How to spruce up your patio furniture

It’s time to haul the patio furniture out of storage and back into the sunshine.
If yours is looking less than its best, try these ideas from Jennifer Litwin, author of Furniture Hot Spots and Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever:


Wood furniture: Clean with a little dishwashing soap mixed with warm water. Avoid bleach, which can fade wood, and never clean in swimming-pool water.
Iron and aluminum furniture: Use an inexpensive car cleaner-wax to clean the furniture and smooth and brighten the finish.
Sling chairs: Clean the vinyl fabric with a product called Casual Clean. Check outdoor-furniture retailers or online sources for the product.
Strap chairs: Broken straps can be replaced. Online retailers are a good source for patio-furniture repair supplies.