Outdoor furniture is the most important part of your patio. Most outdoor furniture is made of wood, but due to the cost factor, many are turning toward the outdoor wicker furniture. Though the outdoor wicker furniture is cost effective, you may have to take a lot of care of it. Because the outdoor wicker furniture is exposed to the strong rays of the sun, you will find that the outdoor wicker furniture may lose its luster. With a splash of good genuine paint, you can you can comfortable makeover your outdoor wicker furniture and get it to the original quality.

Outdoor wicker furniture needs a lot of cleaning and maintenance because it can easily attract dirt and other unwanted substances. If you regularly clean your outdoor wicker furniture, you will find that they will last for a longer time. There are some guidelines to be followed when you are cleaning your outdoor wicker furniture. First, always use a soft scrub brush to clean or scrub the surface of the outdoor wicker furniture. If you use a hard scrub brush to clean the outdoor wicker furniture, you may damage the outer layer of the outdoor wicker furniture.

Second, always use a good soap or detergent for washing the outdoor wicker furniture. Preferably, you should use wood oil soap mixed with water as a cleansing agent. Before you start the washing process of the outdoor wicker furniture, make sure to rinse the outdoor wicker furniture with water thoroughly. Rinsing the outdoor wicker furniture with water, will take off at least 30 to 40 percent of the dirt or mud that is attached on the outdoor wicker furniture. After you rinse the outdoor wicker furniture, make sure to use the wood oil soap mixture immediately.

If you don’t want to use the hose quite frequently, then there is another way to keep your outdoor wicker furniture clean and clear. Just protect the outdoor wicker furniture with the vinyl or plastic covers. You may have to wash the vinyl of plastic covers periodically as they too catch a lot of dust and mud. After washing the outdoor wicker furniture, make sure to dry the furniture completely. If there is moisture within the outdoor wicker furniture, then there are chances that the outdoor wicker furniture may rot.

Along with the outdoor wicker furniture, you may also need to wash the patio cushions and the patio umbrellas. Washing the patio cushions is not very difficult as most of the outdoor cushions are made from all weather materials which can be easily washed and dried. The major washing problem arises with the patio umbrellas. The enormous size of the patio umbrellas makes it very difficult to wash and rinse. Some may argue that you must wash the patio umbrellas when they are open and some may argue that the patio umbrellas must be washed when they are closed.

To wash the patio umbrellas, you will need the following:

o    A soft scrub brush

o    Mild detergent

o    Bucket for the detergent

o    Water

o    Dry cloth

You can buy all the above mentioned articles from any supermarket.

Take the patio umbrellas and wet them with water. The take the mild detergent solution on the soft scrub brush and scrub the outer and the inner surfaces of the patio umbrellas. After scrubbing the patio umbrellas, rinse the detergent laden patio umbrellas with water. Finally, take a dry cloth and wipe out the access water and then dry the patio umbrellas. If you wash the patio umbrellas regularly, you will see that the patio umbrellas remain clean and shiny.

Dirt and moisture are the two main enemies of the patio furniture and the other items. Washing the outdoor heaters may be a little difficult because of their weight and size. Cleaning such high value appliances can be done with a wet cloth if you are not permitted the wet wash of the outdoor heaters. You may also use a vacuum cleaner to clean the outdoor furniture and other items of the patio.

Maintenance of the patio is not easy. If you don’t have the time to do all the cleaning and washing, you will have to hire professional cleaners and driers who can do the job for you. Alternatively, if you have some domestic help working on a regular basis with you, then you can take the help of that person to do the cleaning and washing of the patio items.