Complete Guide How To Clean Outdoor Furniture

Regularly cleaning is important for every aspect of your home, especially your outdoor furniture, which has to brave the elements, dust, pollen, and more daily. To keep your garden oasis or backyard bar-b-que ready, check out how to keep your outdoor furniture looking fantastic for years to come.

How Often Should I Clean Outdoor Furniture?

Unfortunately, there is no clear answer on how often you should clean your outdoor furniture. It all depends on your environment, how well you protect it between uses and your type of furniture. If you use your outdoor furniture less frequently, you may want to clean it before each use. However, if you use your outdoor patio furniture daily, then you should consider performing regular maintenance.   

This is a typical maintenance schedule:

• Wipe down with a soft, damp cloth, soft bristle brush, or new soft paintbrush daily or several times a week. 
• Cleaning with water and a small amount of soap quarterly. 
• More thorough cleaning as needed. 

How to Clean Outdoor Wood Furniture

No matter your wooden outdoor furniture, you can use the same process. To regularly protect and renew your patio furniture, you should wipe it down with a soft cloth to help remove excess water, dirt, and debris. Depending on its condition, you may need to sand your wooden furniture down and re-stain or seal it once every few years. 

Regular maintenance on wooden furniture:

1. Remove any coverings or pillows. 
2. Wipe down or brush off your furniture from dirt or debris with a soft cloth, soft bristle brush, or new paintbrush. 
3. Get a bucket of warm water and add a small amount of mild soap.
4. Get a soft cloth, wet it in your soapy water, and wring it out to use the smallest amount of water to wipe down your wooden furniture in light circular motions. 
5. You can use an old toothbrush or nylon scrub brush if there are any stuck stains or dirt.
6. Use a separate damp cloth to wipe away any extra dish soap.
7. Dry completely by wiping away as much water as possible and setting in the sun, if needed. 

How to Properly Clean Your Outdoor Wicker Furniture

Although wicker furniture is wooden construction, it is made from woven fibers, and it does need to be treated slightly differently than thicker wooden furniture. The primary difference is to use less water and keep out of direct sunlight, as both can weaken the fibers. If you aren’t using your outdoor wicker furniture daily, you will want to cover it up to protect it.  

Regular cleaning of wicker furniture:

1. Remove any coverings or pillows. 
2. Wipe down or brush off your furniture from dirt or debris with a soft cloth, soft bristle brush, or new paintbrush. 
3. Get a soft cloth, wet it, and wring it out to use the smallest amount of water to wipe down your wicker furniture.
4. You can use an old toothbrush or nylon scrub brush if there are any stuck stains or dirt.
5. Use a separate damp cloth to wipe away any extra dish soap.
6. Dry completely by wiping away as much water as possible. 

Cleaning Your Outdoor Metal Furniture 

Metal outdoor furniture can rust if not correctly cared for, especially in areas that may not have been adequately treated. To care for your metal furniture, you will want to wipe it down regularly, but you may also need to sand off any rust and re-seal the metal over time. 

How to clean your metal furniture:  

1. Remove any coverings or pillows.
2. Wipe down or brush off your furniture from dirt or debris with a soft cloth, soft bristle brush, or new paintbrush.
3. Get a bucket of warm water and add a small amount of mild soap. 
4. Get a soft cloth, wet it in soapy water, and wring it out to wipe down your metal furniture. 
5. You can sand it off with fine-grit sandpaper if you have any rust.
6. Re-wash with soapy water as needed.
7. Use a separate damp cloth to wipe away any extra dish soap. 
8. Dry completely by wiping away as much water as possible and setting in the sun, if needed. 
9. Apply any touch-up paint or manufacturer sealant (if you sanded the furniture). Apply several coats but allow it to dry completely between applications. 
10. Apply automotive wax to seal it further.

How to Clean Plastic and Hard-Resin Outdoor Furniture 

Plastic or hard-resin outdoor furniture can get stains or grime buildup on your furniture. As such, cleaning them regularly with a damp cloth is best to prevent any buildup. You will want to refrain from using bleach, chlorine, or other harsh chemical cleaners, but these will break down the plastic over time and ruin your furniture.    

The best way to clean plastic furniture is as follows:

1. Remove any coverings or pillows.
2. Wipe down or brush off your furniture from dirt or debris with a soft cloth, soft bristle brush, or new paintbrush.
3. Get a bucket of warm water and add a small amount of mild soap.
4. Get a soft cloth, wet it in soapy water, and wring it out to wipe down your metal furniture. 
5. If you have stains or are stuck on grime that isn’t coming off with the mild soap, you can sprinkle baking soda on a wet sponge and try to rub off the stains. 
6. Re-wash with soapy water as needed.
7. Use a separate damp cloth to wipe away any extra dish soap. 
8. Dry completely by wiping away as much water as possible and setting in the sun, if needed. 
9. Apply automotive wax to seal it further.

Washing Covers and Cushions for Your Outdoor Furniture

Refer to any tags or instructions for your covers and cushions first. Those are specific to the exact model you have, but if your tags and instructions are long gone, you can easily wash them in a sink, tub, or outside the bucket. 

How to wash covers and cushions:

1. Turn the covers inside and remove any pillows or foam from the cushions. 
2. Please put it in the sink, tub, or outside the bucket.
3. Add cool water to the tub and a small amount of mild soap.
4. Gently agitate the covers in the water, moving them around and scrubbing with your hand any areas that need more attention. 
5. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
6. Flip them correctly and allow them to air dry thoroughly before placing them back on the cushions or over furniture.  

Storage Options When Not in Use

No matter how many days you won’t be using your outdoor furniture or the season, it would be best if you properly store it to prolong the life of your furniture. You can keep the furniture outside with a proper cover if the weather is nice. If the weather is less than ideal or you plan to store the furniture for longer, you may want to put it in the garage or storage shed.