How to Clean and Care for Your Outdoor Furniture Throughout the Year

Indulging in the beauty of the outdoors is made easy with a lounging setup in your backyard. Simply taking a seat on your outdoor furniture can help you relish all that nature has to offer—that is, if you take care of it. While outdoor furniture is made to withstand the elements, it's still not resistant to dust, dirt, mold, animals, and insects. Plus, when harsh conditions set in, especially during winter, you'll need to tend to your pieces to make sure they stay in their best condition.

"Some people are lucky enough to use their outdoor furniture all year long, and this is a nice refresh before the late fall and winter seasons begin," says Mark Feldman, the chief home officer of online décor marketplace Riverbend Home. "For others, you'll be storing your furniture in the later part of the year, and thorough cleaning will help keep your furniture looking and feeling new season after season."

How Often to Deep Clean Outdoor Furniture

You should deep clean your patio furniture at least twice a year: once in the spring before you start using it regularly as temperatures rise, and again in the fall before you put it all away for the winter. "With proper care and maintenance, your furniture should provide you with many years of comfort and pleasure in your outdoor living spaces," says Feldman.

How to Clean Wicker Furniture

This pliable weave used to make furniture is traditionally constructed from rattan, split reed, or coated paper, and is sometimes reinforced with metal. Coats of clear varnish, paint, or a combination of the two are often applied to protect the surface. No matter its formulation, outdoor wicker furniture can be cleaned following the same method.

Cleaning

Regular cleaning is recommended for wicker, as it generally cannot endure harsh or abrasive treatments. This also minimizes mildew buildup.

1. Vacuum with a dust-brush attachment or use a dry paintbrush to remove dirt and debris.

2. Clean with a mild soap and water solution.

3. Scrub with a soft-bristle brush and rinse with clean water. Avoid using too much water, which can weaken the fibers.

4. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Maintenance

Sunlight is the primary enemy of wicker. Always cover wicker furniture if you intend to leave it outside for more than two or three weeks. Sand lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to remove any peeling paint, and touch up with paint as necessary.

How to Clean Wood Furniture

Most lumbers used for outdoor furniture naturally resist decay and withstand the elements. Although sealants help preserve color and protect against wear and tear, they aren't necessary. Left unfinished, the wood acquires a silvery-gray patina and requires little maintenance—but it still should be routinely cleaned.

Cleaning

General upkeep of wood furniture requires little more than soap and water.

1. Vacuum with a dust-brush attachment or use a dry paintbrush to remove dirt and debris.

2. Clean with a mild soap and water solution.

3. Scrub with a soft-bristle brush and rinse with clean water.

4. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Stain Removal

There are a few different techniques you can use to remove stains or mildew from wood furniture.

Mildew Stains

1. Mix 1 gallon hot water with powdered oxygen bleach (never chlorine bleach) according to directions.

2. Scrub the area with a soft-bristle brush.

3. Rinse with clean water.

4. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Rust Stains

1. Sand lightly along the grain using fine-grit sandpaper, and rinse with clean water.

2. If the area is too large to sand, mix hot water with wood bleach according to directions.

3. Apply with a soft-bristle brush, and rinse with clean water.

4. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Maintenance

To protect from ultraviolet rays, dirt, and moisture, or to preserve restored color, you should seal the wood. After cleaning the furniture, apply a clear water-repellent preservative, which contains a mildewcide, or a penetrating semitransparent stain. (The pigment in the stain helps minimize sun damage.) Consult the manufacturer's instructions to learn how often to reapply; in general, you'll need to do so every one to three years.

How to Clean Metal Furniture

Metal furniture is usually constructed of aluminum, iron, steel, and other metals. Because most of these, except aluminum, are subject to rust, metal furniture is usually finished with layers of clear varnish, paint, or a durable powder coating. It should be cleaned properly to prevent the build-up of rust overtime.

Cleaning

Like more outdoor furniture, metal can be cleaned with soap and water.

1. Vacuum with a dust-brush attachment or use a dry paintbrush to remove dirt and debris.

2. Clean with a mild soap and water solution.

3. Scrub with a soft-bristle brush and rinse with clean water.

4. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Stain Removal

If you notice any built-up rust on your metal furniture, remove it with white vinegar.

