Greene County
Pressure Washing

Outdoor furniture

Patio furniture is a mix of materials, and the maker’s care guide is the only real answer. Here is what one major manufacturer says about the common ones.

Depends on the material

Method
Soap, water and a soft brush for almost everything.
Pressure
POLYWOOD lumber: up to 1,500 psi1. Others: check the maker.
Cleaners
Mild dish soap. A little bleach in soapy water to sanitize poly lumber.

Pressure or soft washing

Soft wash Cleaner goes on first, a soft brush does the scrubbing, and a garden hose does the rinsing.
distance
Pressure wash A machine pushes water through a nozzle. The tip, the distance and the angle set how hard it hits. Depends on the material

POLYWOOD says a power washer that does not exceed 1,500 psi can be used to deep clean its recycled plastic lumber furniture, and that soap, water and a soft-bristle brush also work1.

For its aluminum furniture, it says to avoid abrasive pads and harsh chemicals, which can damage the finish. Its marine-grade resin furniture cleans up with soapy water and a soft-bristle brush1.

For wood, wicker and cushions, look up your furniture maker’s care instructions. We haven’t found a general source we can cite for those.

Nozzle and pressure

40° 25° 15° 0°
Spray angle by nozzle tip. A narrow angle puts the same water on one small spot; a wide fan spreads it out. This guide’s sources name no tip angle. Your maker’s care guide sets the limit.

POLYWOOD lumber: no more than 1,500 psi1. For any other brand or material, use the limit in its own care guide, or skip the pressure washer.

Cleaners to use and avoid

Use

  • Mild dish soap, warm water and a soft-bristle brush1.
  • To sanitize poly lumber, mild dish soap, a little bleach and warm water, left a few minutes and then scrubbed1.

Avoid

  • Abrasive pads and harsh chemicals on aluminum1.
  • Going over the maker’s pressure limit.

Protect plants and keep runoff out of drains

Cleaning chemicals can damage plants and grass. The Brick Industry Association’s advice holds for any surface: protect nearby plants, and where needed keep the cleaning solution and runoff off plants and the soil around them2. Soaking beds with plain water before and after, and covering what you can, is the practical version of that.

Street drains are not sewers. EPA reminds people that storm drains lead directly to local waterways, not to treatment facilities. Its tips for washing outdoors: use biodegradable, phosphate-free, water-based detergents, use as little as you can, wash on a driveway or yard rather than in the street, and send the wash water onto grass or gravel3. In Greene County, polluted runoff that enters the storm sewers is often discharged into local rivers and streams without treatment4, and Beavercreek asks residents not to dump anything down a storm sewer or drain5.

If you see suds, a rainbow sheen or an odd color in a ditch, stream or storm drain, Greene County asks you to report it to the County Engineer’s Office at 937-562-75006.

Common damage

  • A damaged finishAbrasive pads and harsh chemicals can damage the finish on aluminum furniture1.

When not to pressure wash at all

  • Above 1,500 psi on POLYWOOD lumber1.
  • On cushions, wicker or wood furniture without the maker’s instructions.

Step by step

  1. Check the labelFind the maker and material. Look up its care guide.
  2. Clean on the lawn edge, not the driveWash where rinse water soaks into the ground rather than running to the street.
  3. Scrub with soapUse mild soap, warm water and a soft-bristle brush.
  4. RinseRinse with a hose, or a pressure washer within the maker’s limit.

Before you start, read the safety page. If the job looks bigger than you want to take on, DIY or hire lays out what each way involves.

Sources

Every superscript number on this page points to one of these. Each was read on the date shown.

  1. POLYWOOD FAQs POLYWOOD. Checked 2026-10-26.
  2. Technical Note 20: Cleaning Brickwork (August 2018) Brick Industry Association. Checked 2026-10-26.
  3. Stormwater Best Management Practice: Vehicle Maintenance and Washing (EPA-832-F-21-032F) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked 2026-10-26.
  4. Stormwater Basics Greene County, Ohio. Checked 2026-10-26.
  5. FAQs: Stormwater Program City of Beavercreek, Ohio. Checked 2026-10-26.
  6. Illicit Discharge & Illegal Dumping Greene County, Ohio. Checked 2026-10-26.