How to Clean Your Deck and Outdoor Furniture

First things first. If your deck is looking somewhat dingy, you might consider pressure washing it. Here are quick DIY steps if you have a pressure washer—plus a CR Recommended pick if you plan to purchase one this spring. (Another option? You can rent one at a home center for roughly $40 a day.)

If your outdoor furniture has been in storage for months, you may want to give it a good wash so that it’ll look like new. First, clear dirt, mulch particles, and leaves with a leaf blower, says Becky Rapinchuk, author of “Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home: The Simple, Room-by-Room Plan for a Natural Home.” Then:

1. Use a shop vac or an indoor vacuum before you wash anything. It will suck up dirt and pollen (which can stain when wet) from chair crevices and cushion edges.

2. Remove chair/couch cushion covers and pretreat mold and mildew spots. Apply a spritz of distilled white vinegar and a sprinkle of baking soda (for up to 30 minutes). Wash, then air-dry to prevent shrinkage. For mildew stains on cushion covers that aren’t removable, try adding a solution of 1 cup bleach, ¼ cup mild detergent, and 1 gallon water to a spray bottle. Spritz it on, wait 15 minutes, then scrub with a soft-bristle brush and hose off.

3. Attack gunky areas on furniture frames with a small bristle brush. Use a gentle, natural cleanser, such as castile soap (so that you don’t kill any vegetation).

These general cleaning tips can work on several different kinds of patio umbrellas.

1. Give it a brush-off. Use a soft-bristle brush on the fabric to lift off bird droppings, leaves, and other debris. Try to get in the habit of doing this monthly so that dirt doesn’t get embedded (and require more extensive cleaning).

2. Wash it. Use the same soft bristle brush with a solution of ¼ cup mild laundry detergent and 1 gallon of warm water. Wash the fabric using gentle circular brushing, and let it sit for 15 minutes before hosing it off or rinsing with a bucket of clean water. Note: If the fabric can be removed from the umbrella, you may be able to machine wash it.

3. Air it out to dry. Set the umbrella outdoors in a sunny, airy spot to dry.

Wood and vinyl fencing and vinyl siding can get artillery or “sphere thrower” fungus, which grows in a circular shotgun-blast pattern. Tom Kraeutler, who was host of “The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show,” recommends applying a bleach-based solution and scrubbing. Or carefully use a putty knife or razor blade to remove the patches.

If oil- or grease-based stains are marring your driveway, Kraeutler suggests applying a paste of TSP—trisodium phosphate, found in the paint aisle of hardware stores—and water, and letting it sit overnight, Then use a pressure washer on the stains.