Use This Kitchen Ingredient To Freshen Up Your Outdoor Furniture

If you've had your patio furniture for a while, you've probably witnessed some fading, discoloration, or other forms of damage to the material. Exposure to the elements coupled with frequent use can cause this but some TLC with the right products can restore and revive your items. It might not come to mind, but lemon is one kitchen ingredient that can help freshen up various types of outdoor furniture. 

To clean outdoor furniture, you need to use products and methods that are suitable for the material you're working with. While you can throw pillow covers in the laundry machine and wipe down plastic pieces with hot water and bleach, furniture made of wood or plant fibers will need a lot more gentleness like gentle scrubbing without water. Lemon is a good product for cleaning because it is natural and gentle when used right. One tip to use it right is to test it out on a tiny area first to see how the material responds.

Lemon is a great household cleaner because it disinfects, removes stains, cuts through grime, and deodorizes, leaving a fresh scent. It is also a budget option compared to specialized cleaners, especially when dealing with different materials, because they will all need their own. For outdoor furniture specifically, you can use lemon in various forms to tackle dirt, mold, grime, and fading. One method is to make a multipurpose cleaner by mixing fresh lemon juice, warm water, and white vinegar in a spray bottle. This versatile combination can then be used on a cloth to wipe down metal, wicker, plastic, iron, or wood furniture. If there's mold or algae on your wooden pieces, mix lemon juice and some salt and apply it to the surface, then use a brush to scrub it off. 

Lemon oil as a polish is another helpful way that you can use this ingredient to freshen up your outdoor furniture. You can do this with cane and rattan, wood, and powder-coated metal pieces. To make your own lemon oil, mix one part lemon juice, two parts vinegar, and two parts olive oil, and use a microfiber cloth to apply it on the surface. Go with the grain if you're working with wood, and make sure to clean off any excess after.