How to Clean Outdoor Wood Furniture

Cleaning Outdoor Wood Furniture

• 1

  Use the dry brush (a vegetable brush from your kitchen works best) and scrub the furniture down. A dry brush will remove any dust, debris that needs to come off of the furniture. Scrub the bottom of the furniture as well as this is where you will find cobwebs. If there any scratches or chips in the wood, use sandpaper and lightly sand the areas.

• 2

  Use the garden hose and rinse off the furniture. Pay special attention to anything that was not removed by the dry cloth cleaning. This will loosen anything up that will be cleaned in the next step and will help you to apply the soap without drying.

• 3

  Fill the bucket with warm water and dish soap. Saturate the clean cloth in the warm, soapy water and wipe the furniture thoroughly. Clean a small area at a time, frequently getting more soapy water. Turn each piece over and clean the bottom as well. If there is mold present, mix a half cup of bleach with one gallon of water in a separate bucket. Scrub off mold with the scrub brush and then go over it with the soapy water.

• 4

  Rinse the furniture thoroughly removing all traces of soap. You may want to use a pressure washer. Use the pressure washer on the lowest setting to prevent any damage and to clean any residue that could not be removed with soap and water.

• 5

  Dry the furniture thoroughly. Use a clean cloth to completely dry the furniture. If you notice any dirt or mold that did not come off completely, repeat the steps above. Let the furniture sit out in the air to dry in the spots that you could not get to and to get rid of any bleach smells.

• 6

  Finally, protect your furniture during the season by using an oil specially formulated for wood furniture. Look for teak oil or use a coat of stain or polyurethane. You can also use vegetable oil or even baby oil for protection.