Patio furniture cushions are really made specifically for outdoor use. But they can still get dirty especially with mold and mildew if left out in the patio for months. Cleaning them is a good way to preserve and lengthen their life.

Before Cleaning

Check out if there are any particular instructions from the manufacturer on how to clean your patio furniture cushions. There are types of cushions that you can just throw into the washer to be cleaned. There are also other types of cushions that need special cleaning agents to be cleaned.

Cleaning Materials

The following items are needed in cleaning the patio cushions:

- Clean water
- Warm water
- Scrub brush or an old toothbrush
- Dish detergent
- Towels
- Baking soda
- Commercial fabric protector

Basic Ways to Clean Them

1. Take out the patio furniture cushions from the furniture and lay them on a flat surface.

2. Simply wipe the cushions using a damp towel for the surface dirt to be removed.

3. Make a solution consisting of one teaspoon dish detergent and warm water. Get a scrub brush or an old toothbrush and dip it into the solution. Use it to scrub the front and back sides of the patio furniture cushions in a circular manner.

4. Rinse the cushions thoroughly using clean water. If there are still visible stains on the cushions after you have done step number three, then you need to use another cleaning solution. Make a solution consisting of two parts baking soda and one part water. Dip in the solution your scrub brush and scrub the area where the stain is visible. Do it in a circular manner until the stains are gone. Rinse the patio furniture cushions thoroughly and let them air dry.

5. Once the cushions are already dry, it is best to spray on them some fabric protector. Not only will your patio furniture cushions be protected from severe dirt and stains but the next time you will clean them it will be a lot easier.

Tips

- Never use any kind of bleach while cleaning the cushions. Place back the cushions to their proper places only when they are totally dry and not damp anymore.

- Remember to occasionally flip the patio cushions from one side to the other.

- When it’s time to store your patio furniture cushions especially in winter time, do not wrap them in plastic. Without air circulation, mold and mildew will grow on the cushions. Make sure that you store them only in a cool and dry place.

Because patio umbrellas are exposed constantly to outside factors such as heat, dirt and other elements, it is little surprise that these important fixtures can become quite dirty. All you need to know now is how to clean and maintain them properly. This is a moderately easy job at hand, especially when equipped with the right materials and information. You will be able to enjoy a comfortable and enjoyable time outside by learning how to clean your patio umbrella.

Materials Needed to Clean a Patio Umbrella

To accomplish this moderately easy task, you only need some important tools and materials.

• First, you will need to get a bucket.
• Second, get a hose to make the cleaning process easier.
• Third, prepare a dependable mild detergent for the removal of stubborn dirt and stains.
• Fourth, find an old blanket that can be used as protective surface to prevent the umbrella from touching the ground.

Once you have these things, simply follow these quick and easy steps.

Steps to Clean Patio Umbrella

Before cleaning the patio umbrella, you need to create a protective surface where you can lay it down. For this, you can use an old blanket. If none is available, you can use other alternatives such as a tarp or a bunch of worn out towels. The protective surface must be bigger than the umbrella to guarantee that no part of it touches the ground.

Once the protective surface is set, open the umbrella and then place it at the top of the old blanket. Attach the hose to a reliable water source and then try to wet the umbrella. If no hose is available, use a bucket instead to wet the umbrella. Having a second person to assist can really make this task much easier. Ask that individual to hold the umbrella in order to avoid it from rolling off from the protective surface.

Get the bucket and fill it with warm, clean water. Put in some mild detergent, preferably a laundry detergent or dishwashing soap. The next thing to do is to scrub the umbrella. To do this, use a soft sponge or cloth. Dip the fabric right into the soap solution and then, use it to scrub the dirt off the umbrella. For stubborn stains and dirt, it is advisable to put your free hand at the opposite side of the part that you are brushing.

After scrubbing, get some clean water and then rinse off the soap until there are no more residues of soap left. Once the umbrella is entirely clean, let it stand under direct sunlight and wait for it to dry.

Cleaning rugs is a truly tricky task. Purchasing commercial floor shampoos can cost people a lot of money. The same thing also goes for buying steam-cleaning machines. Of course, it is highly important to keep your rugs clean in order to prevent the buildup of dust, dirt and odor. One of the proven methods against dirty rugs is steam cleaning. Help yourself have neat-looking and well-maintained rugs by knowing how to steam clean rugs.

Materials Needed

A moderately easy project, the process of steam-cleaning rugs usually requires a number of important materials. At some point, you will need a couple of towels, soap and brush. In addition, prepare a large bowl, warm water and vacuum cleaner. Once you have gathered these important items, you can immediately proceed with these easy-to-follow steps.

Steps

Prepare the rug for cleaning. Get a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner and then use it to scrub out debris and remove dirt from the rug. Try to concentrate on areas that you need to clean. This step is important especially in removing particles found at the surface, which will leave you with ground-in soil to work on. Pour warm water into the bowl. Bring in a bar of soap as well. In addition, get a plastic brush for scrubbing purposes.

Place the brush, soap and warm water next to the dirty rug. Be sure that the water is warm enough to produce more foam for better cleaning. Hold the brush on one hand and then rub it on the soap. After that, dip the brush in warm water. Repeat these steps continuously until it forms a thick wet soapy coating. When choosing the right kind of soap, select something inexpensive because it is enough to get the job done.

