Cleaning Tips for Patio Furniture - What is the Best Way to Clean Patio Furniture

During summer, a cozy and comfortable patio furniture by the pool side is all you need to spend the evenings with friends and family. Patio furniture helps us to unwind in the natural environment. To maintain the patio furniture you have to put in a little bit of time and effort. Patio furniture are exposed to snow, dust, dirt, rain and sun. All these factors give them a shabby, dingy look. In order to help them regain their old beauty, it is essential to clean them. The basic cleaning tips for patio furniture given here will solve your query of what is the best way to clean patio furniture.

Cleaning Tips for Wood Patio Furniture
Firstly, clean the entire surface of the wood patio furniture with the help of a dry brush to remove the loose dust and debris. Rub the scratched or chipped surfaces of the wood with a sandpaper to make the surface even. Take a bucket of lukewarm water and add some mild soap into it. Use it to clean the wood furniture with the help of a sponge. Make sure you squeeze out most of the excess water from the sponge before you apply it to the wood otherwise the polish of the wood may get affected due to the detergent. Wash off the wooden surface with clean water and allow it to dry under the sun. The best way to clean wood patio furniture is using wood wash. Follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer to use the wood wash. Then, rinse it off with water and dry off with a towel. For the purpose of protection of wood patio furniture from outdoor elements special oils like teak oil are available in the market. You can apply a coat of baby oil or vegetable oil as well.

Cleaning Tips for Wrought Iron Patio Furniture
Wrought iron patio furniture possess both, strength as well as beauty. Iron patio furniture requires some additional care as it gets corroded due to rust. The first step to clean iron patio furniture is sanding the iron surface to get rid of the rust marks and wiping it clean. Then, apply a coat of primer and paint on it. Most of the manufacturers provide a touch-up paint kit along with the wrought iron patio furniture. They are easy to use if you read the directions for use, carefully. When the wrought iron surface does not have any rust, a simple cleaning is enough. Soak a small piece of cloth in the mixture of water and mild detergent and wipe the furniture with it. As you have used a mild detergent, the finish of the wrought iron will remain intact. Try to keep iron patio furniture under plastic covers so that it is protected from air and moisture.

Cleaning Tips for Plastic Furniture
Plastic furniture can be cleaned quite easily. You can clean them with dishwashing liquid and water. Dip a sponge into the water and rub it over the surface and allow the solution to stay over the surface for few minutes. Take out the dirt and debris from its crevices with the help of an old toothbrush. Rinse them thoroughly with water and leave it under the sun for drying up. A natural cleaning method can be used to clean plastic patio furniture. Prepare a thick paste of warm water and baking powder. Use a wet sponge to apply the paste all over the furniture in a thick layer. Scrub the crevices and other dirt-prone areas with a gentle hand. Then, rinse off thoroughly with water.

Cleaning Tips for Aluminum Patio Furniture
Dishwashing liquid is the best cleaner for aluminum patio furniture. Prepare a mixture of dishwashing detergent and water. Dip a clean cotton cloth into it and rub it on the surface of the furniture to get rid of the stains and soils. Rinse off thoroughly with the help of garden hose. Wipe off the water with a soft dry cloth. Then, take some high grade non-abrasive car wax and apply it over the aluminum surface using a soft cloth. When the wax is dry, buff it off to get a shiny surface. This will protect the aluminum from corrosion.

I hope this helps you understand what is the best way to clean patio furniture. Lastly, I would like to share with you two more cleaning tips for patio furniture. First, never use any abrasive cleaners or brushes for the patio furniture, as they will scratch the surface. Second, for mold removal from wood patio furniture, apply a mixture made of half cup of bleach in one gallon of water on them.