First Spring Cleaning
Begin by checking your grill. With the pleasant months of spring, you will want to be able to cook and eat outside. Make sure the gas connection is safe. To do this put some soapy water onto the connection, if bubbles form you know there is a leak. Next use a wire brush to clean the grill. After it is clean spray on some non-stick cooking spray for easier cleaning after the next Bar-B-Q. After your grill is all clean sweep your deck or porch. If there is a lot of dirt build up you may want to use your hose to remove the dirt. Next focus on windows, doors and screens. After all you want your window boxes to be clean before you fill them with beautiful flowers. Remove all screens and lay them on the driveway. Spray them with water from the hose and use an all purpose cleaner to get rid of whatever is left. Allow them to dry as you clean the windows and windowsills. You will also want to clean outdoor furniture. Plastic furniture can be cleaned with a mixture of water and dishwashing detergent, then rinsed off. This should bring back the original color and remove any dirt. To clean wicker furniture you will want to use a soft brush with water and Murphy Oil Soap. Rinse it off with water and let it air dry. If you have outdoor cushions for your furniture that are looking a little dirty. Use a spray bottle filled with water and one tablespoon of laundry detergent. Spray the solution on the dirty areas and wipe with a soft cloth. Let cushions dry completely. There are dozens of types of wood such as cedar, pine, oak, spruce, or mahogany, but the ultimate wood for outdoor furniture is Teak. Teak is very expensive, but it contains a naturally occurring oil, that makes it especially resistant to wet environments. All wood furniture is best stored indoors through the winter, and should be cleaned once or twice a year. Wood outdoor furniture is a little more work to maintain but well worth it to add that luxurious look to your yard. All outdoor furniture requires yearly care, so be sure to buy quality products and you will see them last a very long time. There are some excellent products that help lighten darkened wood, as well as oils, stains, and polyurethane coatings that can add a durable protective finish on wood furniture. When washing wood, use a mild detergent, and gently scrub and rinse with a low pressure garden hose. Iron rusts. Remembering that will drive everything you do in keeping your furniture looking good. When you wash it, check for paint damage, and the tell tale rust. If you catch this damage early, it can prevent a great deal of subsequent damage. Sand the rust off, along with the damaged paint, right down to bare metal, then prime, and paint with a rust resistant paint. When washing use a mild detergent, scrub the surface gently and rinse with a low pressure hose. Dirt, and dust on the surface will hold moisture against the paint, which will lead to premature failure of the coating. To keep your furniture in good condition, the first step is to keep it clean. The second best advice is to apply two coats of automotive paste wax, which will help keep moisture away from the surface. This may be impractical with some detailed designs, so you can also try a spray on liquid wax. This wax is not as durable, however it will easily reach into tight corners and doesn’t need to be buffed as vigorously. There are two types of aluminum furniture. Painted and not painted. The painted aluminum can be treated like any other painted metal surface. Clean it with a mild soap and water, rinse it to remove sticky soap residue, and protect it with an automotive paste wax.
Unfinished aluminum doesn’t rust, however it does oxidize. This type of corrosion actually protects the metal from the elements, however it is not nearly as brilliant as the piece looked originally. This can be rectified by using a metal polishing paste. This paste has very fine abrasives, which actually remove the oxidation.  Once polished up, protect this surface with an automotive paste wax. Bad oxidation may cause pitting which looks like small specks, however the metal polish will not be able to remove deep pitting with a light polish.  Alkaline cleaners will CAUSE oxidation, so avoid chemicals like ammonia (found in Windex), and TSP. If a piece is lightly oxidized (from pollution) try an acidic solution (1:1) of white vinegar and water.