Cleaning Outdoor Furniture, Part II

Naturally finished wood furniture that becomes dulled can be brought back to life with lemon oil. Always keep some on hand.

Vinyl furniture is a good choice. It will prove to be weather-resistant, resists fading, cleans up easily and quickly.

• Once a year or twice, spread out a large expendable blanket, tarp or plastic sheeting. Use a garden hose with a pressure nozzle to eliminate any loose dirt or debris.
• Use a spray-on cleaner that contains heavy bleach. Be sure to place the furniture on the blanket, tarp or sheeting and keep the spay confined.
• Leave the furniture in the sun for about an hour, allowing the sun to bleach the vinyl and remove the ingrained dirt that has hardened.
• If necessary, use the grit side of a sponge. Spray another dose of the bleach product and rub off the dirt with the sponge.

Choose the same time of year to clean your furniture and it will be easier. If you have maintained your furniture regularly and find that it still doesn't look clean, it's probably time to donate it and get some new furniture.

But remember: perhaps all your furniture needs (after a good cleaning) is the replacement of cushions, slings or straps. Or perhaps you just need something new to get you excited about spending more time outside. There are currently many new colors and fabrics on the market that haven't been available in years past. So whether you stay with the old or get something new, I hope you'll be enjoying your back yard, deck, patio more this summer.

Handy Mobile Glue Gun

Need a new glue gun for your projects? The ColdHeat Freestyle cordless glue gun is designed for crafting of all kinds as well as light home repair. It is truly cordless, featuring a long-life rechargeable battery--not just a few minutes of retained heat use like some other so called cordless guns. I've tried it and really like it. For more details, visit www.coldheat.com.

June Quick Links

June's Decorating Tips
Four Remodeling Tips
How to Create a Mood
How to Clean Outdoor Furniture, Part I
Getting Replacement Windows
List of Other Free Tips

Barbara Jennings

Barbara Jennings is one of the foremost authorities on interior redesign, home staging and art consulting. She trains entrepreneurs from all over the world through her online tutorials and courses. Author of 9 books for the decorating and design field, she is widely respected for her expertise and affordable training programs, customer support and on-going mentoring services.

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