Before using your outdoor living space for the season - however long that may be - assess what needs to be cleaned or repaired. Give yourself several weeks to fix things, spruce up with paint and sanding, prune, trim and take care of garden waste, and give it a thorough clean up.Â
Consult this list to help you organize tasks and make sure you don't forget something.
Weather and the elements tend to wear down a wooden deck. That's why it's important to regularly maintain it and keep it clean, at least doing a serious scrubbing and washing before setting out furniture for the season.
More on Decks and Cleaning
Types of Deck Cleaners
Annual Deck Safety and Repair Checklist
Check Out These Free Deck Plans
Oops! Somehow, when you made those marinated steaks last fall, you forgot to clean the grates and grill. There it has sat, all winter, congealing and getting harder and more icky. Now, several months later, you are faced with the delightful chore of extracting the marinated mess along with general cleaning of your grill.Â
Start by soaking grates in a mixture of water with mild dish soap, maybe adding vinegar. Depending on how long it soaks and how successfully the stuff sloughs off, you will need to use one of those wire grill brushes or a steel wool pad (or two) to scrape, scrape, scrape. You might want to try dipping a damp brush or scrubber in baking soda to attack those stubborn stains and clumps.
Alternatively, you can buy Simple Green Heavy-Duty BBQ & Grill Cleaner to tackle that greasy, grimy, congealed food on your grill grates. Rinse areas to ensure cooking surfaces are residue-free.Â
The Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) recommends maintaining your barbecue throughout grilling season so that you won't end up with an accumulated mess. Their suggestions:
 Hopefully, you cleaned off the patio furniture before storing it indoors for the winter - someplace dry. Provided it's been maintained and is in good shape, simply hose it off and scrub it with a soft brush dipped in a bucket of water and mild dish soap, maybe with a touch of vinegar for some added sparkle. Repeat with a thorough rinse from the hose, then let dry in the sun (wishful thinking here) or with a soft, dry cloth.
Pillows can be cleaned in the cold, gentle cycle of the washing machine, then air dried to prevent misshaping, which could occur in the dryer.
Before any clean-up, check all garden hoses for kinks, holes or tears. During watering season (all year in some regions), keep garden hoses on reels for easy unwinding and better care.
Mold and mildew cover patios that don't see much sunlight for weeks or months at a time -- something that occurs in winter. Follow our tips to tackle those greenish stains and reclaim your beautiful patio.
Discover how we tackle common patio stains like efflorescence and mortar.
Follow instructions for opening your swimming pool for the season, making sure to check for leaks and cracks. Learn how to test your own pool water, and become familiar with algae colors and how to destroy the various types.
More About Pool Maintenance
How to Find a Reliable Pool Service Company
DIY Pool and Spa Maintenance Ideas
A rough season or two that experienced wind, rain, hail or snow can wreak havoc on exterior doors and windows, especially patio doors.to clean use a mild, store-bought window-washing solution, or make your own by combining 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.
It's best to wash windows on an overcast day, to avoid glare. With a bucket of the solution, apply with a soft brush, sponge, microfiber rag or whatever you prefer to the glass windows and patio doors. Rinse with a light spray from the hose before continuing on to the next section. Dry spots with a microfiber cloth, towel or squeegee and enjoy the sparkling view. Â
Homeowners buy vinyl siding with the belief that it will be trouble- and maintenance free. Not so. Mildew and algae grow on vinyl siding, feeding on sugars, dust, dirt and other things that will attach. Â
To clean tough spots like algae and mildew, soak with one part bleach to four parts water, scrub with a soft-bristle brush, then rinse. If there aren't any stains and it just needs cleaning, light dishwashing soap and water will do the job, along with light scrubbing.Â
The Vinyl Siding Institute recommends tackling spots of mold and mildew with cleaners like Fantastik or Windex. For larger areas, use a solution of vinegar (about 30 percent) and water (70 percent). has proven successful.Â
Simple Green's environmentally friendly House & Siding Cleaner - Pressure Washer Concentrate is specially formulated for use on vinyl and aluminum siding, stucco, terra cotta roof tiles and painted wood. The non-toxic biodegradable concentrate can be used manually or with pressure washers.Phosphate and bleach-free, It won't harm plants, trees or lawns.
f using a pressure washer, keep the stream at eye level and aimed straight at the siding, not at an angle, That way, you won't drive water in behind the siding. on to doors and plumbing connections.
Ideally, all of those hoes, forks, spades, shovels and rakes should be cleaned before being stored for the winter. If used year-round, regularly clean and dry tools to prevent rust, and store them in a dry place.
Clean landscape light fixtures to get rid of dirt, leaves and  other debris. Use a solution of water with mild dishwashing liquid and a sponge or cloth. Lime deposits on lenses can be tackled with a calcium lime remover (CLR).
Consult this list to help you organize tasks and make sure you don't forget something.
1. Deck
Weather and the elements tend to wear down a wooden deck. That's why it's important to regularly maintain it and keep it clean, at least doing a serious scrubbing and washing before setting out furniture for the season.
