Your outdoor space is just as important to keep clean as your indoor space, but not everyone does, especially if it’s not used year-round because of bad weather.
However, keeping your outdoor spaces clean and inviting doesn’t need to take much time, nor does it need to be backbreaking or stressful.
Instead, by utilizing low-maintenance habits and eco-friendly cleaning solutions, for example, it can help you to maintain a pristine patio, deck, and garden all year round.
Here’s a beginner’s guide to stress-free outdoor cleaning so you can enjoy your outdoor space with less stress.
Simple weekly maintenance
The key to low-stress cleaning is to prevent dirt from building up in the first place. You could start with something as simple as a weekly sweep. Use a sturdy, hard-bristle outdoor broom for sweeping leaves and debris from your patios and decks.
By doing this, you’re going to prevent organic matter from rotting, staining the surface, or causing any slips. As well as brushing down your surfaces, consider rinsing off surfaces with a hose in order to remove dirt before it becomes ingrained into the surface, making it harder to remove.
Shift your furniture and any planters every few weeks in order to avoid any mildew from growing underneath. It also helps to avoid rust stains, particularly from furniture legs.
To help with regular maintenance, clean up your spills as you go. From outdoor dining to your BBQs, it’s a good way to prevent stains and to avoid pests, too.
Natural cleaning solutions
The use of natural cleaning solutions is often a better solution than chemical ones, which aren’t safe for pets and children.
There are several natural cleaning combinations to maximize cleaning the outdoor space. These include the following:
- Vinegar and water – Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. This helps to clean patios and kill moss
- Baking soda for stains – Sprinkle baking soda on grease, oil, and tough stains, then scrub it with a stiff brush and water.
- Dish soap and water – A mild solution of warm water and washing-up liquid works very well for scrubbing patio tiles and furniture.
- Boiling water for weeds – Pour boiling water in patio cracks for a fast, free, and effective, chemical-free solution.
Gentle deep cleaning techniques
When it comes to keeping up with your outdoor cleaning, a few techniques are worth knowing about. These gentle deep cleaning techniques can achieve great results.
Scrubbing brush
Use a stiff-bristle brush with a long handle to avoid kneeling, to scrub surfaces with a cleaning solution.
Set and forget products
Making use of the right cleaner is important, especially when it comes to set-and-forget options. You apply these products and walk away. With time and rain, dirt and algae will be washed away over several weeks without any scrubbing needed.
Pressure washing gently
If you’re using a pressure washer, it’s good to use it on a low setting. Keeping the nozzle 30cm-50cm from the surface to avoid damaging the grout or soft stone in place, like sandstone, for example.
Tackling specific areas of your outdoors
Depending on your garden size and all the elements in the space, you may have to tackle specific areas to ensure everything remains clean and tidy.
For patios and paving, sweep regularly, remove any weeds, and clean it with warm soapy water. Otherwise, a vinegar-water mix is also useful. Decking should be swept in the direction of the wood grain and wiped down with a soft brush and mild soap to avoid any damage or staining.
Furniture should be wiped down with a mild detergent and wiped down with a plastic or metal cloth. Store your cushions indoors when they’re not in use. Any grills should be cleaned with a wire brush and soap after each use. You should also keep it covered to help maintain your cleaning efforts and to keep your outdoor cooking appliances in good shape.
Seasonal stress-free schedule
As part of your outdoor cleaning, it’s good to keep up with any and all seasonal cleaning. That way, you create a stress-free schedule, and when you do clean, it’s only doing the odd task to help maintain your garden throughout that season.
Instead of doing one big spring clean, it’s useful to break it down seasonally. That means less hassle and less effort.
Spring
In the spring, you should be pressure washing and deep cleaning to remove all of the winter moss and algae that have stained your outdoor surfaces. Don’t worry, these will easily come off, as long as you’re being proactive with the cleaning.
If you have a pool, then a pool service is worth doing to get it ready for the warmer weeks and months ahead.
Summer
During the summer, it’s a good idea to spot clean any stains that appear, rinsing patios especially after BBQ use. Don’t forget to keep all appliances clean to ensure they are well-maintained and last longer as a result.
Fall
During the fall, it’s good to sweep up any leaves frequently to avoid rotting from occurring. This might take a little more effort, but it’s worthwhile to keep your outdoor spaces in good condition. This is also the point at which you might want to start covering up your appliances and furniture.
Winter
During the winter, is when things are likely to get damaged if you’re not looking after them properly. While maintenance doesn’t really need to be done, making sure all furniture is stored away is helpful. It keeps the appliances and furniture protected from the harsh weather. Leaving it out to the elements is only going to cause further damage.
Keeping your outdoor space helps maintain its condition and allows you to enjoy it throughout the year, rather than just sporadically or not at all. With that being said, all of these tips are a good way of cleaning your outdoor space and making sure it’s always ready and waiting for your household to enjoy and entertain in.
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