The Best Ways to Clean Plastic Chairs
Plastic chairs provide an inexpensive yet attractive addition to the home environment. Though typically used outdoors on decks and around pools, plastic designer chairs can be used inside, too. If your plastic chairs receive considerable exposure to the elements, you will want to clean them regularly to keep them looking their best. Does this Spark an idea?
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Routine Cleaning
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You can clean the surface dirt and dust that accumulates on plastic chairs using nothing more than water. Simply rinse them with a garden hose. Go over the entire surface of each chair with the nozzle to break up the dirt sticking to the plastic. Dry your chairs manually with cloths or sponges to prevent the water spots that air-drying can leave behind.
Stubborn Dirt
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You may need more than just water in your arsenal if your chairs have excessive caked-on dirt or sticky spots. Pour some water into a bucket and add a few drops of liquid dish-washing detergent. Use a sponge or cloth to absorb the liquid and then scrub the entire surface of each chair until the dirt withers away. Use a hose to rinse the detergent off, and then dry your chairs by hand.
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Stains
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If one or more of your plastic chairs has seemingly impossible-to-clean stains, you will need to roll up your sleeves and apply a more aggressive cleaning solution. Good Housekeeping recommends mixing 3/4 cup of chlorine bleach with 1 tbsp. of laundry detergent in a gallon of water. Put on some latex or rubber gloves to protect your skin from the bleach and soak a sponge or brush in the solution. Scrub the chairs thoroughly, paying particular attention to the stains. Wait 15 minutes, then rinse your chairs and dry them by hand.
Precautions
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Never use abrasive cloths or scouring pads on a plastic chair, as permanent damage can occur. Do not wash chairs with hot or boiling water, which can melt the plastic. Test a bleach solution on a small area of a colored plastic chair first to make sure that discoloration does not occur.
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