the plastic. Also, remember, leaving the solution a little longer won't harm the chairs.

Next, rinse the chairs well and dry them using a microfiber cloth or air-dry in the sun.

Note: If you are cleaning the outdoor furniture in your garden, you don't have to worry about harming the grass or plants, as the oxygen bleach and water solution is safe and harmless.

4. How To Clean Metal Outdoor Furniture?

There are different types of metal outdoor furniture, such as aluminum, stainless steel, wrought iron, mild steel, etc. Let's take a closer look at how to clean each type:

• Aluminium Patio Outdoor Furniture

When cleaning aluminum outdoor furniture, follow these below-given steps:

1. Wipe down the furniture using a clean, soft, damp cloth and get rid of the excess dirt and grime.
2. Next, take dish soap and water in equal parts, mix them, and use the mixture to clean the furniture. Some stubborn dirt would come off.
3. Finally, use a soft cloth to wipe off the excess moisture and let it dry.

• Wrought Iron Patio Outdoor Furniture

This metal is susceptible to rust, which is why it must be cleaned regularly. To clean the furniture:

1. First, use a soft brush to remove the collected dust and debris.
2. If the furniture shows rusted areas, then take steel wool, sandpaper and a wire brush. Now focus on the rust-affected areas. Take the steel wool to rub off the rust, and use the sandpaper to refine the surface. If you spot some stubborn rust spots, use a wire brush. This helps get rid of it.
3. Now, after cleaning the rusted areas, use a cloth to wipe it off clean. Then repaint the affected area using protective varnish or paint. This helps improve its lifespan.

• Stainless Steel Outdoor Furniture

Cleaning stainless steel furniture is easy.

1. As usual, clean the outdoor furniture using a soft brush or cloth.
2. To eliminate the dirt or grime, take a mixture of mild soap and water and simply wipe down the surface. Next, rinse thoroughly.
3. To tackle the stubborn stains, use a white vinegar and water mixture or a specialized stainless steel cleaner and apply it to the furniture.
4. After cleaning, let it dry completely. Just ensure that the surface doesn't hold any water spots. Otherwise, it gets susceptible to corrosion.
5. Important note: Strictly avoid using abrasive materials or harsh chemicals, as they can damage the stainless steel finish.

• Powder-Coated Outdoor Metal Furniture

If you have this type of outdoor furniture, it's best to approach it delicately. Otherwise, you would harm the finish or coat.

1. Take a mild cleaning solution such as gentle dish soap and warm water.
2. Apply this solution and use a soft-bristled brush to remove the dirt and dust on the surface.
3. After you are done, rinse the furniture thoroughly using a garden hose.
4. Finally, use a microfiber cloth to wipe off the excess water and dry the surface.

Is Your Metal Furniture Suffering From Some Stubborn Issues?

Here, stubborn issues refer to rust, grime, and mildew. To tackle them, follow the below-given steps:

1. To Remove Mildew

• Mildew is common as the furniture remains outdoors mostly. Mix bleach and water; apply this mixture to the furniture and let it sit for a few minutes.
• Next, gently rub or clean the furniture. This method eliminates mildew and prevents it from reappearing.
• If the metal outdoor furniture has a powder-coated finish, avoid using bleach as it can affect the coat. Instead, use mild dish soap.

2. To Remove Grime

• Grime in metal outdoor furniture refers to the buildup of dirt, dust, pollen, bird droppings and other debris as a layer that's sticky and dirty.
• To remove this, take a mixture of baking soda and water, make a thick paste and generously apply it to the metal furniture.
• After a while, scrub the furniture to remove the grime and rinse it. You are all done.

3. To Remove Rust

• Removing rust and restoring the metal's original luster needs some extra work.
• You can simply apply white vinegar to the rusted areas and let it sit for some time. Then, use a steel wool and scrub the loosened rust.
• But ensure you don't be too harsh and harm the metal surface.

Some Common Steps To Follow To Clean And Maintain Any Type Of Outdoor Furniture

• Cleaning the dust and debris of the outdoor furniture must be considered as a rule of thumb.

• Protect the furniture as it takes the beating from the sun, rain and cold. For instance, you can follow this:
  
  - Wood: Apply a weatherproof sealant once a year to keep it from absorbing too much water and remain moisture-laden. Sealing the wood also helps protect the wood from harmful ultraviolet rays, dirt and moisture.
  
  - Metal: Check for rust and apply rust-resistant spray if it needs it.
  
  - Plastic/resin: They can fade from sun exposure so consider using covers or shades when possible.
• Inspect and look for any loose screws or wobbly parts and fix them.

• Wash and store cushions; otherwise, they start collecting a lot of grime, too. Wash them based on the care instructions.

• Cover when not in use. If you are not sitting outdoors for a while, better cover the furniture so that they don't gather debris.

• If any stains happen, whether you spilled something or you notice bird droppings, the longer the stay, the harder it comes to clean. So swiftly clean it.

Do You Want To Reduce The Outdoor Furniture Cleaning Frequency?

We understand that we are all busy bees and won't allocate time for cleaning the outdoor furniture regularly. Here's a seasonal maintenance checklist for outdoor furniture:

During Summer

It's important to clean your outdoor furniture more often during this season. Because you tend to use the furniture more frequently as it gets dirty easily. Also, it's crucial to check for signs of wear and tear.

During Fall

This season also collects more dust, dirt, leaves, etc. If you plan to store your patio furniture inside, then do a thorough cleaning before doing it.
If you don't find space to store them, it's best to apply protective covers to shield them from debris during the fall.

During Winter

If your region goes through harsh winters, it's not always fair to leave your outdoor furniture out. But again, if you don't find space to store it, you can:

• Use high-quality furniture covers that are durable, waterproof and weatherproof.
• Lift the furniture off the ground, for example, on raised surfaces such as pallets, to avoid direct contact with snow. This way you can prevent the furniture legs from soaking up water, which can cause rust or not.
• Apply protective coatings to the furniture. For wood furniture, apply sealant or weatherproof varnish to protect it from moisture attack. Meanwhile, consider using rust-resistant spray for metal furniture.
• Store the cushions inside. We understand that you lack space for storing the entire furniture. But at least, bring the cushions, pillow and any type of fabric inside.

During Spring

If you are using outdoor furniture after the winter season, first deep clean to get rid of all the winter grime. Next, do a quick inspection for any damage and repair if necessary. If you have already added some protective coatings and if they have worn out, reapply and fix the repairs.

Conclusion

When your outdoor furniture starts looking a little worse for wear, it means it's looking for some special care. Here, deep cleaning can bring it back to life. Different materials need different cleaning methods to keep them looking fresh without causing damage.

Remember, keeping your outdoor furniture clean and well-maintained doesn't have to be a chore. With regular cleaning and a little love and care, you can make it look great for years.

We have comprehensively covered cleaning methods for outdoor furniture made of various materials, including metal, plastic, wood and wicker. I hope this guide was useful.