Keeping your patio furniture looking good takes some effort. Whether your patio furniture lives in storage most of the year or is a permanent fixture of your outdoor space, some regular maintenance will preserve its quality and extend its longevity. Mildew may also collect on your patio furniture from exposure to humidity and rain, and some special TLC can remove the mildew.
Outdoor furniture comes in a wide range of materials, making it difficult to know what products and methods are best for cleaning. Listed below are the easiest ways to clean commonly used furniture with DIY cleaners and natural products so your patio will always stay party ready.
How to Clean Outdoor Furniture of All Types
Natural wood and wicker
Products:
Method Daily Wood Cleaner: This surface-safe, non-toxic, plant-based cleaner is a daily workhorse for grease and grime on sealed wood furniture. Its almond scent is pleasant and the all-natural ingredients offer peace-of-mind for the family and the planet.
Attitude Tile & Wood Floor Surface Cleaner: Packaged in an easy pour recyclable container, this PETA certified cleaner is naturally citrus scented and made with plant- and mineral-based ingredients. Mix ¼ cup of cleaner with 4 liters of water and you’re ready to clean any wood surface the natural way.
DIY wood & wicker cleaner:
Method:
Using a
soft scrub brush and your favorite wood cleaner or mixture, carefully scrub away dirt and grime from your furniture. Use a small brush or toothbrush if your furniture has little nooks and crannies. Once clean, rinse off with a hose and let dry in the sun.
Teak
Products:
Your favorite teak wood cleaner
OR
DIY teak wood cleaner:
Method:
Apply either a teak cleaner or your homemade mixture all over the areas you want to clean. Let stand for 10-20 minutes. Scrub it with a soft scrub brush and then fully rinse off with a hose. Dry in the sun.
Plastic and molded resin
Products:
Cleancult All-Purpose Cleaner: This bamboo lily scented cleanser is non-toxic and plant based. It comes in a recyclable container and can easily be transferred into any glass spray bottle for easy application.
DIY plastic and molded resin cleaner:
Method:
All-purpose cleaner method: Spray or apply your cleaner to all dirty areas. Then use something minimally abrasive like a
sponge or damp
cloth to wipe it down and clean off the more stubborn areas. Rinse with hose. Let dry in the sun.
Sponge method: Simply dip a sponge in warm water, give it a good squeeze, then add a sprinkle of baking soda. Wipe down your furniture until clean. Rinse with a hose and let dry fully in the sun.
Mold/mildew removal:
White furniture:
Spray a 1-to-4 mixture of
bleach and water on furniture and let stand 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with hose and dry in the sun.
Colored furniture:
Spray a mixture of ¼-cup
white vinegar and 1-quart water onto furniture, and let stand 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with hose and let dry in sun.
Wrought iron and metal
Products:
- ¼ cup dish detergent
- 1-gallon warm water
- Optional: metal primer
- Optional: metal-appropriate paint
Methods:
For non-rusted furniture:
-
- If your furniture is still holding up pretty well and just needs a clean, mix together water and dish detergent and scrub onto the furniture with a tough (but not too tough) scrub brush. Rinse with a hose and let dry.
For rusted furniture:
-
- Clean all surfaces using the above steps.
- Once fully dry, use a wire brush or sandpaper to remove rust until the bare metal is exposed.
- Using some naphtha or mineral spirits, wipe off residual metal.
- Apply metal primer to the bare metal and let dry.
- Apply matching paint until the bare metal is completely covered. Air dry.
Fabric cushions
Removable covers:
If your cushion covers are removable, simply take them off and wash them according to directions on tag. Put the covers back on the cushions while still damp to ensure they maintain their shape and size.
For non-removable cushion covers, create a mixture of water with a little dish detergent. Put the mixture all over the cushion and scrub with a sponge or soft scrub brush until clean. Rinse off with a hose and let dry in the sun. Make sure to flip the cushions over on occasion to get all sides completely dry.