1. Soak the affected area in white vinegar.

2. Let it sit for about 30 minutes.

3. Scrub with a soft-bristle brush and rinse with clean water.

4. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Maintenance

After cleaning, apply a coat of quality liquid or paste auto wax with a lint-free cloth, if recommended by the furniture's manufacturer. Use a silicone spray to lubricate swivels and glides on chairs, as well as ribs and poles on umbrellas. Inspect for rust or chips regularly, especially in hidden areas where the surface may be unfinished (even stainless steel can corrode in salty environments).

How to Clean Fabric Furniture

Material for outdoor use, often called performance fabric, is designed to resist sun damage, stains, moisture, and mildew. Solution-dyed fabric, woven with pigment-infused fibers, is less prone to fading and can handle more-aggressive cleansers than printed or piece-dyed cloth. To determine which you have, check both sides of the fabric. If they are identical, it's probably solution-dyed. Otherwise, it's printed or piece-dyed.

Cleaning

Removable covers sometimes can be machine-washed in cold water using mild, bleach-free laundry soap, and then air-dried. To hand wash,

1. Submerge the fabric in a solution of 1/4 cup of gentle liquid soap and 1 gallon of lukewarm water (do not exceed 100 degrees).

2. Swish the covers around gently.

3. Rinse with clean water.

4. Hang to air-dry.

How to Wash Outdoor Cushions

If your fabric patio furniture doesn't have removable covers, you'll have to wash the cushions using a different method.

1. Lay down a tarp or plastic sheet to protect the ground or any surfaces from getting wet or dirty during cleaning.

2. Remove any loose dirt, leaves, or debris from the cushions with a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.

3. Spot clean stains using a mixture of dish soap and warm water. (Test solution on a small cushion area to ensure it doesn't cause discoloration).

4. Scrub the stained areas in a circular motion using a soft brush or sponge.

5. After spot cleaning, rinse the cushions thoroughly with water to remove any detergent residue or remaining dirt.

6. Let cushions air dry in a well-ventilated area.

7. Once dry, fluff the cushions to restore their shape by gently patting or punching them.

Stain Removal

Stubborn stains can be cleaned with natural detergent and oxygen bleach. "First, always check the care instructions," says Alicia Sokolowski, the president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean. "Different cushion materials may have specific cleaning recommendations or restrictions. So, follow the guidelines."

1. Remove any loose dirt, leaves, or debris from the cushions with a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.

2. Mix natural detergent, warm water, and a few scoops of natural oxygen bleach. (Test solution on a small cushion area to ensure it doesn't cause discoloration).

3. Let the stain sit for 30 minutes.

4. Scrub using a soft brush or a sponge.

5. Rinse with clean water.

6. Let air dry in a well-ventilated area.

Maintenance

Regularly brush off dirt and debris and wipe spills immediately with a wet cloth and a mild soap solution. Some fabrics have a water-repellent finish (check care guide) that loses effectiveness over time. To restore repellency, clean and dry the material, and then apply a fabric protector, letting the protector dry between coats. Repeat once a year or whenever water stops beading on the surface.

Resin or all-weather furniture is generally made from plastic, either polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PE). These plastics are manufactured with a number of chemical additives, including ultraviolet stabilizers and fungicides, and can be shaped to mimic wood, wicker, and items such as woven chair straps and slings.

Cleaning

Plastic furniture can easily be cleaned following a similar method as some other outdoor furniture.

1. Vacuum with a dust-brush attachment or use a dry paintbrush to remove dirt and debris.

2. Clean with a mild soap and water solution.

3. Scrub with a soft-bristle brush and rinse with clean water.

4. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Stain Removal

Stains don't set into plastic furniture as easily as fabric or wood, making them easier to treat.

1. Mix a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part chlorine bleach.

2. Use a microfiber cloth to apply the solution to the stain.

3. Rinse with clean water.

4. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.
   

Maintenance

Sunscreen residue can discolor some plastics, so wipe furniture with a wet cloth and a mild soap solution soon after exposure.

How to Store Outdoor Furniture

No matter what type of outdoor furniture you have, we recommend covering items when they're not in use, or storing them indoors. Remove the foot caps on chairs and tables, and keep furniture upright to allow accumulated water to drain.

You can take storage a step further, depending on the season or conditions. Aside from placing covers on furniture after the fall to protect it from winter weather, move any cushions into inside environments like a garage, storage unit, or a shed, Feldman suggests. "If you do, you want to be sure to store your cushions in a tightly sealed cloth bag or airtight container," he says. In between other seasons, use a dehumidifier in the storage space to avoid mildew.