Outdoor furniture: what to wash, what to skip

Outdoor furniture is one of the easiest add-ons on a patio wash. Here's the rundown by material.

• Safe for low-pressure wash
• Skip the deck brush — it can scratch powder coat
• Cleaning solution + rinse works great

• Low pressure only, wide fan tip
• Great candidate for soft-wash chemistry — gets into weave
• Let dry fully before using

• Similar to deck rules: low pressure, with the grain
• Follow with a wood brightener if the wood is grey/weathered
• Reseal if it's untreated after cleaning

• Never pressure wash. Ever.
• Spray with a mild oxygen-bleach solution, scrub, rinse with a garden hose
• Air dry standing on edge

• Open flat on a driveway
• Low-pressure rinse, no chemicals unless mildew is heavy
• Never wash a closed umbrella — creases lock in

If you have a table and chairs set out, I'll happily rinse them for no extra charge while I'm doing the patio. Just point at them when I arrive.