How to Clean Outdoor Furniture

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Kids wearing pompom hats sit around a fire pit toasting marshmallows. Text, L.L. Bean. How to clean outdoor furniture. Hannah, Backyard fan and L.L. Bean customer.

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OK, the backyard is beckoning. And it's time to learn how to clean your outdoor furniture, like, for example, the L.L.Bean All-Weather Collection, which is durable, weather resistant, low maintenance, and super easy to clean.

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Adirondack-style outdoor chairs in blue and green. They have a silver L.L. Bean emblem on one of the slats.

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And there's no one better to talk quality outdoor furniture and how to take care of it than Tom The Tester, the lead technician of the L.L.Bean research and testing department. Hi. Tom.

Hi, Hannah. How are you?

Great. I'm excited to talk furniture. Before we get started on cleaning tips, where are we?

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Hannah stands next to Tom in a room filled with electronic equipment.

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Right now, we're here in our 5,000-square-foot research and testing laboratory in Freeport, Maine. We have a variety of different testing equipment here, including intense weather testing in our rain room and on our rooftop platform.

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Machines pull zippers and drop weights onto chairs. A machine presses a shoe across surfaces. Men sit in chairs on the snowy rooftop.

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Amazing. Ready to talk cleaning tips?

Hannah, I was born ready.

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Text, General care.

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Proper care is critical to extending the life of your outdoor furniture, plus it keeps it looking great.

And how often should I clean it?

At least two times a year. I wash mine at the beginning of the summer and at the end of the summer. Additional cleaning may be needed depending on pollen, bird droppings, dust, extended storage, muddy paw prints, as always. And then there's sticky s'mores.

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Photos of a bee, bird, dusty hand, storage room, pawprints, and a s'more appear next to white outdoor chairs. Text, Step 1, brush off the furniture.

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First, we need to brush off any dirt, debris, and leaves.

Is this a s'more?

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Hannah picks up a s'more.

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Hey. I've been looking for that.

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Tom takes a bite of the s'more.

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You got to love a s'more.

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Hannah grins. They wash a dark green chair. Text, Step 2, wash the furniture. Consult the manufacturer's instructions on specific cleaning care.

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We're going to mix mild dish soap and warm water into a bucket. Then I'm going to use a soft cloth to wipe the soapy solution onto the furniture.

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They wipe all surfaces of the chair with soapy water and a cloth.

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Yeah, looking good, Tom.

Thank you.

Talking about the chair, Tom.

Of course.

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Step 3, Rinse with garden hose.

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Now, let's thoroughly rinse with a low pressure garden hose. Do not power wash unless instructed. But since we're in the rain room, let's bring on the rain.

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Tom turns levers on the wall and rain sprays from overhead sprinklers. Text, 13 sprinkler heads. Simulates drizzles and downpours. 44 gallons of recycled water per minute. Tom and Hannah watch through a window from outside the rain room.

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[SHOWER RUNNING]

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Step 4, air dry.

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So after you rinse away all the soap, allow this furniture to air dry completely.

And that's it?

That's it.

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Cleaning other kinds of outdoor furniture.

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Depending on materials, stain, and environment, some outdoor furniture may require additional care, such as refinishing, touch-up paint, or sealant.

So start with a gentle cleaning, then move up to any other techniques if needed.

So now the only thing left to do is--

Just sit back and relax.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

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Tom and Hannah sit in chairs with beverages, looking out of the rain room window.

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You know, since we're in the rain room, I've got lots of rain gear to test. Are you up for that?

Let's do it.

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Water sprays from the sprinklers. Tom and Hannah sit in the chairs wearing big rain jackets and pants.

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[LAUGHS]

For more outdoor tips and inspiration, go to LLBean.com/outside. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more L.L.Bean videos. And if there are any how-to videos you'd like to see, comment below. See you out there.

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Rain pours down on Hannah and Tom.