WORKING TIME: 30 min to 1 hour 30 minutes
TOTAL DURATION: 1 to 2 hours
SKILL LEVEL: Beginner
The benefits of white plastic outdoor chairs and furniture (often called resin outdoor chairs) are numerous. The furniture is less expensive than other types of outdoor furniture, the plastic material is often made from almost 100% recycled plastic and can be recycled again, and the chairs are lightweight, generally stackable and weather-resistant.
The downside to white plastic chairs is that they get dirty and dull very quickly when exposed to the elements if you don’t clean them regularly. However, they can also be quite easy to clean with just a few products and tools and a good cleaning.
How often to clean white plastic chairs?
Spills and stains from grass, mud, food, tree sap or bird droppings should be cleaned up as quickly as possible. A thorough cleaning carried out at the start of the outdoor season will often last all summer. Always clean chairs well before storing them for the winter.
What you will need:
Equipment / Tools
Bucket
Garden hose
Sponge
Soft bristle nylon brush
Microfiber towels
Rubber gloves
Plastic tarpaulin
Spray
Baking soda
dishwashing liquid
All-purpose cleaner
Oxygen-based bleach
Distilled white vinegar
Automotive paste wax
Instructions
1- Configure a cleaning zone
Spread a plastic tarp outside in a sunny location near a garden hose. Move chairs or other plastic furniture to be cleaned to the tarp.
2- Mix a cleaning solution
There are several cleaning solutions that work well for white plastic chairs. Choose one for your cleaning session.
Before doing general cleaning, if the chairs are moldy, mix a solution of 25% water and 75% distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply to moldy areas and wait about 10 minutes before carrying out general cleaning.
Cleaning solutions:
Pour a gallon of warm water into a bucket and add a quarter cup of dishwashing liquid. Mix well to disperse the soap.
Mix a gallon of warm water with a half cup of baking soda and stir to combine.
Add a quarter cup of an all-purpose cleaner to a gallon of warm water.
3- Wash and rinse the chairs
Wash the chairs from top to bottom to catch any drops of dirty water using a sponge or soft-bristled nylon brush. For stained areas, sprinkle a little dry baking soda on the sponge or brush to act as a mild abrasive and help remove stains.
When the chairs are free of dirt and debris, rinse them well with a garden hose. If the chairs are clean and white, dry them with a microfiber towel or place them in the sun to air dry. If they are still dirty, move on to the next step.
Advice
Do not use any type of abrasive cleaner to clean white or colored plastic chairs. Gritty cleaners or harsh scouring pads will scratch the plastic and allow grime to settle into hollower surfaces.
4-Mix oxygen bleach solution to whiten dirty and stained chairs
If the chairs still appear dirty and stained, an oxygen-based bleach solution is necessary. Oxygen bleach is a gentle, slow-acting bleach that removes stains and brightens plastics. It works more slowly than bleach, is less corrosive and damaging to plastics and is more environmentally friendly. Bleach and water solution will not harm grass or plants during cleaning.
Depending on how dirty your white chairs are, mix a gallon of warm water with a half cup to a cup of powdered bleach in a bucket. Mix well to mix and dissolve the powder.
5- Apply the oxygen bleach solution
Wearing rubber gloves, use a sponge or soft-bristled nylon brush to apply the oxygen bleach solution. Start at the top and scrub with good pressure to help lift the embedded soil.
Let the solution stay on the chairs for at least 15 minutes to help whiten plastics. Leaving it longer will not damage the chairs.
6- Rinse and dry
Rinse the chairs well with a garden hose and dry them with a microfiber cloth or air dry them in the sun.
Tips to Keep White Plastic Chairs Clean Longer
-Once you have made the chairs clean and white, keep them looking longer by applying a thin coat of automotive paste wax. Use a soft, dry cloth or sponge to spread the wax on the chairs. Polish with a dry cloth. The wax helps stains and dirt slide off the plastic.
-Do not leave chairs under trees that are losing flowers or leaves.
-Clean, cover and store chairs indoors, protected from frost during the winter season.
-Use an outdoor umbrella to protect chairs when placed outdoors.
Thanks to The Spruce for this good advice.
