Tips & How To’s

A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Clean Plastic Lawn Chairs

Tim Parry

Published:

how to clean plastic lawn chairs

As temperatures and seasons change, you may need to store your plastic lawn chairs or take them out. That means that you will need to clean them at some point, probably after a long period in the store. This is because they may have gathered dust and other forms of dirt during storage. So, if you're wondering how to clean plastic lawn chairs, please read this article to the end to get a detailed guide.

Storing your plastic patio furniture protects them from harsh weather conditions that may damage them. You may also need to store the chairs when the temperatures are too low and lounging in the patio is not an option. Here's our guide;

How to Clean Plastic Lounge Chairs

Cleaning plastic chairs is easy as they do not rust, and all you need is to use the right type of soap, and you're good to go. These chairs also don't take long to dry; you can use a clean cloth or let them air dry in the shade to prevent fading caused by too much exposure to sunlight.

Bleach, dish soap, laundry detergent, vinegar, baking soda, and stain remover are more widely utilized cleaning tactics. You can utilize multiple strategies at once, but the color and condition of your furniture will influence your decision.

Let us look at a step-by-step guide on cleaning plastic lawn chairs.

Method One: Cleaning Plastic Chairs With a Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergents work well by loosening up old dirt and gunk from your plastic outdoor furniture.

What You'll Need

  • Scrubbing brush
  • Laundry detergent
  • Enough water
  • Bucket

Method

i). Mix the detergent with water in a large bucket. Wet the chair by pouring the cleaning solution onto it.

ii). Use the scrubbing brush to scrub the chair to remove the stains. Use circular motions and keep scrubbing till you have removed all the dirt.

If there are tough stains, let the solution sit for a while to help soak it for easy cleaning. Once the stains have softened, scrub them and use clean water to rinse the furniture.

iii). Place the patio furniture in an open place to air dry.

Method Two: Cleaning Lawn Chairs With Vinegar

The acidity in plain vinegar breaks up the build-up of dirt, including bird droppings, dried foods and other sticky dirt. This makes cleaning easy and less time-consuming.

What You'll Need

  • Water
  • White vinegar
  • Dry cloth
  • A soft scrub brush
  • A bucket

Method

i). Fill a bucket with water, then add several drops of vinegar. Stir the solution to let it mix.

ii). Wet the chair by adding a generous amount of water. Gently scrub the plastic chair to remove dirt. Scrub tougher stains with more force to ensure they all get clean.

iii). Once your plastic furniture is clean and out of all stains, use clean water to rinse it. Lastly, you'll need to dry the chair with a dry cloth. If you don't have time, you can let them air dry in the shade.

Method Three: Cleaning Plastic Patio Chairs With Bleach

Bleach is among the best ingredients to use while washing plastic patio furniture, especially the white ones. It cleans away dirt and other debris from your plastic furniture and leaves it sparkling clean and disinfected.

What You'll Need

  • Hot water
  • A bucket
  • A soft scrub brush
  • A pair of rubber gloves
  • A quarter cup of bleach

Method

i). First, put on your rubber gloves, then fill your bucket with water. Add bleach into the water and let it mix well.

ii). Wet the chair and use the soft-bristled brush to scrub it until all dirt comes off. For tough and more stubborn stains, you will need to use elbow grease to get rid of them.

iii). Scrub in circular motions and once you finish, let the cleaning solution sit on the white plastic furniture.

iv). Use clean water to rinse off the bleach solution. Leave the clean plastic patio furniture to air dry.

Method Four: Cleaning Plastic Outdoor Furniture with Dishwashing Soap

Dishwashing soap is a great detergent to clean dirt and oily substances.

What You'll Need 

  • Dishwashing soap
  • Warm water
  • A sponge
  • A soft cloth

Method

i). Put enough water in a bucket and add a few drops of dishwashing soap. Dip the sponge into the soapy water and use it to clean the chair. Use circular motions to loosen the grime and other sticky substances.

ii). Work from the top downwards and ensure you get to all the crevices of the chair so that you don't leave any dirty parts.

iii). You can use an old toothbrush and enough cleaning solution to reach the hard-to-reach places. Once you finish cleaning, rinse the chair with clean water to remove soap and dirt.

iv). Use your clean, dry cloth to wipe out the water and dry it completely. You can also wipe the water and leave the chair in the open to air dry.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Clean Plastic Lawn Chairs

1. How do you keep outdoor plastic chairs from fading?

UV protectant keeps your furniture from fading by filtering away the highly penetrating light rays. UV protectants can be used on a wide range of furnishings, including plastic, vinyl, rubber, fiberglass, wood, and other materials.

2. How do you remove mildew from plastic lawn chairs?

Spray the mold with white distilled vinegar and let it sit for up to an hour. After rinsing with warm, clean water, apply a second coat of vinegar. Allow the vinegar to dry completely without rinsing it. White plastic patio furniture can be etched with bleach.

About Author

Tim Parry

Leave a Comment