Ten Tips for Cleaning Your Deck and Patio

The summer is near, and nothing tops spending time with your family and friends on your patio or deck while enjoying food and drinks. After all, that is a good life. However, you need to keep your deck and patio clean if you want to enjoy them during the summer months. 

Deck cleaning in Orange County, CA, can be expensive, which is why you can apply some tips of your own too. Here are the top tips that will help you clean your deck and patio in no time. 

1. Time To Organize

Before you do anything, it is important that you remove all unnecessary items from your deck and patio. That is because if there is clutter all around, it will also hinder your cleaning progress. You need to clear everything that doesn't belong there anymore. 

If there are many items that you have to discard during this clearing process, then be sure to store them properly or donate them to someone that might need them. The key is not to hoard things that don’t serve you anymore. So, find a new place for your items or give them to someone else. 

2. Deep Clean Using A Pressure Washer 

Do you have stone pavers or a concrete patio? If you do, then the best way to clean it is by using a pressure washer. The best part is that it can remove years of grime, dirt, and debris in a few minutes. 

Remember that when you are using the pressure washer, you must never point it at others or yourself. That is because it can hurt someone in your home, as the pressure is too high. Besides that, ensure that your pets are inside the home before you start this process. 

If you don’t have a pressure washer at home, you can visit your local hardware store and rent one from there. On the other hand, you can also hire Orange County Deck Builders to deep-clean your deck and patio with a pressure washer. 

3. Time To Clean The Outdoor Furniture 

Now that you are done cleaning the area with a pressure washer, it is time to bring back all the outdoor furniture you put away and clean that. It doesn’t matter what your furniture is made of, be it wicker, metal, wood, or plastic. That is because you can begin cleaning it by vacuuming or brushing all the dirt that has been built on it for a while. 

After that, you can use some warm water and clear dish soap to wipe the furniture with a sponge. Avoid using cold water because warm water is the ideal solution for getting rid of dirt and grime. However, ensure that it is not too hot, or it can damage the furniture. 

On the other hand, if there are other issues with your outdoor furniture, you can opt for deck cleaning in Orange County. The professionals will clean your furniture depending on the materials and many other factors in no time. 

4. Deep Clean The Barbecue Grills 

One of the best things about summer is that you can have as many barbecues as you want outdoors. That is why it is crucial to deep clean the grill so that you can make clean and healthy food. The ideal way to do this is to heat up the grill so that all the debris can loosen and melt, making it easy to scrub everything. 

After the grill is piping hot, you can grab the grill brush made of stainless steel and begin scrubbing. Once you are done, you can rinse it all off and let it dry before you can use it again. Another popular method is to use an onion rather than a grill brush. 

You can simply cut an onion in two halves, and then utilize a grill fork for rubbing the half onion on the grate, and this will remove all the stuck debris and residue from the grill. Remember that this method will also add some flavor of onion to your BBQ grills. That is why you can also indulge in this method before a big barbecue party. 

5. Clean All The Flower Pots 

Flowers are one of the best additions to a patio or deck, as they add life and color to your home with their presence. When you begin cleaning the flower pots, you remove all the soil left from last season. After that, use baking soda and vinegar to clean all the flower pots. 

When you use this method, it will kill any bugs or bacteria that have decided to make a home for themselves in your flower pots. Don’t forget to wear rubber gloves when you are cleaning. Be sure to give the pots a final rinse after you have used the vinegar mixture. 

6. Dust Off Any Lawn Games Or Pool Toys 

Patio and deck are not just about the things you do but also about the things you keep in them. For example, many people keep board games, sets, inflatable items, and much more that make their deck and patio a fun place to be. Of course, you must clean all these items to use everything once again as the summer comes. 

It is not too difficult to clean these items. You can simply dust them to remove any dirt or debris. However, if the dirt has set in, then you can take a garden hose to remove any cobwebs and dirt that has been collected on these things. 

On the other hand, if there is a lot of grime stuck on these items, you will have to use another method. For this, you can take some soapy water and use a soft sponge to clean these items in no time. Of course, you must ensure that all the inflatable items are deflated when you are cleaning them. 

After all the cleaning is done, you need to let these items dry. Keep them out in the sun so they can dry in no time, and it will also prevent any mildew as they dry. 

7. Time To Rake And Mow Your Lawn

Now that you are done with the most important things, it is time to rake and mow your lawn. The first thing you must do is collect all the branches that have fallen in your yard during the winter season. Be sure to clean them all out so your lawn can look pristine again. 

After that, rake away all the dead leaves on your lawn. When you do this, it will make your yard look neat and clean. However, the best benefit of doing this is that it will ensure that the grass on your lawn can finally breathe.

Even grass needs to recover from winter hibernation, which is why raking is the ideal thing to do. You can also mow the lawn after all this so everything can look clean and tidy. 

8. Leverage The Power Of Mulch 

Many people don’t know this, but you can instantly lift the appearance of your yard by mulching. Yes, it doesn’t fall under the cleaning category, but it will still enhance your yard. You can do this by adding a fresh mulch layer to the garden beds. 

As you do this, your patio or backyard will look much more put together in no time. Almost everyone that gardens swear by mulching before they plant anything in their lawns or yards. That is because it allows gardeners not to avoid carefully blooming flowers later on. 

9. Store All Your Furniture And Accessories 

It is important that you store all the things you are not using properly so that you can use them later on your deck or patio. You can use space such as a garage or shed to store all the items you are not using. Even while storing, you can properly cover them with a sheet so that they don’t end up collecting dust and debris in storage. 

On the other hand, if you live in a warm climate all year, you don’t have to store anything in the garage or shed. You can use these things all year round, but be sure to maintain your furniture and outdoor living items. 

10. Don’t Forget Maintenance 

Once your deck and patio are all ready to use for the summer, you still need to maintain everything you did to keep everything looking great. That is why it is important to give your deck and patio a bi-weekly or monthly clean. Doing this will ensure that dust and debris don't keep collecting on your items as you are using them. 

Maintaining your outdoor living items will guarantee that they last a long time to come. It will enhance their use and durability. 

Final Words 

These are the ten best tips you must follow in cleaning your deck and patio. If you need a professional to clean everything up, don't hesitate to get in touch with Orange County Deck Builders. We will help you with anything you need for your deck and patio in no time, and we are the top experts for deck cleaning in Orange County, CA.