How to Clean Outdoor Furniture

When it comes to learning how to clean outdoor furniture safely, the most important thing to keep in mind is what type of furniture you have. Wood furniture will require different types of cleaning solutions than, let’s say wicker. Here are a few basic tips for how to clean outdoor furniture made from all types of material:

Wooden Furniture: wooden outdoor furniture is the easiest to clean, only requiring some water, mild soap and a clean rag. Don’t use furniture polish or nay other type of sealant if you plan on staining or painting your furniture in the future.
Wicker Furniture: wicker furniture can be really hard to spruce up since it features a lot of little crevices for dirt, dust and grime to get into. The best way to clean outdoor wicker is to vacuum the dust off first using the small crevice hoses on your vacuum to get into those smaller areas your fingers can not reach. Next, take a light brush to scrub the main part of the wicker with either clear water or a specialized cleaning solution. You can use a smaller toothbrush to get into the crevices. Although it is not recommended to use a solution of bleach and water on real wicker, the new plastic wicker can be brightened up with this type of cleaning solution. Let the wicker dry in the sun a day or two before using it.
Patio Seat Cover Fabric. If your patio furniture features fabric cushions, you can either hose them off and use a slight scrub brush to clean off marks and stains, or you can try washing them in your clothes washer. Be sure the cushions are thoroughly dried before placing them back on your seats.
Whether you use your patio furniture a lot or a little, it still will need to be cleaned from time to time to keep it looking great and lasting longer. Hopefully these basic how to clean outdoor furniture tips will inspire you to tackle this outdoor cleaning job.

How to Paint Outdoor Furniture

When it comes to how to paint outdoor furniture, there are three important components to keep in mind: prep; prime; and paint. Ready to learn more? Great!

Preparation is an important key to a lasting paint job, especially when it comes to how to paint outdoor furniture to last. Some of things that need to be done to get your furniture ready for its new coat of paint is to clean it thoroughly, getting rid of any mildew; peeling off any loose paint; fixing cracks and chips; sanding rough areas and letting it dry before continuing
Priming your outdoor furniture will ensure that you do not have to redo the job in a few months. There are several different types of primer to consider using, depending on the surface you will be covering and how much sunlight it gets: latex stain blocking primer; alcohol based primer (shellac); or oil based primer. Note: do not use wall primer for outdoor jobs.
The last step is of course, painting your furniture. Use the highest quality latex or oil based paint that you can afford. While cheaper versions can look nice, they tend not to offer the same long lasting durability as more expensive varieties.
A little paint can go a long way to making your outdoor patio furniture look new and inviting. Lucky for you that learning how to paint outdoor furniture is as simple as the three P’s: prepare; prime and paint.