How to Clean Patio Furniture
Before using water to clean patio furniture, wipe or brush off any large debris like leaves or sticks. Using a nylon bristled brush, scrub off things like mud and bird droppings. After a dry brush and a wipe, use the hose to wet the rest of the grime. Have a bucket of warm, soapy water ready to clean patio furniture that has been made wet with a hose. Scrub the patio furniture again with a nylon bristled brush. Rinse the soap away to finish the job. For plastic and vinyl patio furniture, this usually completes the job.
To clean patio furniture more easily in the future take the time after cleaning it to coat it with car wax. The car wax will make the patio furniture shine nicely and will provide a barrier between the patio furniture and dirt, pollen, rain, sap, etc. Vinyl patio furniture is not a good candidate for waxing, however. Do not get the wax onto vinyl parts of the patio furniture.
To shine aluminum patio furniture, use a 1-to-1 solution of vinegar and water. This will keep the aluminum from tarnishing in the elements. Never use ammonia or baking soda on aluminum.
To clean the umbrella attached to patio furniture spray it down with a hose first. Then scrub it with a sponge and warm, soapy water. Scrub the umbrella with a nylon brush for tough stains like sap and bird droppings. Always dry the umbrella completely before storing so that it will not mold. Use wax to keep the metal portions of the umbrella easier to clean in the future.
To clean vinyl patio furniture cushions, wipe them down with a sponge and warm, soapy water. Do not allow any wax to get on the vinyl cushions (or cloth cushions, for that matter) because the wax will stain and possible disintegrate the cushions. Wash cloth cushion covers in the washing machine.
To clean patio furniture more elbow grease than special cleaners is needed. Harsh cleaners are not necessary and some could even be harmful to the color or paint of patio furniture. To clean patio furniture simple is better.
