Learning how to get mold off of plastic lawn furniture can extend the life of your outdoor purchases while providing you more time to relax and enjoy them. From cleaning to prevention, it's simple to control outdoor mold issues, and eliminate the problems at hand.
How to Get Mold Off of Plastic Lawn Furniture
Plastic lawn furniture can be a mold magnet due to the simple aspect of being outdoors. Sprinklers, rain, swimming pools, morning dew, and humid weather can all hinder the health of plastic lawn furniture, and it can quickly cause a problem. Especially if you have small children or animals, you do not want to have mold on items that they can easily touch or chew on. To get started, you need to grab a few supplies:
- Bathroom cleaners
- Lemon
- Bleach
- Dish soap
- Cloth
- Pressure washer
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Magic eraser
- Safety gear
Bathroom Cleaners
Bathroom cleaner sprays actually work very well on outdoor furniture. Many are designed to remove mold and can function as well on plastic as they will on porcelain or metal. Look for a non-toxic, organic mold remover if you are worried about chemicals. Otherwise, pick up a standard version for a quick fix and ultimate effectiveness.
- Spray your cleaner on the furniture.
- Allow it to sit for the recommended time.
- Rinse off.
Lemon and Sunshine
If you don't have the time or money to spend on fancy cleansers, you can easily kill mildew with what you already have.
- Move all of your items into the sun.
- After they have been there for a while, add some lemon juice to the plastic.
- Allow it to air dry in the sun, and then wash with soap and water.
- Be sure not to leave the furniture in the sun for too long, as plastic (especially low-quality) can easily crack from the heat.
Bleach
Using diluted bleach and water can also eliminate mold from your plastic lawn furniture.
- Simply mix a half cup of bleach to a gallon of water.
- Clean with it as you would with an ordinary cleanser.
- Fully rinse afterward, and dry completely with a towel.
Be sure to use safety equipment like rubber gloves and glasses when dealing with chemicals like bleach.
Pressure Washer
A strong pressure washer can eliminate at least surface mold from most plastic surfaces. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning lawn furniture.
- Hook up the machine.
- Use steady slow strokes to remove the mold.
- Dry the furniture completely.
Alcohol
You can also use alcohol to clean and disinfect.
- Add a bit of alcohol to a cloth.
- Scrub the mold with the alcohol until gone.
- Rinse and dry.
Magic Eraser
A newer product such as a Magic Eraser can do the trick, although these are disposable and you then have additional environmental concerns.
- Wet the magic eraser.
- Scrub the lawn furniture, paying special attention to mold.
- Rinse and dry completely.
Preventing Mold
One of the best ways to get rid of mold is prevention. Once you have chosen and executed a method to clean what is already present, practice strict outdoor routines to keep up the cleanliness.
- When watering your lawn, remove all furniture first and place in a location where it will not be hit by the water sprays.
- If you are unable to do so, cover them with plastic to protect them from at least some of the water drops.
- Try to water before the heat of the day, as shady or dark spaces will happily host mold and mildew.
- If you have a swimming pool, keep furniture out of the splash zone.
- If this is not possible, towel dry your lawn chairs and tables before retreating indoors. Especially during the middle of summer where pool use is frequent, plastic seating areas can suffer the consequence of continual moisture.
Easy Ways to Remove Mold From Plastic Lawn Furniture
Once you learn how to get mold off plastic lawn furniture, remember to be a responsible outdoor inhabitant. Find out from your city where your water runs into--you may bleach your furniture in the driveway only to have it go down your street's drain and into rivers and streams. Be conscientious about the hazards of various cleaning products, and use them in a safe place for both kids and animals. Now that you have a few methods for cleaning, it's time to remove that mold.
