Essential Tips For Cleaning Polywood Furniture

Polywood furniture is built to last through all types of weather. But its resilience comes with a small caveat — you must treat it right. Like all outdoor furniture, Polywood can become plagued by dead bugs, dust, and grime from the outdoor elements. Over time, you may find that your furniture has become a bit dull. But don't fret. There are a few essential cleaning tips you can follow to whip it back into shape. So, what do you need to clean this patio furniture favorite? Simple: Polywood can be cleaned easily with a good scrub down using soap and warm water.

Polywood is one of the most durable patio furniture materials you can purchase. It's a more expensive option than wood or plastic outdoor furniture, but it's also a relatively low-maintenance material — no need to use expensive cleaning products or dedicate an entire day to restoring its luster. Depending on how much furniture you have, you can expect this easy project to take anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes. Things you'll need include a water hose, a soft-bristled scrub brush, and a towel or microfiber cloth.

Start your project by adding 1/2 tablespoon of dish soap to a large bucket and filling your bucket with warm water. Remove any pillows, table accessories, or decorative items. Toss your outdoor cushions in the washing machine to freshen them up at the same time. Spray your Polywood furniture with your hose to remove dried bed bugs or caked mud. Quick tip: If you don't have a spray nozzle or run into problems with your hose, take another bucket, fill it with warm water, and pour it over the furniture to loosen hardened dirt. You can also vacuum your furniture to remove loose debris. This can make the pieces easier to clean, so you won't have to use as much elbow grease come scrub time. 

Next, dip your soft-bristle brush into the bucket and start scrubbing your furniture pieces from top to bottom. Remember that Polywood furniture is known to be a bit heavy, so be careful when turning dining chairs or loungers on their sides to clean them. It's helpful to have a thin brush on deck to reach in between the slots on the furniture. 

Once you've gone over one piece of furniture, rinse it well with your water hose. After cleaning all of your pieces, take a towel or microfiber cloth and pat them dry. And boom, you've done your Polywood furniture a great service for the upcoming season!

Sometimes old stains, like those from tree fruit or bird droppings, can be difficult to remove. If you run into this issue, consider adding bleach to your bucket of water — a ratio of one part bleach to two parts water works well. Washing the furniture with diluted bleach also helps sanitize it. Always wear cleaning gloves when using bleach to protect your hands. Go over the areas again with your brush, and rinse and dry when you're finished. Letting the bleach solution sit on tough stains can help. If you want to avoid harsh bleach, try vinegar and baking soda to remove stains. Just don't use vinegar and bleach together — the combination creates dangerous chlorine gas.

Avoid using abrasive cleaning tools or cleaners on your Polywood furniture to prevent scratching. If you use a pressure washer on the furniture, use a pressure setting under 1,500 psi with a 40-degree tip to avoid gouges in the material. Also, be mindful of the time of day you clean your Polywood furniture. This material is known to get quite hot to the touch during higher outdoor temperatures. If you're cleaning your furniture in the summer, it may be best to do so either in the morning or late evening once the sun sets.