Nothing jolts you into taking a fresh look at your outdoor living area faster than inviting guests over for your first patio party of the season. As usual, the get-together was my bright idea.
“We can sit outside and light the firepit,” I blurt to several business colleagues whom I was inviting over for dinner. Because they had come to Orlando for a conference from colder places, including Montana, Illinois, New Jersey and Massachusetts, I thought I would treat them to a spring evening al fresco in Florida.
Me and my big fat mouth, I think as I survey my outdoor living area and notice all that I’d been conveniently ignoring. The furniture cushions wore a layer of dust and pollen. Cobwebs hung in the candle lanterns like vestiges of Halloween. Mold and algae blossomed on the wood trim. A deserted bird nest clung in the eaves. And when did those outdoor area rugs get so tired? Weren’t they new just yesterday? I lift a throw pillow, and a lizard runs out.
“Mother Nature is hard on outdoor furniture,” says interior designer Patricia Gaylor, who splits her time between sunny Las Vegas and snowy New Hampshire, so she understands the havoc all types of weather can wreak. Sun, rain, snow, wind, dirt, mold, critters and insects conspire to decompose all things outdoors. It’s our job to beat back those elements.
I start moving the patio furniture and pressure-washing the back of the house. Next, I take the cushions off the furniture, vacuum them, hose down the furniture and wash the all-weather rattan with soap and water. I run the glass candle lanterns through the dishwasher, and replace the melted pillar candles with fresh, white (unscented) ones. I cart the deteriorated area rugs to the trashcan, then hop online and order fresh ones.
“I look at spring cleaning the outdoors as a sort of ritual,” Gaylor says. “It feels like part of the cycle of life, an outward act full of inward meaning.”
Well, that takes some of the sting out of it, I suppose.
Sarah Fishburne, director of trend and design for the Home Depot, says that in Atlanta, where she lives, “as soon as the weather turns nice, and all the leaves and pollen are done falling, I am itching to give my outdoor space a big power clean.” Now is that time.
Here’s how Fishburne and Gaylor recommend we get our outdoors warm-weather ready:
• Size up the situation. Look around your outdoor space with an unjaded eye and take inventory. See what needs to be cleaned and refreshed or disposed of and replaced.
• Start with the right materials. Make cleaning easier and replacing less frequent by choosing good-quality, weather-resistant materials to begin with. Performance fabrics like acrylic and polypropylene hold up well outside, while natural fibers disintegrate faster. Look for solution-dyed acrylic fabric, such as Sunbrella or CushionGuard, which are UV stabilized to prevent fading. “In these acrylics, the color runs through the whole yarn,” Fishburne says. “When you cut thorough a piece of regular yarn, it resembles a radish, all the color is on the outside. When you cut through solution-dyed acrylic yarn, it’s like a carrot, the color runs all the way through.” You will pay more up front, but it’s worth it, Gaylor adds. Less expensive options, such as polyester, don’t hold up as well, especially under intense sun. Other reliable weatherproof materials include marine-grade stainless steel (for appliances and cabinet hardware), recycled plastic polymers (for chairs and decking) and acrylic-fortified cement (for coffee tables and planters).
• Get the rugs right. When choosing outdoor rugs, look for ones made of polypropylene, a woven plastic material that resists weather damage, and that sheds water and dirt. To refresh outdoor rugs, shake, vacuum, suds down and hose off. As with other outdoor fabrics, regular cleaning will help rugs last longer.
• Pressure wash. Start your cleaning process by pressure-washing the outside of the house, including doors, windows, eaves, screens, patios and decking. Some professional pressure washers can wash down your exterior with solutions that have a built-in algaecide to discourage mold.
• Clean the furniture. Remove furniture cushions, and hose down chairs, sofas and tables. Get the underside, too. Vacuum up surface dirt from cushions, then wash them with a mild solution of soap and water. Don’t put them in the washing machine. Choose a sunny day and set them on their sides to dry. If you live in an area where you don’t use your patio year round, store cushions during cold months. Give them a thorough cleaning before putting them away, then they will be fresh and ready for spring.
• Go undercover. Any furnishings that take direct sun and weather will break down faster than those that stay on a covered patio. Gaylor likes to use furniture covers year round, so furniture stays clean and ready to use. Having a waterproof hamper or basket to store seat cushions, throw pillows and throws when not in use can also help keep these items clean and dry.
• Refresh planter beds. After a couple seasons of snow, sun and rain, the mulch in planter beds can start to look sad and washed out. A new layer of fresh mulch will not only make planter beds look better, but will also help keep weeds under control.
Then say, “Patio party at my place.”
Join me next week to learn how to create a great outdoor living area in seven steps.
Marni Jameson is the author of six home and lifestyle books, including “What to Do With Everything You Own to Leave the Legacy You Want,” “Downsizing the Family Home – What to Save, What to Let Go,” and “Downsizing the Blended Home – When Two Households Become One.” You may reach her at marnijameson.com.