More on Decks and Cleaning
Types of Deck Cleaners
Annual Deck Safety and Repair Checklist
Check Out These Free Deck Plans
2. Grills, Barbecues and Outdoor Kitchens
Oops! Somehow, when you made those marinated steaks last fall, you forgot to clean the grates and grill. There it has sat, all winter, congealing and getting harder and more icky. Now, several months later, you are faced with the delightful chore of extracting the marinated mess along with general cleaning of your grill.Â
Start by soaking grates in a mixture of water with mild dish soap, maybe adding vinegar. Depending on how long it soaks and how successfully the stuff sloughs off, you will need to use one of those wire grill brushes or a steel wool pad (or two) to scrape, scrape, scrape. You might want to try dipping a damp brush or scrubber in baking soda to attack those stubborn stains and clumps.
Alternatively, you can buy Simple Green Heavy-Duty BBQ & Grill Cleaner to tackle that greasy, grimy, congealed food on your grill grates. Rinse areas to ensure cooking surfaces are residue-free.Â
The Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) recommends maintaining your barbecue throughout grilling season so that you won't end up with an accumulated mess. Their suggestions:
- Squirt grease-cutting dishwashing detergent on cool grill and grates, scrub with a brush or abrasive pad, then rinse.Â
- Use a grill pad or splatter mat beneath your grill before cooking. These naturally heat-resistant pads will protect your deck or patio from any grease and will make it easier to keep your outdoor living area clean.
3. Patio Furniture
 Hopefully, you cleaned off the patio furniture before storing it indoors for the winter - someplace dry. Provided it's been maintained and is in good shape, simply hose it off and scrub it with a soft brush dipped in a bucket of water and mild dish soap, maybe with a touch of vinegar for some added sparkle. Repeat with a thorough rinse from the hose, then let dry in the sun (wishful thinking here) or with a soft, dry cloth.
Pillows can be cleaned in the cold, gentle cycle of the washing machine, then air dried to prevent misshaping, which could occur in the dryer.
4. Garden Hose
Before any clean-up, check all garden hoses for kinks, holes or tears. During watering season (all year in some regions), keep garden hoses on reels for easy unwinding and better care.
5. Patio
Mold and mildew cover patios that don't see much sunlight for weeks or months at a time -- something that occurs in winter. Follow our tips to tackle those greenish stains and reclaim your beautiful patio.
Discover how we tackle common patio stains like efflorescence and mortar.
6. Pool or Spa
Follow instructions for opening your swimming pool for the season, making sure to check for leaks and cracks. Learn how to test your own pool water, and become familiar with algae colors and how to destroy the various types.
More About Pool Maintenance
How to Find a Reliable Pool Service Company
DIY Pool and Spa Maintenance Ideas
7. Pathways
Pull weeds or unwanted grass that may be growing along and between stepping stones or pavers of a pathway. If dirty, usually rinsing off with a blast of the hose will do the job. For stains, treat with8. Windows and Patio Doors
A rough season or two that experienced wind, rain, hail or snow can wreak havoc on exterior doors and windows, especially patio doors.to clean use a mild, store-bought window-washing solution, or make your own by combining 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.
It's best to wash windows on an overcast day, to avoid glare. With a bucket of the solution, apply with a soft brush, sponge, microfiber rag or whatever you prefer to the glass windows and patio doors. Rinse with a light spray from the hose before continuing on to the next section. Dry spots with a microfiber cloth, towel or squeegee and enjoy the sparkling view. Â
9. Siding
Homeowners buy vinyl siding with the belief that it will be trouble- and maintenance free. Not so. Mildew and algae grow on vinyl siding, feeding on sugars, dust, dirt and other things that will attach. Â
To clean tough spots like algae and mildew, soak with one part bleach to four parts water, scrub with a soft-bristle brush, then rinse. If there aren't any stains and it just needs cleaning, light dishwashing soap and water will do the job, along with light scrubbing.Â
The Vinyl Siding Institute recommends tackling spots of mold and mildew with cleaners like Fantastik or Windex. For larger areas, use a solution of vinegar (about 30 percent) and water (70 percent). has proven successful.Â
Simple Green's environmentally friendly House & Siding Cleaner - Pressure Washer Concentrate is specially formulated for use on vinyl and aluminum siding, stucco, terra cotta roof tiles and painted wood. The non-toxic biodegradable concentrate can be used manually or with pressure washers.Phosphate and bleach-free, It won't harm plants, trees or lawns.
f using a pressure washer, keep the stream at eye level and aimed straight at the siding, not at an angle, That way, you won't drive water in behind the siding. on to doors and plumbing connections.
10. Garden Tools
Ideally, all of those hoes, forks, spades, shovels and rakes should be cleaned before being stored for the winter. If used year-round, regularly clean and dry tools to prevent rust, and store them in a dry place.
11. Landscape Lighting
Clean landscape light fixtures to get rid of dirt, leaves and  other debris. Use a solution of water with mild dishwashing liquid and a sponge or cloth. Lime deposits on lenses can be tackled with a calcium lime remover (CLR).