Spring Cleaning Outdoor Furniture

It is finally warm enough to start enjoying your deck or patio again, but is your furniture ready for the season? All winter, as we retreat indoors, our outdoor furniture is getting coated with rain and grime and pollen. Once spring rolls around it is time to get out the hose and a bucket and give all your outdoor furniture a good scrubbing. Don’t be intimidated by this spring cleaning chore, we are going to walk you through every step of cleaning outdoor furniture.

Step 1: Check Manufacturer Instructions

Before you clean any of your outdoor furniture, check your user manual or online for cleaning instructions. Different furniture is made out of different products and often manufacturers will provide you with specific cleaning instructions. If they do, follow those instructions. If you don’t have manufacturer cleaning instructions, skip down to step 2 and follow our cleaning regimen.

Step 2: Hose Down the Furniture

Before you even start to clean your furniture take a hose with a sprayer attached and give all your furniture a good hose down. This will help to remove some surface particles and cobwebs.

Step 3: Scrub the Furniture

Fill a bucket with hot water and some mild soap, such as Dawn dishwashing liquid. Use a soft rag to scrub down your furniture with this combination. Pay special attention to especially dirty areas. This mild soap is safe for virtually all outdoor furniture materials but it is always a good idea to test your cleaning liquid on an inconspicuous spot to ensure color fastness.

Step 4: Hose it Off Again

After the furniture has been thoroughly scrubbed, hose it down once more. Rinse off all the soap and allow the furniture to dry thoroughly.

Step 5: Restain or Reseal if Necessary

Some outdoor furniture requires an annual reseller. If you have older wooden furniture, restraining may also be required. It is always best to do this when your furniture is really clean, so this is the perfect opportunity to do that. Make sure to follow manufacturer instructions carefully, as they do vary by product.