By PAM SHERBORNE
For The Tennessean

Spring cleaning isn’t just for inside your home; outdoor furniture needs some seasonal TLC, too.
Fortunately, it’s not as hard as you think. Experts agree, a good old mixture of soap and water is often the way to go.

“The best way to clean all of the furniture we sell is with warm water and a household detergent,” says Allen Bowen, manager of lawn and garden at Lowe’s on Nolensville Road. Lynn Franklin, owner of Lynn’s Patio Shop and Casual Furniture in Hendersonville, concurs.

“You can use dishwashing detergents and laundry detergents,” Franklin says. “And with a medium-strength brush, that’s about all you need.”
Even so, there are some tricks of the trade to keep your outdoor furniture looking good throughout the season and year after year.
WROUGHT IRON AND ALUMINUM
Both clean well with soapy water and a brush. Try fine steel wool or sandpaper to get rid of rust on wrought iron. For touch-ups, use an oil-based paint, which can protect against rust or corrosion. A car paste wax is good for protection and restoring shine, but Franklin warns not to use it on cast aluminum, which looks like wrought iron but is made from a mold. “The wax will get in the grooves of the design and you can never get it out,” she says.
WICKER
Wicker treated with a sealant from the manufacturer is easily cleaned with soapy water. Murphy Oil Soap or another mild household cleaner works well paired with a sponge. Spray paint can help restore furniture or protect against the elements. Store wicker furniture indoors or under a front porch overhang in the off-season. Franklin says she sells a synthetic wicker that is made for total exposure. It can be cleaned easily with soapy water.
RESIN
Plastic, or resin, furniture is the easiest to clean with soapy water. Check hardware and home improvement stores for plastic enamel paint that runs about $5 a can for restoring the shine of faded plastic furniture. For mildew, add about one cup of bleach per gallon of the soapy water mixture. “But if you’re cleaning plastic around a glass-top table, avoid getting bleach on the glass,” Bowen recommends. “This can cause that hazy look you sometimes see.”
FABRIC, CUSHIONS
Sling chairs and strap furniture may be cleaned with soapy water. If you left cushions out over the winter, invest in new ones. Cushions can be spot-cleaned, but getting dirt out of the depths is difficult. All fabrics should be stored inside during the winter, Franklin says. Higher-end cushions may have a Teflon coating, which helps. For those, hose them down periodically through the summer. “A lot of times what some people think is mold . . . is pollution,” she says.