Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Cleaning & Organization

How to Spring Clean the Backyard with Just 5 Tools

May 16, 2024

This post is sponsored by Lowe's Home Improvement

You know those projects that sort of linger in the background until someone is coming over? Like for instance, we knew we were going to eventually clean our outdoor patio furniture and prep the backyard for pool season. But it wasn't until we had a date on the calendar for an extended family pool party one Saturday this month that it really set in. Dead leaves were everywhere. The outdoor cushions had mildew on them. Yep, time to get moving on this one. 

If you have a porch, patio or pool, you're probably in the same boat. Spring is when you tidy up and get things looking good. And let me tell you, having the right tools for the job makes allllll the difference. You never want to be halted when you have momentum on a project. From clearing out to cleaning up, having the right tool for the job is a great motivator. (Conversely, if your tool shed isn’t well stocked, it’s really hard to get started.)

Ready to clean up the yard? Here is how we got it done in one afternoon with just five tools:

Leaf Blower + Trimmer + Clippers: Clear Out Debris

Chris Loves Julia | Chris leaf-blowing in the backyard

Leaf Blower | Trimmer | Clippers

First things first: Gotta get the decaying leaves out of here. We picked a day where it had been dry in our area for a few days so the leaves weren't damp. Then, we pulled out our leaf blower to corral the leaves into bags for yard waste pickup. We cut down any dead tree limbs with a trimmer and tidied up landscaping (like dead-heading last year's hydrangeas) with clippers. 

Stain Remover: Pre-Treat Outdoor Upholstery

Next, we took some Folex and sprayed down the mildew on the upholstered cushions on the patio. We have Sunbrella cushions and while they resist mold and mildew, they also hold up to a strong cleaning when you do see those culprits. I grabbed a handheld brush and scrubbed the solution in so it really soaks any stains or spots. Since I like to let this sit for a little bit, I get this going before I turn to my favorite cleaning tool… 

Power Washer: Clean the Furniture & Patio

Chris Loves Julia | Chris power-washing the lounge chairs by the pool

Power Washer | Black Gloves | Handheld Brush | Folex | Spray Bottle

...Which of course is the power washer. If you ask me if cleaning can be fun, I'll say yes, yes it can be if you have a power washer. I know you can rent them, but honestly it pays for itself in just a couple of years. I got ours from Lowe's and it has carried us through the seasons. Even the girls jockey for cleaning outdoors as long as they can use this thing! 

Chris Loves Julia | Backyard patio cushions before power washing
Chris Loves Julia | Backyard patio cushions after power washing

To start, we worked on the cushions since they needed the most time to dry.  (Did you know you can power wash fabric?) After the stain remover has run its course, I revved up my power washer and gave each and every cushion a good spray down on all sides, focusing on the piping and corners, where things can really get gunked up. Then we hosed down the cast aluminum furniture and the side tables and cleared off the pavers. I set the cushions in the sun to fully dry.

Chris Loves Julia | Backyard patio lounge chairs after power washing
Chris Loves Julia | Chris and Julia lounging on the backyard patio furniture.

All in all, prepping the backyard for the outdoor season took a few hours. And honestly, we won’t wait a year to give the yard another “spring cleaning” — especially since every member of our family is dying to power wash anything else. What are you power washing this season? (And how are your cushions looking?)

— Hide Comments
+ ShowComments
What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. We leave them out because the winters are pretty mild in NC, and we can enjoy the outdoors almost all year.

What We're

Loving

Right Now

What We're

Loving

Right Now

Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop
Shop All

Love Stories

Love Where You Live

In an industry that often feels designed to make you discontent, we want this to be place you come for inspiration, ideas, and encouragement to make the space you're already in feel like home.
Read All Posts
let's break this thing up

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

01

Portfolio

Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
read more
02

Projects

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
read more
03

Design

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
read more
hello world!

looking for inspiration?

Sales

The Best Early Black Friday Deals in 2024 (And More to Come!)

So many of our favorite stores have already launched early Black Friday sales, and we know there’s more to come! We collected all of the best deals of the holiday season—from tech to home decor—in one place for easy reference. Whether you want the lowest price on one of the best gifts of the year […]
Design

The Exciting Plans for Our Primary Bathroom Design

Chris and I have always said that if we don't feel 100% all-in excited about a project—both of us—then we probably haven't found the solution yet. I think that's been the tale with our primary bathroom renovation as a whole. We feel excited about doing the project, but it's been YEARS in the design phase […]
Chris Cooks

Mom's Light & Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls

I do a lot of cooking for food restrictions, but this recipe is none of those things. These dinner rolls are my mom's recipe, and they're one of her signature dishes. She has made them for almost every gathering since I was a kid. The smell of these...it's the smell of every family event in […]
Beautifully wrapped traditional presents stacked in a doorway
Gift Guides!

Holiday Gift Guides for Everyone in Your Life {2024}

Remember the thrill of unwrapping a gift that felt just right? Let's bring that magic back this holiday season!! Our curated gift guides for 2024 are filled with thoughtful picks that will make your loved ones feel special. That's what it's all about, after all. Whether you're shopping for your main guy, your clutch coworker, […]
Learn With Us
Want to do what we do? Get the tools, mentorship, and training to be a Good Influencer professionally.
Learn More
Looking for Something?

SEARCH THE BLOG

We've been doing this since 2009 and we've posted a whopping 24145+ blog posts and counting. You might need a little help searching, huh?

Can We Send You Our Love Letter?

Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!

hello world!
Follow Along on Instagram
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations
© 2024 Chris Loves Julia, LLC
PRIVACY POLICYTERMS & CONDITIONSAFFILIATE DISCLAIMERSITE CREDITCOMMUNITY GUIDELINES