Cleaning your outdoor furniture

Plastic
Cleaning “Plastic lasts a long time, but you need to clean it well each season,” says Christina. Start with mild soap and water. For stubborn stains or mildew, scrub with a soft bristle brush and a household cleaner. You can also purchase special cleansers for use on white plastic.

Care tip Like resin, plastic has little resistance to staining because it’s a porous material, so protect the surface with a few coats of car wax.

Aluminum
Cleaning Aluminum furniture is low maintenance, but because of its baked-on powder coating, which protects it from corrosion, you want to avoid using anything harsh on it, says Andrew. Stick to mild soap, water and a soft cloth. Any scratches should be dealt with immediately – most manufacturers supply a small tube of touch-up paint for that reason, says Christina. If your set has lost its sheen, apply a thin layer of car wax to the fi nish, says Stephanie Hauser.

Care tip Cast aluminum can stay outdoors year-round. But do store tubular aluminum indoors during winter, says Stephanie, because if moisture gets trapped inside, the metal will expand and contract with temperature changes, which can lead to cracking or peeling.

Fabric
Cleaning Use mild soap and water and scrub with a sponge. Spot-clean stains with a fabric stain remover, says Christina. You can also try a mixture of nonchlorine bleach and water for stains or mildew.

Care tip Some cushions are constructed of an outdoor drain-through foam core (for better drying) wrapped in polyester fill to maintain comfort and longevity. Although it’s best to bring cushions indoors when not in use, you
can’t predict the weather: if they get wet, lay them on their side to drain more quickly, suggests Stephanie. At the beginning of the season, spray fabric with a protector like 303 High Tech Fabric Guard, which guards against UV rays, water, mildew and stains, and helps reduce fading (though
some is inevitable).