Cleaning Outdoor Furniture

Cleaning Outdoor Furniture

TOM: Want to remove a winter’s worth of dirt and grime from your outdoor furniture? Here are some tips for cleaning outdoor furniture. Hi, I’m Tom Kraeutler.

LESLIE: And I’m Leslie Segrete with today’s Money Pit home improvement minute. To get ready for relaxing outdoors, start by freshening up your outdoor furniture.

TOM: For plastic furniture, mix a little dish soap, some Borax, and a half cup of peroxide into one gallon of water. Let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and use to scrub all your plastic outdoor furniture with a nylon brush before rinsing it well. Just test a small area first to be sure the peroxide doesn’t react with the furniture.

LESLIE: For wood furniture, oil the wood surfaces with a sealant or preservative that’s appropriate to the material. You can then clean the furniture a couple of times a month with oil soap.

TOM: For metal furniture, use soapy water and elbow grease. Remove any rust or stains with sandpaper. Then, be sure to touch up bare metal with a primer first, followed by a good-quality spray paint. Your newly finished furnishings will give you years of continued enjoyment. I’m Tom Kraeutler.

LESLIE: And I’m Leslie Segrete.

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