How to Clean Pool Lounge Chairs: 5 Steps for In Pool Loungers

To clean pool lounge chairs, rinse them with a hose or pool water every few uses and wash them with mild dish soap, warm water and a soft brush. For a deeper clean, take the lounger out of the pool and drain it first. Calcium buildup is the most common cause of water lines that soap won't move, and a calcium remover takes them off. Rinse every cleaner off before the lounger goes back in the water.

The details below come from Ledge Lounger's and TenJam's own care instructions. Both brands are in our in pool furniture collection, so you can follow the rules for the one you own.

What Do You Need to Clean Pool Lounge Chairs?

Ledge Lounger's cleaning guides call for a short list:

• A garden hose, or pool water for quick rinses
• A bucket of warm water with mild dish soap
• A soft brush or cloth
• A scrub sponge that won't scratch, or an eraser sponge
• White vinegar and baking soda for spots and stains
• A calcium, lime and rust removing cleanser for water lines

TenJam owners can add the cleaners TenJam names for its polyethylene, listed in the TenJam section below.

Step 1: Rinse After Every Few Uses

Use a hose or your regular pool water to rinse off oils and spills every few uses. That is Ledge Lounger's routine advice.

Body oil, lotion and sunscreen are among the causes TenJam's Splash Series cleaning instructions give for the sticky brown ring of scum at the pool water line.

Step 2: Wash With Mild Soap and a Soft Brush

Mix a quarter cup of dishwashing liquid into a large bucket of warm water, as Ledge Lounger recommends, and scrub with a soft brush or cloth.

Ledge Lounger says to use a mild detergent for routine cleaning and save harsher chemicals for when you need them. For its Laylo, TenJam says to wipe it down with soap and water.

Step 3: Drain It and Take It Out for a Deep Clean

For stains that have set in, Ledge Lounger recommends draining and removing your in pool furniture before you clean. How the water comes out depends on the lounger:

• Ledge Lounger chaises have plugs. Pull the chaise out of the water, remove the plugs and position it so the water runs out. Ledge Lounger says it drains in a few short minutes.
• The TenJam Laylo has open drain holes throughout its base. TenJam says that makes it easy to drain and lift out, and the holes let the core dry out completely once it is out of the pool.

Ledge Lounger says to drain its chaises outside the pool, because the water inside can get pretty dirty and you don't want it going into your pool.

Our TenJam vs Ledge Lounger comparison covers what each brand's loungers weigh and how each one comes out of the water.

Step 4: Remove Calcium Lines and Stubborn Stains

When a water line will not wash off, Ledge Lounger says calcium buildup is the most common culprit. It comes from increased calcium levels in your pool water.

TenJam's Splash Series instructions trace scale to imbalanced water, particularly high total hardness, high pH or high total alkalinity. They add that most in pool furniture is polyethylene that heats faster than the pool water, which causes the water to deposit calcium on it.

• Ledge Lounger: a calcium, lime and rust removing cleanser. Its gentler option is equal parts white vinegar and water, sprayed on and left for 10 minutes before you wipe it clean.
• TenJam: white vinegar mixed 1:1 with Orenda CV-600, or a very diluted acid with CV-600, rubbed on softly with a rag that won't scratch. Its instructions also say CLR Brand cleaner and other scale removers could be used.

We've been asked about dirt that will not wipe off. Ledge Lounger's method is to take the lounger out, spray on a deep mold and mildew stain remover and let it sit in the sun for at least 30 minutes. Then scrub with a scrub sponge that won't scratch or an eraser sponge and rinse.

Ledge Lounger also uses a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, left on a stain for 15 minutes before a gentle scrub with a soft brush. TenJam's instructions say dish soap and degreasers are typically not effective on most stains, and they suggest Krud Kutter Graffiti Remover or another graffiti remover that is safe on polyethylene.

Step 5: Rinse Before It Goes Back in the Pool

TenJam's instructions say to fully rinse chemicals off the furniture before it goes back into the pool, to avoid chemical conflicts with chlorine and pool water chemistry. They also warn that many degreasers conflict with chlorine and should not be used on furniture while it is in the pool.

Afterward, Ledge Lounger says to check your pool's pH balance.

How Do I Clean My Ledge Lounger?

Ledge Lounger's own cleaning guide follows the steps above, with a few points of its own:

• Ledge Lounger says its chaise loungers are bleach safe, so a diluted bleach solution with an eraser sponge is an option on those chaises.
• It confirms you can use a magic eraser on its in pool products.
• It warns that abrasive cleaners can scratch surfaces and corrosive chemicals can cause fading.

Our Ledge Lounger review covers what owners say about scale and stains, and you can browse its models in our Ledge Lounger collection.

Ledge Lounger

Ledge Lounger Signature Chaise

Routine cleaning takes water and a soft bristle brush. For a deeper clean, take it out of the pool and use a mild household cleaner or a Magic Eraser.

$799.00 View Details →

Ledge Lounger

Ledge Lounger Autograph Chaise

Wipe it with a soft cloth or hose it off for routine cleaning, then use mild soap and water with a soft bristle brush for a deeper clean.

$1,499.00 View Details →

Which Cleaners Does TenJam Say to Use?

TenJam's Laylo page says to wipe it down with soap and water or a cleaner from a plastic bottle, and it names Dawn Dish Soap, Formula 409, Simple Green and Fantastik. For scum and calcium buildup, it names Easyway International Tile & Grout Cleaner.

TenJam also says to avoid abrasive cleaners and any chemical packaged in a metal container on its polyethylene products. Its Limited Warranty lists cleaning with non approved cleaners or disinfectants among the conditions it does not cover, so stick to the cleaners TenJam names.

You can browse the brand's furniture in our TenJam collection.

TenJam

TenJam Laylo In-Pool Lounger

Antimicrobial rotomolded polyethylene that resists bacteria, mold and mildew between cleanings, with open drain holes so water flows in and out.

From $599.99 View Details →

What Should You Avoid When Cleaning Pool Lounge Chairs?

• Abrasive scrubbers and cleaners. Both brands warn against them.
• Harsh chemicals for routine cleaning. Ledge Lounger says they can cause irreparable damage.
• Chemicals in metal containers on TenJam furniture. TenJam says never to use them on polyethylene.
• Putting it back without a rinse. Rinse every cleaner off first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dawn good for cleaning outdoor furniture?

For routine cleaning of in pool loungers, yes. TenJam names Dawn Dish Soap among the cleaners that work well on its Laylo, and Ledge Lounger's guide uses dishwashing liquid in warm water. TenJam adds that dish soap is typically not effective on most stains, so use the methods in Step 4 for those.

What is the best cleaner for plastic outdoor chairs?

Follow the brand's own list. Ledge Lounger recommends a mild detergent for routine cleaning and a calcium, lime and rust removing cleanser for water lines. TenJam lists soap and water, Dawn, Formula 409, Simple Green and Fantastik for the Laylo, plus Easyway Tile & Grout Cleaner for scum and calcium. You can compare loungers from both brands in our in pool lounge chairs collection.

Why does my pool lounger have holes in the bottom?

It depends on the lounger. TenJam builds the Laylo with open drain holes throughout its base so it is easy to drain and lift out, and so the core dries out once it is out of the water. Ledge Lounger chaises use plugs instead, which you remove to drain them. If you aren't sure what your lounger should have, call us at (888) 883-7568, daily 8 AM to 8 PM CT, and a real person will answer.