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CD H Home and Garden Advertorial t -- i o CM of T--I Prepare patio furniture for summer As temperatures rise, people increasingly ven ture outdoors to soak up the sun, enjoy the mild breezes and enter tain under the open sky. Clean and comfortable furniture can make out door entertaining that much more enjoyable. After months in stor age or nestled under pro tective tarps, outdoor fur niture likely needs a good cleaning before it's put to the test once again. Mil dew may have formed, in sects may be hiding out within cushions or other crevices and dirt may have accumulated - even if the furniture was cleaned before be ing stored away. Experts recommend cleaning outdoor furniture between three and four times per year to keep it in optimal condition. Before cleaning, determine the material your furniture is made of, as some cleaning products may not be safe for all materials. When in doubt, read the care tags on cushions and other products or refer back to the original packaging for cleaning in structions. Always test a cleaning so lution in an inconspicuous area first. The following are some additional general furniture cleaning guidelines. W ood Wood comes in many varieties, from hard and softwoods to wicker also may do the trick. The detergent contains a mild bleaching agent that will not cause damage like straight bleach. Glass Dish detergent and gen eral home cleaning solu tions work well on glass surfaces. Remember to clean all sides, including bottom-facing areas. Af ter cleaning, use vinegar or a glass cleaning solu tion and a microfi ber cloth to produce a streak-free shine. Outdoor cushions Outdoor fabrics are derived from different materials. However, this general-purpose recipe, courtesy of the DIY Network, may help clean many outdoor fabrics. Mix 1 tea spoon dishwashing detergent, 1 quart warm water and 1 tablespoon borax together. Saturate a sponge and use it to wash the cushions. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then spray it off with a high-force hose. Stand the cushions on their edges to dry outdoors. Remember, vinegar can help in hibit mildew growth. Therefore, keep a bottle of diluted vinegar around to spray on plastic mesh and furniture that gets wet from the rain or a pool. Store outdoor furniture away from in clement weather whenever possible to prolong its life. (MCG) Tips to sp ru ce up your clo set It's out with the woolly and warm and in with the light and breezy as temperatures rise and Ca nadians do the big closet changeover. Below are some tips on how to best spruce up your closet for spring: 1. Prep winter goods like blankets and cozy sweaters for storage. Cleaning before packing is important, and while dry cleaning is an obvious option, it uses harsh chemicals and comes with a steep price tag. Instead, try the LG Styler, a new innovation that provides an environmentally-friendly alternative and is a great solution for items that can't just be tossed in the washer. The LG Styler is a steam cleaning appliance that refreshes and de-wrinkles clothes and household textiles. 2. Assess each item to check its condition and see if you still love it. If you haven't worn it in over a year or haven't seriously considered wearing the article of clothing, get rid of it. Donate those unused and unwanted items to charity and pare down the wardrobe. 3. Drawers and closets typically get overlooked during a regular cleaning routine. Before restock ing them with your spring wardrobe, wipe them down with a gentle cleaning product and vacuum out closet floors. 4. Transition to skinny textured hangers. This will ensure clothes don't slip off and also create more space in the closet so you've got room for the season's latest fashions. 5. Your closet might even need a fresh coat of paint, and spring is a great time to do it. Just make sure to sweep the walls and ceilings for any dust and other debris before you begin painting. www.newscanada.com DO furniture. Mild oil-based soaps and products geared especially to clean ing wood can be handy. On wicker and painted woods, it may be best to dilute the solutions before use. Hard wood furniture and built-in decking structures may benefit from annual sanding and then reapplication of a protective finish to maintain the look of the wood for long periods of time. P lastic resin Commercial cleansers may be too harsh to use on plastic resin furni ture. Before risking discoloration or scratching, try some ingredients that may be lying around the house. For example, use a wet sponge dipped in baking soda as a mild abrasive to clean resin. Just be sure to thor oughly rinse off the powdery residue afterward. 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