How to clean your outdoor area – eco-friendly edition.
Being out in nature is something majority of people in the cities love – but can only afford, money and time-wise, every so often. That’s why it’s a great idea, and an advantage, to have a garden and a patio you will enjoy every time the weather allows. The downside, though, is that you have to clean these spaces in a different way than the inside of your house. Since it’s an open space, you don’t want to experiment with toxic materials, as they can get to your children, pets, and the microsystem of the yard/garden. So here are our ideas for cleaning the outdoors in an eco-friendly way.
Fire first – clean the fire pit and the grill
Cleaning fire pit and the grill is a messy process because these tend to be quite dirty. This is why it’s important to be careful not to cause harm to the environment. You might want to reach for extra strong products, but please restrain. When it comes to the grill, get it ready for summer barbecues as soon as possible. A home-made cleaning product that will work just as fine as those store bought ones is a combination of baking soda and lemon juice. This will dissolve grease and dirt, and it won’t harm your kids, pets and surrounding plants. As for the fire pit, cleaning out the ashes should be easy enough, as well as cleaning the interior with the solution mentioned above. If your pit is fuelled by gas or propane, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Get your patio ready
You’ve probably been using your patio throughout these warm months – but whether you want to freshen it up, or get it ready for the season if you haven’t, you can clean it in an eco-friendly way. Of course, brushing or wiping away dust or leaves is the easy part. When this is done, you need to pay attention to the material your furniture is made of. Plastic material should be cleaned with a wet cloth, and it will work in 95% cases. More difficult stains will go away with an eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner you already have. If you have any metal parts or metal furniture that has gotten rusty, use steel wool to remove the rust, and then work towards the prevention of such future issues by repainting the piece. If you have wooden furniture outside, it will take most time and effort to clean. A mild solution will work for hardwood; on the other hand, if you have wicker, the only way to really clean it is with a toothbrush. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
Spotless windows in no time
Your windows are literally a window to the outside world – and they let you enjoy your garden even when it’s too cold to be outside. Keeping them clean and spotless is an easy way to contribute to the amount of light coming in, and it’s also needed if you want to have a complete experience of cleanliness! But that doesn’t mean they have to come with a cost to the environment, and you can achieve this without toxic chemicals. In the case of windows, less indeed is more, so clean them with mild soap and a soft cloth. Bonus points if your cloth is lint-free because you don’t want to leave this kind of residue all over your windows. Spots harder to clean will be gone with a solution of vinegar and water. If there are windows harder to reach, for example on the first floor, hire someone to help. For example, professionals from Renew Outdoor Cleaning will take care of your hard-to-reach windows with eco-friendly cleaning products.
Clean the patio
With the furniture and windows spotless, you need to clean the patio. A concrete deck should be swept and then washed with a solution of water and gentle soap. If your deck is made of wood, an eco-friendly wooden deck cleaner should do the trick. If afternoons and nights at your patios left any proof in the form of hard stains, they should be dealt with gently, with a sponge or piece of cloth. Simply said, for entire garden makeover and cleaning you will need adequate tools.
Say goodbye to clogged gutters
Well, at least until the next big cleaning! This might not be something you want to hear, but the best way to clean the gutters is to pick up a ladder and remove the pile of leaves and other debris using hand gloves. This is also when you should avoid chemicals that dissolve organic material: when rain falls, these can corrode the metal and will be then washed down the drain – straight onto your lawn. Keep it simple, and make your lawn live a healthier life.
This way you will make your garden look brand new, and you will have redesigned and private wonderland where you can relax with friends and family.
Tidy up your garden
If you have a garden, it should be fairly easy to tidy up. Mow the lawn and remove any dead leaves, flowers or branches lying around. Trim the trees as you go, and also use fertiliser if necessary.
Taking one weekend off, or two, if needed, to clean your outdoor space, may sound like a tedious and tiring way to spend your free time. However, this kind of investment will leave you with a beautiful area to spend your time for months to come – definitely worth the sacrifice!
Author BIO
Sarah Jessica Smith is a young blogger from Sydney. She is in love with life and all the things that can make her daily routine easier. She loves to write about home improvement, lifestyle, and all the small things that make life such a great adventure.