With the balmy weather we have been enjoying this week, many of us are ready to enjoy dinner outdoors again. But are the barbecue and outdoor furniture ready for us?
Forget the steel brushes, dirty clothes, elbow grease and toxic solvents you think you need to clean that black mildew off outdoor furniture and old grime off barbecue grills. Our great-grandmothers knew the right stuff for this sort of heavy-duty cleaning job, and it is non-toxic and cheap.
The wonder cleanser is washing soda (sodium carbonate), which can be found in the laundry section at the supermarket. It has many uses besides being a laundry booster, and it neutralizes and eliminates odours.
Here are some old, incredibly simple formulae for cleaning outdoor furniture and grills.
Plastic Lawn Furniture Cleaner
1/2 cup washing soda
1 gallon hot water
Dissolve the washing soda in a bucket of hot water. Wearing gloves and using a sponge, slather the water onto the furniture, and let it set for ten minutes or so before rinsing. Repeat for stubborn stains.
Mildew and Mould Cushion Cleaner
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that is also a broad-spectrum fungicide. It is available in health food stores.
2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle. Spot test on cushions to make sure there is no discoloration. Spray on the cushions. Don’t rinse. In a few days, both the strong smell of the tea tree oil and the mould will dissipate.
Grill Soak
1-2 cups washing soda
Enough hot water to cover the grills
In a pan big enough to hold the grill (or the kitchen sink might work), soak the grills overnight in the washing soda and water. In the morning, the grime will come off easily. Wash with soap and water, and rinse.
We hope you have enjoyed this article. It is our pleasure being your real estate agents in Brisbane.
If you would like any assistance or advice, please feel very welcome to get in touch with our Brisbane real estate agents, Brisbane property management team, or Brisbane buyers agents.
