Spring is Here – How to Clean Winter Grime off Your Patio Furniture

Winter is really tough – it’s dark, the weather isn’t very nice, you’re shoveling your drive way all the time and you just can’t seem to get warm. When that sunshine and warm weather comes, though, it’s a welcome relief: you can sit outside, enjoy a drink or a good book and just relax.

But what if your patio furniture looks like it barely survived the winter? It was gorgeous last year, but you forgot to bring it in and store it over the winter so now it’s got some build up and is kind of sad looking. Well, here are some tips for cleaning up your patio furniture to have it looking brand new again in no time.

Wash the Cushion Covers

If your patio furniture came with cushions, and you can remove the covers then take them off and throw them in the wash. A quick wash will definitely help the covers to look brand new. While you’re washing them, you can also bring out your vacuum to clean up the inside portion of the cushions which will help to get rid of any musty smells or any grime that was under the cushion covers.

Get out the Pressure Washer

Depending on what your furniture is made of you can use a pressure washer to clean all of the grime off of the frame. You will need to remove any cushions or pillows from the furniture and make sure it’s just the frame. Make sure to spot check to ensure that you can use a pressure washer with your furniture first.

Find a Bucket

If your furniture is made of a more delicate material – like wicker or rattan – you can’t use a high pressure water hose to wash the frame so you’ll need to do this by hand. Get a bucket and fill it with warm water and a mild dish soap. Make sure you stir the water to create bubbles, and find a soft cloth. Wipe down the furniture with this mixture and then rinse it off. Some wicker furniture would be okay to be rinsed off with a low pressure hose, but check to make sure you won’t do any damage to it.

Regular Maintenance

While the weather is warm and you’re enjoying your backyard you might not think about cleaning off or taking care of your furniture but it will help. Regular vacuuming of cushions and frames will help to get rid of any bugs or spider webs that might have made a home in there. Further, washing your cushions, or covers, on a regular basis will help to get rid of any damp smells or stains from spills or even local animals curling up on them.

Outdoor furniture is an investment, and it’s one that will make your outdoor space so much more enjoyable. Taking care of your patio furniture will help ensure it lasts a long time. If you left it outside last year, no big deal – it happens – but take some time before it gets too warm and clean it up with some simple washing and a good wipe down so that you can enjoy the warm weather once it is finally here to stay!

HAPPY SPRING!