Patios and decks are no longer considered as such. Rather, these days they are referred to as “outdoor living spaces.” In some cases the term is warranted, especially if your patio is rocking a $25,000 built-in fire pit and a full kitchen complete with mini fridge, gas grill and marble countertops.
Regardless of whether your outdoor entertaining space is filled with fancy furniture or simple white plastic patio chairs, it needs to be cleaned from time to time. With the busy summer months just a few weeks away, now is the time to clean and disinfect.
While it may be tempting to hose down all of your outdoor furniture or whip out a can of Lysol and go to town spraying everything, you’re better off using products that are designed to clean the material your furniture is made out of. For example, if your table and chairs are made from aluminum, then purchase a cleaning product that is safe to use on the material. This means avoiding cleaners that contain ammonia. If you can’t afford to buy commercial cleaners, then use water and liquid dishwashing soap, and then finish with a coat of car wax.
To clean table umbrellas combine water and household bleach solution in a spray bottle. Then, place the open umbrella on the driveway and spray the bleach solution all over it taking special care to saturate the crevices. Finish by rinsing with a water hose and leaving the umbrella open to dry.
If you have cast iron outdoor furniture you will need to check for rust on a regular basis. If you notice rust marks, sand down the piece, and then use primer and cover the area with paint that is rust-resistant. The paint should also say that it is safe to be used on exterior surfaces.