How To Get Your Patio Ready For The Season
The new coronavirus has put the whole world's plans on hold. You won't be spending weekends at kids' sporting events for a while, potluck dinners are postponed indefinitely, and any vacation plans will have to wait until this whole thing is over. Everyone who can is staying home, and while the reason for that obviously isn't ideal, there is a silver lining: Families are spending more time together.
If you have a patio or any kind of outdoor space, use it! A little fresh air and sunshine can do a lot of good. Fortunately for you, we've got some tips, tricks and must-have products to get your patio ready for the season. You might not be hosting any big backyard barbecues for a while, but there's no reason your immediate family can't make the most of your outdoor space.
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Clean it up!
Before you even think about bringing out patio furniture or lighting a grill, you'll need to clean up the area. Sweep away any leaves, sticks or debris accumulated over the winter, and scrub off any spots or stains that have popped up since last season.
For a more-thorough cleaning, consider investing in an electric pressure washer like the Sun Joe SPX3000. This small-but-mighty wonder has an 1,800-watt motor that generates up to 2,030 PSI and 1.76 GM for maximum cleaning power.
When used as instructed, the Sun Joe SPX3000 is easy to operate. It's perfect for cleaning your patio, but it's also ideal for cleaning your home's exterior, RVs, cars, trucks, boats, driveways, lawn equipment and more.
Invest in outdoor furniture that will last.
It's tempting to get cheap, flimsy outdoor furniture, but if you want it to last, you're better off spending a little more and buying durable, quality furniture. Tables and chairs made of aluminum or polywood can last for years with proper care, and you might end up spending less in the long run than if you had to buy new pieces every season.
Amazon offers an incredible selection of patio furniture at multiple price points. You can narrow your search by cost, material and brand. For a durable, table and chair set that complements virtually any outdoor space, we love TITIMO's all-weather conversation set.
This Polywood dining set is a great outdoor option as well. It's made of durable, all-weather lumber that's not prone to splinter, crack, chip, peel or rot, and it's built to withstand a range of climates.
This Polywood table and chairs set even comes with a 20-year limited residential warranty.
Get the grill ready!
If you don't already have a grill you love, you can browse some top-rated versions and search for one with the exact features you want here. If you're planning to use your current grill for another season, you'll want to get it cleaned up and ready before that first family-only backyard barbecue.
You need a heavy-duty grill-safe brush for the job, and we recommend the GRILLART brush and scraper combo.
This genius grilling gadget is actually three brushes in one, making it faster and more efficient than ordinary cleaning tools. It's recommended for all types of grills and comes with a 100 percent money-back guarantee.
If you want to make the most of your time outside and not be glued to the grill, consider purchasing a smart meat thermometer. MEATER makes a truly wireless smart meat thermometer that lets you monitor the temperature of your meat from up to 33 feet away.
It's easy to set up, simple to use and lets you cook food to the precise temperature you want without having to constantly check on it.
Improve the ambiance of your space.
A little extra lighting can make a difference in how much enjoyment you get out of your outdoor space. String lights are an easy, affordable way to add illumination and charm to your patio. If you don't want the hassle of extra wires or mess of rigging up an extension cord, consider getting solar powered string lights such as these beauties from MagicPro.
This 44-foot strand is powered by the sunlight during the day and provides up to eight hours of illumination at night when fully charged. It's also waterproof and weather-resistant.
A fire pit is another great addition to almost any open outdoor space. There are a number of great, affordable models that can ship directly to your door, but we're partial to the Solo Stove Bonfire.
This portable fire pit is easy to light, burns any type of wood cleanly and efficiently, and produces little to no smoke. Cleanup is a breeze, too. When the wood has burned down to a fine ash, let the fire pit cool completely, turn it over and dump the remains. Wipe the base clean, and your Solo Stove Bonfire is ready to use again.
Let the games begin!
Food and drink are important, but a good outdoor game is essential for fun times on the patio. A simple ring toss game such as the Tiki Toss can keep the whole family entertained for hours on end.
It's easy to learn but difficult to master, so the competition can get heated. Tiki Toss comes with all the necessary hardware and only takes about five minutes to install.
If your patio is adjacent to any kind of lawn area or flat, unoccupied space, corn hole might just be the game your family needs. With a simple, quality set such as this one from GoSports, kids, teens and adults can all get in on the fun.
Whatever you play, enjoy it. We're living in unforgettable times, but that doesn't mean you can't make happy memories spending time with your love ones outdoors.
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This article originally appeared on the DealTown Patch
