(Newswire.net — June 23, 2020) — Your patio, like so many other things, needs a little up-kept every now and again. If you simply haven’t had the time, that’s understandable. Now that patio season is in full bloom, it might be time to roll up your sleeves and show your patio the TLC it deserves. Naturally, before you get started, it always helps to have a plan in place. Often, people are at a loss when it comes to keeping their patio furniture and accessories looking like new. Some may even resign themselves to thinking it can’t be done, and buying new stuff every year is just par for the course. If you’re not made of millions, replacing expensive outdoor furnishing might not be an option. What can you do? The answer is rather simple. There are at least five things you can do to keep your patio on point and have everything looking new.
Spring clean-up
Let’s be honest. Spring cleaning is never fun—no matter how convincing you sound when you tell the kids it is. The reality is spring clean-up is a must, whether we like it or not. The first thing you can do to make your patio the coolest on the block is to get back to the basics and start with a spring clean-up. A few easy spring cleaning tips that never go out of style include clearing the debris (dirt, leaves, overgrowth, etc.) from your patio and other areas. In fact, a prime spot to tidy up is around the perimeter of your patio. This does include the gutters, so if you’ve noticed your gutters look like they have started their own ecosystem, don’t be afraid to grab the ladder and clean it out. Not one for heights? There are several ways to clean out your gutters without using a ladder. Thus, once the gutters are sorted, check out your fence. If your fence could benefit from a power washing, then go right ahead. While spraying your fence, if you happen to come across any minor repairs that need your attention, you don’t necessarily have to get right on that, but at some point, you should. After the fence, don’t rush to put up that power washer just yet. You can gently spray down the windows or other areas that could use a good cleaning, too.
Keep patio accessories covered/protected
Now that you’ve got your patio in tiptop shape, you may want to invest in some patio covers. Phoenix actually has amazing patio cover retailers if you don’t know where to purchase them. With that being said, if you already have patio covers, then make sure you use them. Large covers and shades are great for keeping your patio area cool. Moreover, patio shields keep your precious outdoor accessories safe from the elements as well. Open up that retractable awning and add some flowy curtains to your pergola—your furniture and your laptop that you forgot out on the patio last night will thank you for it. Besides utilizing patio covers, try spraying down your outdoor furniture with a UV fabric protection spray. Generally, UV fabric protection sprays are kid/pet-safe and can be used on most outdoor fabrics like cushions, rugs, and more.
Store home decor
In addition to keeping everything nice and protected, when you and your friends call it a night, don’t leave the cushions out and the decorative lights on. Instead, take an extra five minutes, and put fragile items away or turn them off so they will work another day. If your outdoor furniture doesn’t have built-in storage compartments, consider investing in some extra patio storage. Furthermore, you’re not alone if you can’t always remember to turn off your decorative lighting. Instead of beating yourself, maybe shop around for some affordable solar power lights, so you don’t have to remember.
Invest in easy-to-clean furnishings
Since you’re already browsing the Internet for affordable solar-powered lighting and flowy pergola curtains, you might want to check for any patio furniture sales while you’re at it. You don’t need to replace all your outdoor furnishing here. Instead, just keep an eye out for inexpensive, easy-to-clean furnishings. Generally, easy-to-clean patio furniture is made of resin wicker or even chic-looking yet durable plastic. Having furnishings that you can simply wipe down is the bee’s knees. Nevertheless, if you prefer a more high-end look, then consider a few wrought-iron pieces. Wrought-iron or aluminum tables and chairs can class up your patio and typically aren’t that hard to clean, nor do they become discolored after too much sun exposure. Furnishings made of cast aluminum and tubular aluminum are also excellent options worth considering when you need to replace or add some patio furniture.
Tidy up after each use
Last but not least, the easiest way to keep your patio looking on point year-round is to tidy up after each use. Wipe down the table and chairs, clean the grill off, throw out the trash, get rid of any burnt wood in the firepit—you know the drill. Nevertheless, it might be a little unrealistic to make sure you thoroughly clean your patio after each use, especially if you’re out there every single day. If your Spidey senses tell you there’s no way you’re cleaning your outdoor space every couple of days, then try to schedule a clean-up day every two weeks. This, of course, can be a light cleaning. It’s perfectly fine to save the deep cleaning for a special occasion/backyard event or spring cleaning next year. Here, the point is really just to get in the habit of maintaining your patio, so that the thought of next year’s missed spring cleaning day doesn’t paralyze you with fear. Ultimately, with these simple suggestions, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to keep your patio clean and on point.