How To: Clean and Store Patio Furniture
The Fall winds are blowing and the leaves are falling off the trees. It’s the end of Summer, and Autumn is just about upon us. As we prepare to face the colder months, my household always goes through a cleaning process. We winterize the outside, and put away all the things of Summer. The number one thing being all of the outdoor furniture. I have listed a few tips here to help with the cleaning this fall.
TIPS ON CLEANING ALUMINUM PIECES
1. Dissolve some mild dish detergent in water. (Dish detergent and water do the trick on aluminum pieces and acrylic cushions.)
2. Use a sponge (a brush or scouring pad can damage the finish) and scrub away at the summer grime.
3. Rinse off with a hose.
4. Dry with a soft cloth.
5. Rub car wax onto the surface of the aluminum with another soft cloth. Buff off the wax when it’s dry. This give it a nice shiny finish.
HINTS ON CLEANING WHITE PLASTIC PIECES
1. Fill a bucket with 1 gallon warm water and 3 Tbsp. dishwasher detergent. Mix it together and soak a sponge in the solution.
2. Wipe the plastic patio furniture with the soaked sponge, focusing especially on dirty areas.
3. Leave the solution on the furniture for about 15 minutes, then rinse it off. The bleach in the detergent whitens the furniture as it sits.
If you don’t have room to store the furniture indoors during the winter, try to cover them up with a tarp to protect them from the elements. Who wants to buy new patio furniture every year? Also, bring the cushions inside.
These aren’t the rules for cleaning outdoor furniture, but they have been helpful to me. If you have any tips on winterizing your things. Please leave me a comment!
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