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...AND regular maintenance to keep looking good, due to exposure to the elements. The MSL article, called "Freshening Up Outdoor Furniture", breaks down the info into 5 frequently used outdoor materials.

We pulled a few good tips from the article for cleaning & maintenance from each section:

Wicker: Clean with a dust brush vacuum attachment or a dry paintbrush followed with a mild soap solution; a recipe is included in the article - 1 cup of Ivory to 1 gallon of warm water.

Wood: To remove rust stains or bird droppings, use fine grit sandpaper.
Restain or seal every 1-3 years.

Metal: After cleaning and touching up paint, apply a coat of paste auto wax to help protect the finish.

Fabric: Clean outdoor upholstery often, as some fabrics can be discolored by suncreen.

Plastic: for tough stains or mildew: make a solution of 10parts water to 1 part bleach.

There's lots more info, tips and advice in the multipage piece - check out the June issue (out May 19th) for the complete article.

Photos: Johnny Miller/Martha Stewart Living