Preparing your patio umbrellas, awnings, and other outdoor upholstery for the summer is an essential part of spring cleaning. It’s important, however, to follow the right steps to avoid damaging your outdoor furniture. Before you invite everyone over for the first party of the season, be sure to follow these patio cleaning tips to get spring ready:
Use a mild detergent
Strong detergents and cleansers can damage and prematurely fade outdoor fabrics. Look for a mild fabric cleanser such as Woolite, or make your own by diluting regular laundry detergent with an equal amount of water. You may also want to look for cleansers that are formulated for outdoor upholstery. Be sure to spot test the detergent on the fabric in a place where no one will notice before you start cleaning.
Remove loose dirt
Using a damp cloth, remove any loose dirt and debris from your awnings and outdoor furniture. To do this, place the items in a sunny spot with the fabric fully stretched out (no folds or wrinkles). Wipe down the fabric to remove all dirt and/or moisture.
Scrub the remaining dirt
Over the winter, some of the dirt can become stuck on your outdoor fabrics, or worse, mildew might have formed and left dark, wet spots on your fabric. Fortunately, most outdoor fabrics are mildew resistant, so this is rarely an issue. Nonetheless, it is important to scrub off any dirt that is stuck to the fabric.
The easiest way to do this is to soak a cloth in a mild detergent, then scrub the affected areas. After the spots are removed, rinse the area thoroughly, then allow the fabric to fully dry in a sunny place.
With these tips, you are bound to have an sparkly clean, inviting patio that’s ready for the spring!