Get Cleaning While The Sun Shines

WORDS : CHYKA KEEBAUGH

PHOTOS : LISA ATKINSON + Shannon McGrath

Spending a little more time outside in your yard lately?

With the shape the world is in right now, our homes have certainly become our sanctuaries. Our backyards and balconies have become our exercise space, our alfresco eatery and our window to the neighbourhood. But like every area of our home, it is another that needs tending to and looking after to keep it in a welcoming state. So let’s make the most of this indoor time and have a look at our yards and balconies, time to give them the once over for health and safety purposes and start using them as they are meant to be used - an extension of our living space.

Five Outdoor Hotspots To Clean…

Wooden Baskets: Due to the nature of their weave, baskets tend to hold a lot of dust. As they are items that are used for storage we often ignore them on the usual cleaning regime and the build-up of dust, grime and odd sticky things can be a little off-putting when you empty it out. Most baskets can stand a little water, so don’t be scared to get the hose out on to them. If the basket is particularly delicate, then a simple spray of water and a good wipe down will suffice. 

Cushions: A simple concoction of water, detergent and vinegar in a spray bottle is all you need to spruce up your outdoor items. Saturate your cushions with the mixture, let it sit for 10-20 minutes then hose off, then just leave your cushions to dry in the sun. Use a little more elbow grease when it comes to scrubbing the edges and crevices of cushions.

BBQ: Scrape away all the grit from the plates and grills, make sure you scrape down both sides. Soak all your BBQ trays and grills in hot soapy water-the hotter, the better. You want to get rid of all the grease from the plates. While trays are drying, clean the rest of the BBQ with hot soapy water and a scourer. Once trays have all dried, spray with a cooking spray and put back in the BBQ. Swap your drip trays over every few times you BBQ.

Outdoor tiles: You don’t need soaps, detergents, powders, or chemical cleaners of any kind to clean your outdoor tiles. Just a simple sweep and mop does the trick. Don’t use too much water as this will push the dirt into the grout, just a good wet mop or damp cloth dipped into some warm water with a little vinegar or disinfectant will do the trick.

Wooden Furniture: Wipe down all pieces with hot, soapy water (sugar soap or detergent) using a scrubbing brush for tougher stains. Give it a good spray with a hose and leave to dry. This job is best done at the beginning of every summer, so it’s freshly cleaned for all your outdoor entertaining.

So let’s swing open those back doors and let the fresh air in. Wait for that perfect sunny day to tackle your yard and make the most of your day in the sun, jump into jobs like checking the gutters, removing cobwebs, cleaning your outdoor umbrella and giving your back step a real going-over. Maybe it’s time to invest in some new outdoor cushions or to pot some colourful flowers and give your terracotta pots a good clean Then it’s time to enjoy the sun and make the most of our outdoor space.