Clever Outdoor Cleaning Hacks
So you’ve spring cleaned the inside of your home, but that’s only half the battle. We’ve rounded up some hacks to help you tackle the outside.
How to Clean: Your Grill
What you’ll need:
- Ammonia
- Trash bags
- Rubberbands
- Rubber Gloves
The last thing you want, come grilling season, is to have all of last year’s grease and debris transfer onto this year’s round of burgers. To clean a dirty grill, pour one cup of ammonia into the garbage bag, place the grill in the bag, fasten it closed with the rubber band, and leave the solution overnight. In the morning, a light scrub and wash should render your grill squeaky clean.
How to Clean: Wood or Concrete Surfaces
What you’ll need:
- Bleach-free laundry detergent
- Water
- Bucket and scrubbing brush
- Or a pressure washer
So there’s Windex for windows, Drano for drains, and carpet cleaner for carpets, but what do you use when it comes to cleaning common outdoor surfaces, such as your wood deck or your concrete driveway? We’ve done some research and it appears that bleach-free laundry detergents, added to a bucket of water, will do the trick quite nicely.
How to Clean: Your Child’s Plastic Toys
What you’ll need:
- Dishwasher
- Detergent
Plastic toys can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria. If you’ve got small children who have the tendency to put toys near or in their mouths, you’ll want to ensure toys are as germ-free as possible. Luckily, for small toys, there’s always the dishwasher. Make sure to remove any batteries!
How to Clean: Patio Furniture
What you’ll need:
- Assorted cleaning agents (see below)
- Teak or linseed oil
- A pressure washer
To breath new life into old patio furniture, start with a preliminary clean, using agents such as laundry detergent or baking soda, (for plastic furniture), oil-based soap, (for wood, wicker, rattan or bamboo furniture). To further spruce up wood, use teak or linseed oil, and give the oil a few days to set before using the furniture. For dirty cushions, use a power washer to free stubborn stains from the fabric, or go the gentler route with a solution of dish detergent, borax, and warm water. Let everything dry in the sun to kill any remaining bacteria.
Click Here for more ways to revive tired patio furniture.
