Quick cleaning tips for your summer garden parties - Woman's World

If you've been putting off cleaning your garden, now is the time to do it. From reviving patio furniture and fire pits to dismantling sliding doors, our simple expert tips will get your outdoor space in top condition so you can enjoy warm days all season long. .

Restore a home with white vinegar.

Your fire pit adds beauty to your yard, but after exposure to the elements, it may begin to rust. To restore it without heavy scrubbing, try this method from landscaping expert Bryan McKenzie of BumperCropTimes.com .

"Damp a rag in white vinegar, then rub the rusty metal," he says. "Leave to act for 10 minutes before rinsing and cleaning. Acidic vinegar removes rust and leaves the metal surface underneath intact.

Cleaning a grill with onions.

Everyone looks forward to summer grilling, but removing grease and leftover food from grills can be a chore. The solution? Just grab an onion, says Surinder Multani, owner of BBQOutlets.com . "Turn on the hot grill. Cut an onion in half, then grate it along the grates, cut side down. Acids help dissolve and remove deposits, no scrubbing required. In fact, it's safer than using a grill brush, which can leave tiny metal fibers that can get into your food.

Bonus Tip: If you have a really dirty grill, check out this tutorial to clean it to perfection .

Take off a sliding door with vegetable oil.

Having trouble opening your patio sliding door? The track can be clogged with dirt. The solution: "Remove dirt from the track with your vacuum's connecting hose," says Docia Boylen, owner of HandymanConnection.com . Then add 1 part vegetable oil and 3 parts water to a spray bottle and spray the line. The oil quickly loosens stuck dirt and allows the door to slide easily.

Renew outdoor cushions with baking soda.

To clean pillowcases covered in pollen, add ¼ cup of baking soda to the wash cycle, says Clive Harris of DIYGarden.co.uk . "The baking soda rubs and lifts the pollen from the fabric, leaving the blankets looking new. And since baking soda is a natural deodorant, they'll smell great too!"

Liven up faded wood furniture with black tea.

To revitalize weather-beaten wood patio furniture, all it takes is taking a damp black tea bag and rubbing it over the wood, says McKenzie. "Black tea is rich in pigmented tannins that penetrate the wood and darken the color, almost like a light stain. Even small scratches disappear with it. Buff with furniture polish to seal.

This article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman's World .

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