Home Exterior Tips

Cleaning Patio Furniture

• White plastic furniture - Use dishwasher soap to clean - this type of soap usually contains bleach.  Mix about 3 teaspoons of soap to 1 gallon of warm water.  Wash the furniture, rinse well, and let the sun dry it.  Make sure you keep the soap off the grass or plants.  The bleach may kill them.  Make sure you rinse very well if it happens.
• Colored plastic furniture - Use non-bleach liquid dish soap.  Make sure you rinse very well and turn the furniture upside down to dry.
• Cushions - Make a mixture of 1 tsp dishwashing liquid, 1 qt of water and 1 tsp of borax and pour into a spray bottle.  Completely cover the cushions on all sides with the solution.  Let the cushions sit for at least 20 minutes.  Spray the cushions with the garden hose to completely remove the dirt and solution from the cushions.  Let them dry.  Don't forget to spray them with fabric protectant to help in the future.
• Wicker - Vacuum the wicker furniture first to remove any loose dust and debris.  Wicker can be washed with a solution of 2 tablespoons ammonia per 1 gallon of water.  Using a stiff brush or a toothbrush to remove any dirt in the crevices.  Be sure to rinse well and allow to dry out of direct sunlight.
• Aluminum furniture - Clean with with mild soap and water and then use a paste wax on the aluminum to prevent pitting.

Cleaning the Grill

• Tightly wrap the grate in heavy duty aluminum foil with the shiny side against the grate and place on a hot grill for at least 15 minutes - the dirtier the grill, the longer it need to be heated.  When the grate is cool, remove the aluminum foil.
• Wrap the grate completely with paper towels.  Slide the grate into a garbage bag large enough to enclose the grate and saturate the towels with ammonia.  You can use a spray bottle or pour the ammonia in the seal the bag and gently tilt the bag so the ammonia will run through and cover all towels.  Let the sealed bag soak overnight.  When opening the bag, keep away from your face - the fumes will be strong.  Wash the grate in hot soapy water.
• The rack can also be cleaned with oven cleaner.

Windows

• Washing windows out of direct sunlight is best.  The sun will dry the cleaning solutions faster than you can wipe it off.  Therefore, working on an overcast, but not rainy, day is best. 
• Begin by sweeping the frame and track with the vacuum cleaner.  If the dust in the track become wet while cleaning, it will be even harder to remove.  Next, spray the cleaner onto the glass and wipe from side to side.  When you wash the other side of the glass, wipe in an up and down pattern.  This way, if there are any streaks, you will know what side to wipe again.  Use a cotton swab to get the corners if needed.
• A squeegee is probably gets the best results, less streaking.  Microfiber, paper towel, newspaper, or a chamois cloth can also be used - any material that is absorbent but won't leave lint.

Screens

• Cleaning screens is simple.  Remove the screen, lay them on an old sheet on the grass, and gently scrubbing them with a cleaning solution.  Baking soda seems to work great.  Make sure you scrub both sides, including the frame, then rinse with clean water.  Stand them upright to dry while you wash windows.  They should be dry by then, but, if not dry with a clean dry cloth.

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