How to Clean Patio Furniture and Cushions
Toronto's outdoor season runs May through October, and patio furniture needs cleaning both when it comes out of winter storage and periodically through the season. Here's the approach by material type.
Plastic and Resin Furniture
- Mix dish soap in a bucket of warm water
- Scrub with a soft brush or cloth
- For oxidized white plastic that has turned chalky or yellowed: apply a paste of baking soda and dish soap, scrub, rinse. For severe yellowing, an automotive plastic restorer product can significantly improve appearance.
- Rinse thoroughly
Aluminum and Metal Furniture
- Dish soap and warm water applied with a soft cloth
- For powder-coated aluminum: avoid abrasive cleaners that scratch the coating
- For rust spots on steel or wrought iron: sand lightly with fine sandpaper, apply a rust-inhibiting primer, touch up with matching paint
- Rinse and dry — leaving water on metal furniture promotes rust
Wood Patio Furniture (Teak, Cedar, Eucalyptus)
- Scrub with a soft brush and a solution of dish soap in warm water
- For teak: allow to weather to a silver-grey naturally, or apply teak oil annually to maintain the golden-brown colour
- For black mould or mildew: apply a diluted bleach solution (1 cup per gallon water), scrub, rinse thoroughly
- Allow to dry fully in the sun before applying any oil or sealant
Patio Cushions
Most patio cushion covers are outdoor fabric — Sunbrella and similar solution-dyed acrylic fabrics are specifically designed to resist mould and fade:
- Brush off loose dirt and debris first
- Apply a solution of 1/4 cup dish soap and 1 cup lukewarm water per gallon of water to the cushion surface
- Scrub with a soft brush and allow to soak 15 minutes
- Rinse thoroughly with a hose — rinse until all soap is gone
- Allow to dry completely in the sun before storing or placing cushion covers back on — storing damp cushions causes mould inside the foam
- For mould on cushions: add 1 cup white vinegar to the cleaning solution — vinegar kills mould spores in fabric
Glass Tabletops
- Glass cleaner spray and a microfibre cloth
- For calcium deposits (white spots from hard water): white vinegar applied with a cloth, allowed 5 minutes, wiped off
End-of-Season Storage
Clean all furniture thoroughly before storing for winter — dirt and moisture left on furniture during storage accelerates deterioration. Store cushions indoors or in breathable fabric bags. Cover metal furniture if leaving outdoors through winter.
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