How to clean outdoor furniture and BBQs for summer

To get the garden ready for summer, clean outdoor furniture with a method matched to its material, and degrease the BBQ thoroughly, ideally while the grill is still slightly warm. After winter, furniture collects grime, mould and algae, and barbecues hold old grease that needs shifting before the first cook. A proper clean now, and a quick rinse-down through the season, keeps everything fresh and ready for the first warm weekend.

Clean furniture by material

Different materials need different care, so check what yours is made of:

• Plastic and resin: warm soapy water and a soft brush; a dedicated cleaner for stubborn mould or algae.
• Metal (aluminium, steel): soapy water, dried well to prevent rust; touch up any rust spots on steel.
• Wood and teak: a soft brush and mild soapy water along the grain; let it dry, then re-oil teak to protect and restore colour.
• Rattan and synthetic weave: brush out debris from the weave, wipe with soapy water, and rinse, avoid soaking natural rattan.

Always rinse off cleaning solution and let furniture dry fully before using or covering it.

Tackle winter grime, mould and algae

Furniture left out over winter often has green algae and mould, especially in shaded, damp spots. A soft brush and an outdoor cleaner shift most of it; for cushions and fabric, check the labels, many covers are machine washable or can be spot-cleaned and dried thoroughly. The same principles apply to nearby surfaces, see removing moss from a patio.

Cleaning the BBQ

A barbecue holds old grease and burnt-on residue that is both unpleasant and a flare-up risk, so clean it before the first use of the season:

• Grates: burn off residue, then scrub with a grill brush; for a deep clean, soak the grates in hot soapy water to loosen baked-on grease.
• Interior: scrape out old ash, grease and debris from the base and remove the build-up around burners (gas) or the charcoal tray.
• Exterior: wipe down with soapy water; stainless steel can be polished up after.
• Grease tray: empty and clean it, a common fire risk if neglected.

Cleaning grates while slightly warm makes grease much easier to shift, but never clean a hot barbecue.

Don't forget the space around it

Clean furniture and a clean BBQ deserve a clean setting. A quick patio or decking wash makes the whole garden feel summer-ready, see cleaning decking and cleaning a patio. Clearing the gutters and a window clean complete the fresh look for the season.

Keep it easy all summer

Once everything is clean, a quick rinse of furniture, a brush of the grill after each cook, and emptying the grease tray keeps it all fresh with minimal effort, so you spend summer enjoying the garden, not scrubbing it.

Get the whole outdoor space summer-ready

While furniture and the BBQ are easy enough to do yourself, the patio, decking, driveway and windows make the biggest visible difference. Our driveway and patio cleaning and window cleaning services get your outdoor space genuinely summer-ready across Derby and Derbyshire, just in time for the warm weather.