Whether you use it year-round or seasonally, outdoor furniture inevitably gets exposed to the elements and common spills, leading to mildew, mold, and staining. The best outdoor furniture cleaners offer a powerful but simple solution to keep your outdoor furniture looking fresh, year after year, but will depend on both the type of furniture you have and what you’re looking to clean.
First, consider the material of your furniture. If your pieces contain wood or fabric make sure your cleaner is safe for use on porous materials. Likewise, some cleaners should only be used on hard surfaces like vinyl, metal, or plastics. Below, I’ve highlighted which materials each cleaner is safe for, so you can get just the right solution for your furniture.
1. Simple Green’s OXY Solve Total Outdoor Cleaner
Simple Green’s OXY Solve Total Outdoor Cleaner is a foam that safely removes stains and grime from a wide range of materials, including wood, vinyl, wicker, plastic, metal, and fabric. The peroxide-based, concentrated formula has a mild smell, making it a good choice for anyone with sensitivity to odors or strong chemicals, and since it meets the EPA’s Safe Products standards, it’s nontoxic and won’t harm nearby plants or landscaping. The 1-gallon jug (128 fluid ounces) is designed to be used with a pressure washer’s detergent hose, making it easy to apply over large areas, including hardscaping, and it will clean up to 6,400 square feet. After application and a brief wait, stains wash away with your pressure washer’s regular setting. Don’t worry if you don’t own a pressure washer, though. You can also dilute OXY Solve in a bucket and apply it manually.
2. 30 SECONDS Outdoor Cleaner
Rather than a pressure washer, 30 SECONDS Outdoor Cleaner’s 64-ounce jug attaches to a garden hose and uses a sprayer valve to apply the solution before being rinsed off. The bleach-based formula is capable of cleaning stains from algae, dirt, mold, and mildew from surfaces including wood, plastic, and vinyl, and it’s also safe to use around plants and lawns. It can be used on some fabrics and canvas, however, since the formula does contain bleach, a small, discrete section should be tested before overall application to ensure discoloration doesn’t occur. Similarly, since 30 SECONDS has an odor that some may find offensive, it’s recommended to use it in a well-ventilated area and protect eyes and skin from potential contact.