How to Clean Outdoor Patio and Deck Furniture Regardless of whether the outdoor furniture on your patio or deck is made of wood, aluminum, wrought iron, or plastic; it takes a lot of abuse from the elements including sun, rain, snow, and extreme changes in temperature. Here are some tips on how to clean and protect the furniture on your deck or patio to keep it looking like new. Wrought Iron and Metal Furniture Mix up a squirt of dishwashing detergent with a bucket of warm water. Scrub surface with a scrub brush. Rinse furniture and allow to dry. Use a wire brush or sandpaper to remove any rusted spots down to the bare metal. Wipe off any metal reside with a clean cloth dampened with mineral spirits or naphtha. Spray bare spots with a primer made for metal, such as those made by Rust-Oleum following the directions on the can (wear an approved respirator). Allow surface to dry for recommended time. Spray furniture with paint made for metal of the desired color, following the directions on the can (wear an approved respirator).
Allow paint to dry thoroughly before using furniture. How to Remove Oxidation: Option #1: Remove light oxidation by rubbing the surface with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. Option #2: Rub the surface with automotive rubbing or polishing compound to abrade away oxidation. Option #3: Clean the surface with dishwashing detergent and water using a plastic scrubbing sponge or very fine steel wool. NOTE: Try first on hidden area to see if it scratches the aluminum. All options: Rinse off the cleaning solution with a garden hose, and allow to dry. How to Prevent Oxidation: Apply a coat of automotive paste wax to the surface. Allow the wax to dry for a few minutes. Remove residue and polish surface with a clean cloth. Plastic and Molded Resin Furniture Dip a sponge in warm water, and squeeze out any excess. Sprinkle baking soda on the sponge to act as a mild abrasive. Scrub furniture with sponge. Rinse furniture with garden hose.
Allow furniture to dry. How to Remove Mildew or Mold: White Furniture: Apply a solution of one part bleach to four parts water in a pump up sprayer. Leave on for 10-20 minutes, rinse with a garden hose, and allow to dry in full sun. Colored Furniture: Apply a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar to one quart water in a pump up sprayer. Leave on for 10-20 minutes then rinse with a garden hose, and allow to dry in full sun. How to Restore Shine: Wipe off any residue with a clean cloth. How to Clean (Redwood, Cedar, Pine): Option #1: Scrub surface with soft scrub brush using special wood cleaner or brightener following the directions on container (wear protective clothing and rubber gloves). Rinse with hose and allow to dry in full sun. Option #2: Scrub with mixture of 1/4 cup ammonia and two tablespoons white vinegar in one quart water. Rinse with garden hose and allow to dry in full sun. How to Clean (Teak): Option #1: Apply teak cleaner, following the directions on the container.
Option #2: Apply mixture of 1/4 cup laundry detergent and one quart bleach to one gallon water. Allow to remain on for 10-20 minutes. Scrub with soft bristled brush and rinse with garden hose. How to Refinish Teak Furniture: Gray Patina: When left unfinished, teak will develop a natural silver patina over time. Natural Color: To retain the natural brown color of new teak, apply a special teak protector, teak oil, or teak sealer following the directions on the can. How to Clean Removable Covers: Remove covers and follow machine washing instructions on tag. Put covers back on cushions while still damp and allow to dry. Allow fabric to dry in place to reduce shrinkage. How to Clean Attached Covers: Dissolve a squirt of dishwashing detergent and a teaspoon of borax in one quart warm water. Wet down the fabric with the solution and scrub lightly with a sponge or soft bristled scrub brush. Allow to soak for 10-20 minutes. Rinse cushions using a garden hose with sprayer.
Allow cushions to fully dry. How to Remove Mold and Mildew: White Fabric: Remove mildew by applying a solution of one part chlorine bleach to four parts water. Allow to soak for 10 minutes, then rinse off with garden hose, and allow to dry in full sun. If cushions are machine washable, add recommended amount of bleach to washer. NOTE: Do not use chlorine bleach on colored fabrics. Colored Fabric: Wash in machine or soak with diluted color safe, non-chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry in full sun. You May Also Like: Martha Stewart Living Furniture Maintaining a Wood Deck NeverWet Outdoor Fabric Spray How to Clean Outdoor Patio FurnitureRefinishing outdoor furniture requires some work, but it produces lasting results. Metal chairs take paint well. That’s great for a long-lasting finish, but it makes rust and paint removal a difficult chore when it comes time to refinish the furniture. Badly rusted chairs may end up with pits and pockmarks that also need attention.
A systematic approach to the project, the right tools and a good primer make the chairs ready for a new coat of paint that will leave them looking like new. Initial Scraping You can rely on plenty of elbow grease, or go for a power assist when taking the first step in renovating iron chairs. Grinders and power drills have attachments designed for removing rust and paint from metal. Wire wheels, heavy grit sandpaper and wheels made of bonded fibers designed specifically for stripping are among the choices available. Wire wheels and stripping wheels remove the most material in a short time. Keep the tool moving so the wheel doesn’t grind into the metal. If you do not have a power tool, a stiff wire brush also removes paint and rust, but it requires manual work. Whichever method you choose, your goal should be the removal of as much loose material as possible. Attention to Details A tight radius, the joint where two iron pieces meet and inside-facing corners are tough to reach with conventional power tools or even a wire brush.
Hand held rotary tools and detail sanders equipped with stripping attachments take care of the detail work. As with larger power tools, use a light touch so you can avoid gouging the chair components. A Chemical Bath Chemicals take over and remove stubborn rust deposits and difficult-to-scrape paint chips. Most stripper chemicals count either phosphoric or hydrochloric acid among the ingredients. Some acid-free strippers are on the market, but most are limited to parts that can be soaked rather than sprayed with chemicals. Wear old clothes, rubber gloves and eye protection when using either acid-based or acid-free strippers. Work in a well-ventilated area, or preferably outdoors. Spray the chairs with the stripper and allow it to work for the prescribed time period. The rust will liquefy, so you can scrape it off with a putty knife. You may need to repeat this process a few times to get all the old rust off. Ready for Finish Wipe the chairs down with mineral spirits to remove any remnants of stripper and rust particles.