We are definitely an outdoor family when it comes to the summer months. Whether it is camping in the yard , having a fire-pit in the backyard or just barbecuing with friends and family, you can pretty much guarantee we’ll be doing it.

So as you can imagine -  our backyard furniture takes quite a beating. We try to care for our backyard furniture throughout the summer to keep it ready for summer entertaining.
Sometimes the furniture just needs a stronger cleaning than a quick wash will do. What do you need for that ?  Here are some tips to help you keep your furniture in top notch condition :

Regular Maintenance is the key to keeping your furniture looking good.

• Plastic
  The most common problem with this type of furniture is scuffing. It creates dirty stains that can sometimes be a pain to remove. Most of the time you can clean it with mild soap detergent and water. For the more stubborn stains, repainting maybe necessary.
• Wicker
  Wicker is a popular choice for backyard furniture and is usually the type that needs to be replaced the most often. Make sure to hose down your furniture every couple of weeks.  If you find a deeper cleaning is necessary , you can scrub the furniture with an oil-based furniture soap.
• Aluminum
  For regular maintenance, you can use whatever dish soap you happen to have on hand. However, for a major cleaning, you might want to get a gel cleaner . Make sure that it is non-abrasive. You can also us a baby oil for further protection of the aluminum surface.
• Wrought-Iron
  Wrought iron , like Plastic backyard furniture usually can stay pretty clean with a mild soap and water. Generally you really don’t have to do much for this style if providing regular maintenance. However, if you have rust stains appear, you may need to sand the pieces and then repaint them.

The wide variety of furniture material choices can make the time we spend in our yards and patios even more enjoyable. By following the above tips, keeping your furniture covered when not in use, and providing regular maintenance, your backyard furniture will be ready for outdoor entertaining all summer long.

Image Credit – Ninehermits