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When the weather turns nice, it’s time to bring out the lawn furniture. Hopefully you stored it in a suitable place and have taken steps to maintain and preserve it. If not, here are some things to consider for the next season.
If you have a picnic table or deck chairs, check to see what they are made of. Most are built from wood. Look to see what kind of shape they are in. Make sure the wood is not dry rotting. If you find evidence of decay that is not too far advanced, visit your local garden store and purchase a product that will seal the damaged area from further disintegration. If your wood furniture needs to be painted, first clean it with a pressure washer if possible, or scrub it with a mild detergent and then hose it off. After it dries you will need to sand the rough spots and then rinse them so you remove all dust. Try not to get the area too wet because you will have to wait until it is dry to prime it. After priming those areas, wait until they dry and then paint with an oil base or latex exterior paint.
Next, bring out the barbecue grille. Spray both sides with oven cleaner, and then seal it in a plastic bag all night. Next take a garden hose and rinse it completely clean. If you don’t want to use oven cleaner, which can be toxic to work with, you can soak the grill in a degreaser. (If you have a gas grill, do not use oven cleaner.) Clean the burners with hot, soapy dish detergent and a wire brush. Scrape the entire outer surface of the burner. Unclog the burner holes with a thin wire or a paper clip. Then tape all the openings closed to keep water out. Use detergent and a wire brush to clean the inside; you might need a scraper to remove the baked-on grease. Next, use a garden hose to rinse away old food. After the grill dries, spray it with nonstick cooking spray so it will be easier to clean next time. Keep your grill clean after every use by turning it to the highest temperature setting for several minutes. This will burn up any food that might have dropped while you were cooking. Make sure you close the hood. If your grill is in bad shape, go to the hardware to buy any part that might not work, such as burners, hoses, or gauge for your gas. Outdoor furniture centers even sell high temperature paint to cover all the aluminum parts. This costs a lot less than buying a new grill, and the parts are easy to replace yourself.
For lawn furniture made of metal, clean it with a solution suited for the kind of paint that is covering it. You don’t want to remove the protective coating. But if it is rusted or chipping, you will need to sand or wire brush it. After removing dirt and dust, you will probably need to repaint the unit. You may want to spray the furniture with a product like Rustoleum to prevent further decay.
Don’t forget to put down old newspaper or a tarp when working on the furniture. If you apply oven clean or other products with strong fumes, work in a well-ventilated area and open the windows. At the end of the season, clean off the furniture with a damp cloth and store it in an out-of-the-way area.
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