Outdoor Patio Furniture Cleaning Tips

I don't know about you, but personally I don't like cleaning very often. So when I purchased my outdoor patio furniture set, I went with something that is easy to clean. How do you clean your outdoor patio furniture?

Cleaning Outdoor Patio Furniture by material:

1. Aluminum: Sometimes mild soap and water can do the trick, rinse the soap residue off completely when finished. Aluminum doesn't rust, however, it can oxidize. This is actually good since it protects the aluminum from the elements, but it leaves the furniture less than shiny. Use metal polishing paste to gently wipe down the furniture.
2. Outdoor Wicker: Here you must be very gentle. Use a vacuum / dust buster to rid of any dust or dirt. Then wipe down gently with a cloth wet with mild detergent and water. Don't use a hose or high pressured items.
3. Resin: Resin is very durable and covered with a lacquer to protect it from stains, since it it porous. It's wise to clean before stains occur. You can protect with automotive paste wax.
4. Stainless Steel: You can purchase a stainless steel cleaner for stains, but mostly a wash cloth with soap and water should do. Use glass cleaner for fingertip stains.
5. Teak: Teak is a very expensive wood since it contains a naturally occurring oil in it that makes it resistant to wet environments. When cleaning use a mild detergent and gently hose down.
6. Wrought Iron: For general cleaning, usually a wash cloth with soap and water should do. For more intense rusting, you can slightly sand it down then clean. Contact the manufacturer for more details if re-touching is needed.

All in all, there are great ways to clean your furniture, but there is an easier 1..2...3 solution to cleaning your outdoor patio furniture, and that is covering it to protect it from intense damage. Once you decide on the material and the style, purchase your outdoor patio covers right then and save yourself the trip, hassle and damage down the road.