Autumn is a great time to start “closing up shop outdoors” and preparing for the cooler weather. Cleaning the grill, the flower pots, and the outdoor furniture are all things I like to do before I store them away for the winter.
I clean my outdoor chairs and tables with a mix of 1 cup baking soda and some warm water. I wipe it on the furniture, then rinse thoroughly.
For my wicker furniture, I try and scrub it with a stiff brush that was soaked in salt water. I then leave the furniture out in the sun to dry.
At the end of the summer there are always grease stains here and there on my outdoor deck, usually from the grill, or from spilled sun tan lotion. I get rid of the stains by sprinkling baking soda on the stain, letting it sit for about an hour, then scrubbing it off with a wet scrub brush. This works very well if you clean the stains right after they happen.
I clean my grill and the racks with a baking soda and vinegar mix. First I apply it, then I rinse thoroughly. Don’t worry…vinegar and baking soda are safe to use around food!
With a 1/4 cup of baking soda and a quart of warm water, I can clean all the pool toys! This mixture also helps remove the musty smell that accumulates on them throughout the season.
I clean my outdoor screens by dipping a damp wire brush into baking soda and scrubbing. I then rinse the screens with a sponge or a hose.
I scrub dirt spots off my aluminum siding by cleaning them with a soft-bristled brush dipped in a solution of baking soda and water, then rinsing them.
My birdbath is cleaned by scrubbing it with white vinegar and rinsing well.
I also soak all of my house planters in a solution of vinegar and water. This helps get rid of the crusty rim deposits that build up on the planters.
When I am done cleaning outdoors, I store it all in the shed where it stays nice and clean for next season!
