A lanai is the room Florida homeowners use most and clean least. It is open to the air, so it collects pollen, lovebugs, leaves, rain spots, and the green film that grows on anything damp. Left alone for a season, the floor turns slick, the screens turn gray, and the cushions smell musty.
Cleaning it is a different job from cleaning a regular room. You work from the top down, you use plenty of water, and you protect plants, screens, and finishes. Here is the order that works.
What this post covers:
- Clear it and check for damage
- Screens and the frame
- Furniture and cushions
- Floors: concrete, pavers, and tile
- Mildew and green algae
- Keeping it clean through the rainy season
Clear It and Check for Damage
Take everything off the lanai: furniture, planters, rugs, grills, and décor. It is much easier to clean an empty floor, and you get to check what is under everything.
- Look at the screens for tears and loose spline.
- Check the floor for cracks, loose pavers, or standing water spots.
- Check around the door track and the base of the walls for rot, termites, or signs of leaks.
- Move plants to a shaded spot, away from any cleaner runoff.
Sweep the floor and the edges first, so you are not turning leaves and grit into mud later.
Screens and the Frame
Start at the top. Dirty water runs down, so you want the screens and the frame clean before the floor.
- Brush loose dust and cobwebs off the screens and the frame with a soft broom or a dry brush.
- Mix a bucket of warm water with a little dish soap.
- Gently scrub the screens with a soft brush or sponge, working from top to bottom, from the inside. Do not push hard, because screen is easy to bulge.
- Rinse with a garden hose on a gentle setting.
- Wipe the aluminum frame and the door track with a damp cloth, and clear the weep holes along the bottom rail.
Do not use a pressure washer on screens. It will tear them. If you find a small tear, a screen patch kit from the hardware store fixes it in a few minutes.
Furniture and Cushions
Outdoor furniture takes more of a beating than indoor, and it needs different care.
- Cushions: check the care tag. Many covers can be washed, and foam should be rinsed and air-dried in the shade.
- Plastic and resin: wipe with soapy water and rinse. Avoid abrasive pads that scratch.
- Aluminum and metal: wash with soapy water, and dry fully. Touch up chipped paint to stop rust.
- Wicker: brush with a soft brush, wipe with a damp cloth, and let it dry fully. Do not soak natural wicker.
- Wood or teak: clean with a wood cleaner or mild soap and a soft brush, and avoid pressure washing.
Dry everything completely before you put it back, or mildew will return within days.
Want help with the lanai or patio? Sunshine Clean & Care can add patio cleaning to a visit as an add-on. Tell us about the size of the space and what you want cleaned, and we will plan the time.
Floors: Concrete, Pavers, and Tile
Floors need the most water and the most patience. Work in sections, and rinse as you go.
- Concrete: scrub with a stiff broom and an all-purpose outdoor cleaner. A pressure washer on a medium setting works well, but hold it at a distance and keep it moving, since concrete can etch.
- Pavers: use a low pressure setting, because high pressure blows the sand out of the joints. Re-sand the joints afterward, and consider a sealer.
- Tile and travertine: use a cleaner that is safe for the material. Avoid acid cleaners on natural stone.
- Painted or coated floors: use a soft brush and mild soap. Harsh scrubbing damages the finish.
Wet the surface, apply the cleaner, let it work for the time on the label, scrub, and rinse. Push the dirty water away from the house and off the plants.
Mildew and Green Algae
That green, black, or gray film on a shaded lanai is mildew and algae, and it makes a floor slippery. It grows where moisture stays.
- For light growth, a stiff brush and a mix of dish soap and water often does it.
- For heavier growth, use a cleaner made for outdoor mildew, following the label. Wear gloves and eye protection, and keep it away from plants.
- Do not mix products, and rinse thoroughly.
- Look for the reason it grows there. Shade, poor drainage, or a gutter spilling onto the lanai are common causes.
If you find mold on a wall inside the lanai, or on a ceiling, EPA says the key to mold control is moisture control. Read EPA's mold and moisture guide and fix the water source.
Keeping It Clean Through the Rainy Season
Florida's summer rain means the cleaning never really ends, but small habits help.
- Sweep or rinse the floor weekly, before the film builds up.
- Wipe furniture after storms, and keep cushions indoors on stormy days.
- Clear gutters so they do not spill onto the lanai.
- Trim back trees and shrubs that drip or drop leaves on the screens.
- Check the screens after hurricane season for tears and loose spline.
For help with pollen and bugs, see our lovebug and pollen season guide. Screen and glass care is covered in our guide to cleaning windows in Florida humidity, and storm cleanup is in our hurricane and flood cleaning guide. If you would like help with the work, patio cleaning can be added to a visit.
Ready to enjoy the lanai again? Call us or send a note. Tell us the size of the lanai and what it needs, and we will explain what we can do.
