How To Clean Pollen Off Patio Furniture With Ease

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Spring is easily one of the more enjoyable seasons of the year, when the sun lingers into the early evening and flowers start peeking up from the ground. But it also marks the start of heavy pollen fall, which not only messes with your sinuses but leaves everything on your patio coated in a light green film you almost don't want to go near. Instead of avoiding your outdoor area during this otherwise perfect time of year, we've got an easy patio furniture cleaning method that takes care of the pollen. No harsh scrubbing required. Then you can get back to enjoying your outdoor retreat and filling it with outdoor patio ideas that can revamp your space.

The easiest way to clean pollen off patio furniture is by using a hand blower and a light-duty pressure washer. Pressure washers typically start at around $100 at stores like Walmart and Amazon, sometimes even less if you catch a good deal. Cordless blowers like this Geevoks 21V 2-in-1 Leaf Blower can go for as little as $30 on Amazon, making them a smart, affordable investment that lets you clean your furniture whenever needed. Regular cleanings help prevent pollen buildup, which will leave behind stains if it sits too long and even attract bugs. Plus, the longer it's left there, the thicker it gets and the more it seeps into crevices, making it harder to completely remove. 

When you're trying to get rid of the spring pollen coating your home and everything outside, the last thing you want to do is hand-wipe every piece of patio furniture. It's time consuming and you're bound to miss some spots. Instead, try using a hand blower and light-duty pressure washer. Before you begin, remove any delicate items like plants, glassware, and decor that isn't sturdy enough to handle high-pressure air or water. Don't forget to put on a face mask to avoid breathing in pollen as you clean.

Using your handheld blower, go over all areas of your patio where pollen has settled. Don't skip the corners or the hidden spots under your patio furniture as pollen loves to collect there. Once you've blown the loose stuff into the yard, grab your pressure washer and spray everything down on a light setting. The water pressure should be enough to remove any lingering pollen from the crevices of your furniture, especially items like synthetic wicker, which can be one of the more time-consuming materials to clean. Target any stubborn areas where pollen is still hanging on, then rinse off your deck or patio surface. Once everything's blown off and sprayed down, your patio should look as good as new. Depending on how long the pollen was sitting there, you might still need to spot-clean certain areas with a microfiber cloth or scrub brush, warm water, and mild dish soap. But when it comes to a fast, low-effort clean that doesn't involve wiping everything by hand, the hand blower paired with the pressure washer is really your best bet.

A hand blower and low-pressure washer beat out other methods for cleaning pollen off patio furniture because they're faster and way more efficient. Most of the pollen coating your furniture is lightweight and powdery, so using a hand blower clears away the loose stuff in seconds. Plus, you're not physically touching the pollen, which is a big win for anyone with allergies.

The low-pressure washer lifts any leftover pollen and pushes it out, even from those stubborn spots your fingers are too big to reach. It's especially helpful for removing pollen that's been sitting for a while and has turned sticky and can even remove mold and mildew off your patio furniture. Wiping, on the other hand, can sometimes press pollen deeper into materials and crevices, making it harder to remove and more likely to cause stains. Plus, when you're wiping with water, that pollen mixture can drip onto the floor, creating yet another mess you'll have to clean up.

What's more, this method spares you from constantly rinsing out a microfiber cloth every time it gets caked in pollen, something just as tedious as wiping down the furniture itself. Even if you live in an apartment, a hand blower can handle most of the job. Once you've blown away the loose particles, just follow up with a damp cloth and a quick wipe-down using warm water and mild soap, since most apartment balconies aren't equipped for renters to use a pressure washer.