It’s that time of the year to clean the outdoor furniture. Yikes! It comes all too soon! Make this chore a little easier by trying these methods:

For metal (many of these have intricate designs which can add to your misery): mix a generous squirt of dish liquid with warm water in a bucket. Wet the furniture with the hose. Using a nylon scrubber or plastic brush, work the solution all over the piece of furniture. Blast with the hose. Tip pieces over onto their sides to drain and dry preferably in the sunshine. Any undry areas should be toweled off.

For plastic: make the same soapy solution as for metal. Wet the furniture with the hose. For lightweight furniture, line up in front of the house or a fence to prevent them from flying all over the place. Dip a soft-bristled scrub brush into the soapy solution and clean all areas of your furniture. For stubborn stains, try an item like the Mr Clean Eraser (this is a miracle product, it works GREAT!). Hose off. Set the pieces on their sides to drain and dry.

You can apply a coat of car wax to your furniture when they are clean to repel future stains. Remember, on plastic furniture, scratches and worn areas are a magnet for dirt and grime.