Outdoor furniture is great for entertaining and helps to create a secondary living area for your family. And GVM outdoor furniture will last for years.
But no matter how mold- and mildew-resistant your outdoor furniture may be, it still requires a bit of periodic maintenance to keep it looking great and ready for use.
The key is to use the most delicate cleaning your furniture requires, taking care to avoid causing damage.
STEP 1: A DRY SURFACE CLEANING
Begin by removing covers, cushions and pillows from the outdoor furniture.
Remove loose debris with a leaf blower, a soft-bristle brush or your hand.
Then, wipe the surface of the furniture using a soft-bristle brush or a soft, dry cloth. Be careful not to be too rough, as pushing loose debris into the surface may scratch your furniture.
Next, assess the construction and materials of your furniture, as that can help you determine the best method for performing a more thorough wet cleaning, if necessary.
This ensures you won’t potentially damage the surface with a harmful chemical or cleaning agent that isn’t compatible with the material.
STEP 2: A MORE THOROUGH CLEANING
The safest thing to use on any outdoor furniture is water, so start with a simple rinse, using a garden hose on a mid-level – not high-power jet – setting. This will loosen and remove dust and dirt left over from the dry surface cleaning.
Then, fill a bucket full of warm water and add ¼ cup of mild, unscented liquid dish soap.
Use a soft sponge, rag or soft-bristle brush to scrub away the remaining dirt. Be sure to get each side of all surfaces, scrubbing especially dirty areas as needed but avoiding pressure that might cause permanent scratches. For caked-on grime, allow soapy water to set on that spot for a few minutes to help loosen it before re-trying to wipe it clean.
(If your furniture is in a coastal or saltwater area, you’ll want to wash your outdoor furniture each week to prevent accumulated salt deposits from causing damage.)
Before the furniture dries, rinse off the soapy water to prevent water stains, left-behind dirt and soapy residue. This is easiest to do during cool, cloudy days or when the sun is low – such as early in the day or around dusk – so the high heat of the sun will not dry the soapy water before you can rinse it off.
You will want to allow the GVM furniture to completely dry to determine whether or not you want to give it a deeper cleaning. If not, you’re done! If you do…
STEP 3: A DEEPER CLEANING
Before you perform a deeper cleaning, determine what your outdoor furniture is made of. If you are unsure of the materials, check the product web site to get that information.
STEP 4: LET IT DRY
No matter the material, be sure to let your outdoor furniture dry completely.
If, after drying, your GVM furniture is due for additional treatment, move on to the next step. If not, kick back and enjoy your freshly cleaned outdoor furniture. (some text from frontgate.com)