How to clean your garden furniture after muddy rain.

In recent days we have all suffered the weather phenomenon known as "calima".  The storm "Celia" that has left precipitation in much of the Costa del Sol and Andalusia, has also brought an intense cloud of dust coming from the Sahara. 

The combination with the rain has left us with unusual pictures but it has also caused problems and, above all, a lot of dirt. Cars, windows, streets, facades... every element on the outside is muddy and dust. And our garden furniture was not going to be less, especially if we have not used protective covers for outdoor furniture.

After this storm of sand and mud, we have no choice but to clean everything as soon as possible.  If you follow these tips, it will be easier for you to rework your sofas for the garden, the attic parasol or the terrace dining room.

Keep reading if you want to know the tips we offer you the professionals of PATIO.

What is the calima?

The calima (or haze) is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs in the atmosphere characterized by the presence of solid and small particles in the air that makes it turbid and opaque. These particles are usually composed of sand, dust and clay, 

When rainfall occurs in a hot climate, what we have suffered in recent days takes place: a rain of mud  that now we have to clean.

Use protective elements.

It has been shown that breathing suspended haze powder is harmful to health. That’s why we recommend that before cleaning your garden furniture you protect yourself properly. We recomend use of masks, gloves or even protective glasses will avoid more than one problem.

The ground must be prepared in advance.

Before you start, remove all furniture from your terrace or garden and clean the floor, walls and windows. Once the environment is ready, then  it’s time to focus on cleaning the furniture. 

Clean with water jets.

Either with a Karcher pressure washer or with a simple hose: water is our best ally to combat the devastating effects of haze. It is important that the jet is applied to our furniture in a descending way to achieve a better result, repeating several times until achieving an optimal result.

If we can not count on the help of a good jet of water we can always use a cloth or rag and clean the furniture very carefully so as not to scratch it.

It is important to avoid the use of vacuum cleaners and cleaning robots. Calima mud microparticles can cause irreparable damage to your engines and filters.

Watch out for the tarp on the parasols.

Tarpaulins for parasols and umbrellas for outdoor use are especially sensitive to dirt caused by haze. Its mud particles can impregnate the canvas in such a way that it is impossible to remove the stains. 

In this case, the use of a pressure cleaner is not recommended. It is best to use a soft bristle brush with soap and hot water, rubbing very carefully so as not to damage the fabric.

Ideally, remove the tarpaulin from the parasol and clean it separately.  If it is very deteriorated and is already a few years old, you can always replace it with one of our spare tarps for outdoor parasols. 

Clean carefully the top glass of your garden tables.

You may have noticed that after the haze the crystals on the coffee tables in the garden dining and sofa sets will have changed colour. Be careful when cleaning them because the mud can easily scratch the glasses without you noticing.

​To soften the waste you can use a bucket of hot water with a jet of ammonia and a few drops of neutral detergent. You should then remove it with a microfiber cloth or some window cleaner. 

It is very likely that you will have to change the water in the bucket several times because it is essential that it is clean so as not to leave fences.

Fernando Bueno.

Patio Top Garden Furniture Estepona.