Our outdoor living spaces are an extension of our home, in many ways. They are the place where we host guests in the warmer months, rest with the family or grab a moment of silence away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In Idaho, we had a solid 3 months of outdoor life before it got too cold, but since moving to North Carolina, I’d say there are only 2-3 months a year where we’re NOT hanging out in our backyard. It was truly heaven. But if you don’t remember, here’s what it looked like before our DRASTIC renovation.
We started this project about 7 months after moving into this home. We designed it with entertaining in mind, complete with a pool, fire pit, outdoor living area and outdoor kitchen. We really spend so much time here! Here’s a similar angle:
Shop by the yard
And, to be honest, the furniture too. In fact, it’s been out for a whole year, discovered. It wasn’t intentional, there was just never a long enough break in use to make sense to store. However, I do think we’ll get some blankets so next time spring cleaning won’t be so intense.
All outdoor furniture is not created equal. To help us enjoy the outdoors more (and worry less about furniture), we’ve made sure to invest in high-quality outdoor furniture. Especially when it comes to upholstered furniture, you’ll want to find ones that are built to withstand the elements – all of our upholstered furniture and sunshades are Sunbrella fabric from Frontgate (the fabric color is Sailcloth Salt). We bought some really cheap outdoor furniture a few years ago, and when the cushions got wet, they stayed wet for a long time. Which made it difficult to enjoy them.
In Idaho’s dry climate, we weren’t so worried about mold growing on our outdoor patio furniture, but the wind meant we were constantly fighting dirt and dust. (Pro tip: easily accessible outdoor cushion storage is your best friend, and an annual coat of Exterior Scotch Guard, even on weather-resistant fabric, makes a big difference.)
Inspecting our furniture today after a North Carolina winter, the frames still appear to be in perfect condition. But the pillows got really green mold in the cracks. Luckily, our pillows are made of Sunbrella fabric, so they’re built to hold up to a good cleaning.
Loveseat | Ottoman | Sofa | Coffee table
First of all, you should find and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If you haven’t saved them, try pulling them online — I actually prefer this to saving manuals!
Our trick for cleaning outdoor furniture? Pressure wash everything. This is a job that’s fun and a bit mindless. We offered to pay the children to do this work. But Chris wanted it too, so I told him he could start and show them how it’s done. Parent’s tip for you: Everyone wants to do this job so we didn’t even have to offer money, ha!
People often worry about white pillows, but I’m here to tell you that the sun does wonders for outdoor pillows. It is a natural bleaching agent and will lighten any dark spots, so the spots will disappear.
Here are some more tips for caring for your outdoor furniture:
1. Prepare for the “big clean” day
As much as possible, keep your tools and cleaning supplies ready to save yourself trips in and out of the house. (When restocking wipes, sprays, and sponges, always be mindful of outdoor areas.) Choose a day to clean when the forecast is clear and preferably less humid, so the pillows dry faster.
Shop by the yard
2. Use the right cleaning products
If you are not going to pressure wash, in most cases, your favorite mild soap in warm water will be your choice. If mold is threatening your teak table or favorite fabric cushions, a few drops of added bleach may be fine (but again, check the manufacturer’s instructions). You’ll need soft brushes in various sizes (smaller ones are a little more effective with wicker and rattan), a garden hose to rinse off the soap and residue, and microfiber towels to wipe everything down when you’re done.
3. Maintenance is your friend
Prevention is key to avoiding extra work or even a patio disaster if a storm hits. Get into the habit of lowering umbrellas, flipping chairs to keep rain from collecting, using furniture covers and storage cabinets, and securing lightweight items that could be swept away. the wind. If you don’t like the look of weathered wood, apply a coat of wood oil or wax early each spring. Watch for signs of rust on exposed metal. In addition, sand, prime, repaint and protect.
Chaise Lounge | Umbrella stand | Striped Umbrella | Faux Cedar Tree
All of this may sound like a lot of work, but it’s not bad if you keep up with it. Once you’ve given your outdoor furniture a good start to the season, you’ll need to maintain it throughout the season. I like to think of patio furniture cleaning as a routine part of your home maintenance outside of your spring cleaning to-do list!