Cleaning Your Patio

You may have a large patio area that includes spot lighting, potted plants, and an in-ground hot tub, or a small patio that simply provides an umbrella table and chairs. No matter the size, a patio often provides venues for quiet relaxation as well as family get-togethers. If you live in an area where you endure harsh winters, you probably incorporate cleaning your patio as part of your spring cleaning. But if you live in a warm climate year 'round, you may want to clean your patio on a weekly basis. No matter how often you do it, cleaning your patio can be easy if you follow these simple guidelines:

• Start by removing everything from your patio area, including chairs, tables, plants, and your grill.
• Remove all large debris by sweeping with a stout push broom. Continue to sweep, making sure you get into the corners. If your patio is covered or partially covered, use a straw broom to knock down cobwebs, spider webs, and insect and bird nests.
• Using your garden hose, completely wet down the patio floor. Starting in the middle of the patio, working outward, continue to wash your patio, using a sweeping motion with a hard spray to remove accumulated dirt. Use your hose on your patio cover, as well.
• While the patio is still wet, inspect for obvious stains and treat them with a solution of dry bleach and water. Work the paste into the stains with your push broom, agitate thoroughly, and then rinse away.
• While the patio dries, clean your patio furniture. Gather all of the furniture onto your driveway and use your garden hose to wet it. Using a bucket full of warm, soapy water and a large towel, wash down your patio furniture, and then rinse it with your garden hose.
• While your patio furniture air dries, return to the patio and inspect the dry flooring for more stains, cleaning them again as before.
• Return all of your dry furniture to the patio. Spot clean fabric cushions and replace them to your furniture.
• Disinfect all tabletops with a household spray disinfectant.
• Open your table umbrella and thoroughly wash and rinse it, allowing it to dry before closing it.

If rodents or insects have taken up housekeeping in your table umbrella during the winter, inspect the cloth for holes or damage. You may need to replace the umbrella. Make sure that you protect vegetation from bleach while you're cleaning, including your lawn, since bleach will kill vegetation. You might want to use an environmentally-friendly cleaner, such as OxyClean, instead of bleach to remove stains form your patio.