Scrub the soapy brush right onto the dirty rug. It is important to scrub the dirty parts well in order to remove stubborn dirt and unsightly stains effectively. Use a clean bath towel over the scrubbed area. Apply some pressure on the towel, which you can easily do either by pushing it by hand or by stepping on it with your feet. This will make deep-seated dirt come off the rug and onto the towel. The transfer of dirt into the towel is easily recognized.

Repeat the towel-stamping and soap-scrubbing method until the whole rug is clean. To rinse the rug, scrub with warm water and then dry with the second piece of towel. When there is no more dirt coming off the towel, it means that the rug is completely clean. Let it dry completely before using. This step may take a number of hours or even overnight.

Primarily made from ceramic materials, bricks are widely used for pavements, houses and buildings. Many people find them suitable for construction because of their innumerable good qualities. These include satisfactory porosity, high melting point and impressive thermal shock resistance. More importantly, they provide buildings a uniquely beautiful appearance. Despite these advantages, they are more likely to acquire stains and dirt. To solve these problems, it is important to know how to clean brick.

Materials Needed

This particular task can be classified as moderate in terms of difficulty level. The materials for cleaning outdoor bricks are somewhat different from the items necessary for maintaining indoor bricks. To clean outdoor bricks, you need the appropriate cleaning solution, broom and rubber gloves. Likewise, you must also have a garden hose, preferably one that has an attachable spray nozzle. For indoor bricks, prepare a bucket of water, rubber gloves as well as a stiff wire brush. Additionally, get some newspapers and a cleaning solution.

Steps

Before cleaning, wear a pair of gloves for hand protection. In case you are about to clean a brick fireplace, use newspapers to cover the surrounding floors. If the bricks need little cleaning, get a broom and then use it to remove loose dirt and dust. Moisten the bricks with water and then gently scrub them. Rinse and wipe them dry afterwards. Be sure to clean all of the bricks without leaving anything behind.

In case the bricks require moderate cleaning, you may need to exert a little more effort. Get the broom and then remove loose dust and dirt. Soon after, moisten the bricks with water and then slowly apply the right cleaning solution. Scrub each block until the entire wall or flooring is clean. Once the bricks are clean, rinse them carefully until there are no more traces of the cleaning solution.

Before treating stains, you must remove debris, dust and dirt from the surface first. Purchase a special stain treatment solution, preferably one that is designed specifically for use in bricks. Slowly apply the solution right onto the stains and then rinse thoroughly.

Additional Tips and Other Helpful Information

When the bricks are maintained regularly, there is really no need to conduct heavy cleaning. Instead, light and regular cleaning is necessary to have stain-free, neat looking and beautiful bricks. In addition to the procedures mentioned above, it is good to clean such materials using a special cleaning solution comprised of ¼-cup baking soda, ½-cup vinegar and a cup of ammonia. Add these ingredients in a bucket filled with hot water. Apply this special cleaning solution and be able to enjoy beautiful bricks.

We all invest a lot of money on our home especially on our furniture. This makes cleaning upholstery and fine furniture quite sensible. Taking time to clean these cherished pieces of furniture gives you the assurance of being able to enjoy them longer. Keeping them clean on a regular basis will increase the life of your upholstered furniture. Cleaning upholstery will only require a few basic cleaning items and bit of careful effort.

Needed Equipment

You will need the following basic things in cleaning upholstery and furniture. You’ll need cleaning cloths, one or two electric fans, detergents, dusting brushes, plastic bucket, a vacuum cleaner, plastic scrapers, and a vacuum brush attachment. These will come in handy for basic dirt accumulation on your furniture. However if the stains have stuck real good or if the upholstery shows signs of discoloration or shrinking then you might want to call professionals to their job.

How to Clean Upholstery/Furniture

Go over the following steps in cleaning upholstery and upholstered furniture. The first step to clean upholstered furniture is to remove all loose cushions. It doesn’t matter if you’re cleaning your love seat, sofa, couch, or even your favorite chair. You must remove any and all loose cushions and other attachments before you begin cleaning your upholstered furniture. Cleaning will just be made less complicated if you do.

The next step to clean any upholstered furniture is to loosen up any dirt or stain you can find. Use a dusting brush in order to get things done easier. Bring out your vacuum cleaner to remove any dirt that has been shaken off. You should also attach a brush attachment to your vacuum’s hose to help get rid of any loosened dust particles.

Be sure to vacuum all sides and surfaces of the upholstered furniture you’re cleaning. Once you’re done with your main furniture, it’s now time to vacuum the attachments and loose cushions you removed earlier. Reattach these onto your furniture when you’re done.

Here are the steps to cleaning upholstery with deep-seated dirt or stains that brushing and vacuuming alone can’t remove. Using an electric mixer, whip up a cup of warm water and a fourth cup of detergent until it foams. Grab some of this dry foam and apply it to an inconspicuous section of your furniture. If color fading or shrinking occurs, then it’s time to call a professional cleaner to remove deep seated dirt or stains. If none of these occur then apply this to the stained spots or deep seated dirt.

Use a cleaning cloth to rub the suds onto the stains/deep seated dirt. Use a plastic scraper to remove the dirty suds. Rinse the area you cleaned with a damp piece of cloth. Dry your furniture overnight with a fan blowing over it. These are the basic steps to follow when cleaning upholstery and other furniture.