In recent years, more and more attention has been given to outdoor living spaces. From the classic concrete patio to the luxury screened-in porch, the industry itself has exploded. And now, choices aboundin the areas of furniture, fabric, and décor designed specifically with the outdoor living space in mind. Of course, developing and furnishing such a space can be quite an investment, and you will want whatever things you buy to last season after season. But fear not! With the proper investment in time and maintenance, you will be able to keep you patio furniture clean and looking quite like new! The most important thing to consider when cleaning your outdoor patio furniture is the material that it is made out of. (For example, the cleaning product or process you use to clean wood is different from the one that you use to clean acrylic.) For most furniture materials, you can find the products needed for cleaning right in your own cupboard or cabinet.

First of all, basic white outdoor patio furniture can be cleaned with a solution of warm water and dish soap. You could also opt for a bit of laundry detergent soap or dishwasher soap as well. Secondly, aluminum patio chairs and tables can also be cleaned with general soaps. If they have rust or other waste caked on, you can apply a scratchy sponge or steel wool for cleaning. Ultimately, the aforementioned of warm water and mild soap will work for wrought iron, wicker, wood, and acrylic.

If basic soap and water will not do the job, there are also a variety of cleaners on the market that have been formulated to take care of items of a specific material. There are sprays that will help treat wood and wicker; there are refinishing paints that work for plastic or metal. These cleaners can run the gamut in price and are available at home improvement stores or hardware stores. But keep in mind that, just because a cleaner is expensive, does not mean it is better than a cleaning solution you can concoct on your own! Probably the best solution for keeping your outdoor patio furniture clean is to perform meticulous, periodic maintenance.

Hosing off your furniture on a regular basis during the season of highest use will eliminate any staining that might result from spills or other accidents. This will also keep it free from debris and dust which can worsen over time. It is also important that you give it a good cleaning before you store it away for the winter. Buildup of materials contributes to the harboring of pests over the cold months, and no one wants to discover a nest of varmints in the spring!

Tags: furniture care, furniture maintenance, outdoor furniture

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm and is filed under Outdoor Furniture Maintenance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.