Spring has begun, and that means you finally have time to go outside and start surveying Living Room 2.0 — your patio, deck, porch, backyard or whatever you call that place you plan to live in during the next six months.

It’s where the barbecue grill and the hammock reside; where the berries grow within arm’s reach and the mint can throw itself into your julep glass without much trouble.

Winter has likely done its usual dingy best to thwart the pretty space. So, before you have people over, and because you don’t want to go broke in the process, we have some ideas for the de-dingification.

Plastic chairs

Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup baking soda to a gallon of hot water, then apply to furniture with a garden sprayer. Rinse and dry in the sun. Repeat if needed.

Umbrella

Make a faded one look new by dyeing it. First, remove the faded one carefully. Repair small rips, if needed, with iron-on patches. Prepare dye in the color of your choice and follow directions on the bottle or box. Rinse in cold water. To keep from shrinking, dry the umbrella in the sun and put it back on the frame while still damp.

Patios and decks

Don’t rent anything to help clean it. Instead, let a mix of water and oxygen bleach (made of soda ash and hydrogen peroxide and thus not dangerous to plants or animals) bubble up slowly and break apart the dirt, algae and mildew in the wood or concrete. Give it time. Then give it a good rinse.

Plant containers

If cracked, wash, apply waterproof silicone caulk in the crack, wrap wire around pot to hold pot together, twist ends of wire to hold tight until dry. For a pot with white marks, soak the pot overnight in a mixture of 10 parts water and one part bleach. Use a wire brush to scrub what’s left. Soak in clean water.

Spots of color

There are pansies to put out if you want to, but you can prolong your spring punch of color through summer by setting out strawberries now. Or go with those early spring vegetables like swiss chard, red cabbage and purple kale. They look good. They’re good eating. Remember green’s a color too, and do pots of mint, now available everywhere. May is sooner than you think.

Wicker

Clean wicker furniture with a light brush or towel. Lightly sand if the previous paint job is peeling. Buy paint meant for outdoor use. Spray paint in fluid strokes. Wait 15 minutes between coats. Check item from every angle for full coverage.Wooden furniture

Use a pump sprayer to apply a deck cleaner and brightener solution; let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub to loosen dirt and damaged wood. Rinse with a hose. Smooth by lightly sanding. Apply a coat of gel stain (hint: it won’t drip).

Grill

With charcoal: Every time you use your grill, clean the grate, and brush out ashes and cooked-on foods. Periodically, really scrape out all that stuff that just seems to develop on the bottom of the grill. At least once a year, get out a bucket of soapy water and give it a really good cleaning.

With gas: Avoid abrasive cleaners. Are there spiders or webs in your Venturi tubes? Use a toothpick to remove them. Removable parts? Take them out and wash then by hand. For the burners, tape over any openings, clean inside with soapy water and a rag. Hose off entire grill. When dry, rub the grates with vegetable oil. Remove the tape.

Sources: ehow.com, decks.com, askthebuilder.com, realsimple.com, hgtv.com, ronhazelton.com, bbq.about.com