We discuss a number of end-of-season yard cleaning tasks and how-to’s in “What is Fall Cleaning and Why Do I Need This?”. But actual cleaning of many backyard items are not covered there, so I thought I’d cover them here. My best friends for outdoor cleaning are a soft brush (which I usually find in the automotive section for washing cars), a stiff bristle brush (found in the cleaning products section of most general stores and groceries), regular dish soap, and (for the toughest problems) some Simple Green.

Grills and barbecues
Your barbecue’s grates should be cleaned regularly while still hot, after cooking. Many people like to wait until their grill cools down before cleaning; but in reality, this requires far more effort than a simple run with the wire BBQ cleaning brush while the grating is still very hot. In fact, doing so while takes as little as 2 minutes—so it’s not actually taking any significant amount of time from your meal or company. Waiting could mean having to soak the grates.

Keeping your grill or barbecue’s exterior covered is critical for long-term care. Be sure that your cover has some kind of venting (or that the bottom is open) so that moisture isn’t trapped inside—causing premature rust or deterioration of the paint.

If you need to actually clean the exterior, try first with water and a soft brush (car washing brushes are great for this and can usually be found anywhere you find auto cleaning products). If you have serious dirt, refer to the owner’s manual (often available online) to make sure that you select a cleaning product that won’t cause damage. Often, Simple Green can be heavily dilute and will do the trick.
Patio furniture
If you have that molded plastic patio furniture—especially white—you know it’s a bear to clean. There are products available specifically for cleaning these pieces in most general stores (like Target, Sears or Walmart).

But for iron and glass patio furniture, the best thing to use on them is plain water and a car washing brush. For tough stains, I’ll use a stiff bristle brush and some dish soap (heavily diluted).

The fabric and foam cushions on many patio chairs and benches are best taken in at night and when there’s bad weather. Even cushions made of Sunbrella or other heavy-duty outdoor fabrics can be susceptible to mildew and dirt splattering up from the rain. Cleaning them is a tricky thing, too, because often they have special coatings to help protect them from rain and stains. So maintenance is key. Rinsing should take care of the rest.
Wood decking
Wood decking that is not made of a plastic composite may accumulate dirt and algae easily depending on how far off the ground it is and how much sun exposure it has. If you just have regular dirt buildup, I would attempt to scrub it much like you might scrub a kitchen floor using plain water. Home Depot and Lowe’s or other hardware and home construction stores will regularly sell products specific to cleaning wood decking that won’t harm paint or stain. I would only try this if a scrub of water and a bristle brush mop head doesn’t do the work.

Occasionally you may have such ground in dirt or serious algae problems that require a pressure washer. These can be rented in most home renovation or construction stores. Always try the lightest amount of pressure with plain water first and move upward in pressure and use of products as needed. Some cases may require the use of a bleach-based product or the complete refinishing of a deck.
Wood fencing
Your wood fence is particularly prone to dirt spatter and algae buildup. This is truly a case where you need a pressure washer. The lightest setting is likely to be an excellent solution to most of your fences dirt and algae problems. If it isn’t, see the options for wood decking.
Plastic play equipment
Again, plain water and a soft bristle brush (moving to a stiff bristle brush for set in dirt) should do the trick. But when all else fails—I turn to Simple Green for help with these things. We had a small, plastic play structure that had been neglected for several years and although it took quite a bit of time and elbow grease, some diluted Simple Green applied with a soft bristle brush and allowed to sit for a minute or two (not too long in the heat as it will dry on) and then sprayed off with the hose fixed the problems.
Remember that any time you use soaps or chemicals of any kind, protect your groundwater and plants from the runoff—which could kill your plants and grass, and contaminate groundwater. Any time you can do this cleaning in your driveway or where you can direct the runoff into the sewer is ideal.

And maintenance, as always, is the key!