Your outdoor furniture needs appropriate maintenance and storage when winter arrives to keep in good form for many years to come. Your patio sets, chairs, and tables demand attention before the snow arrives, much as you would arrange your house and yard for cold weather. Correct storage not only keeps them looking fantastic but also saves money by avoiding damage from strong storms. These five easy ideas will teach you just how to clean, cover, and store your outdoor pieces so they are ready for the first warm spring days.
Tip 1: Clean Your Outdoor Furniture First
Your outdoor furniture needs to be carefully cleaned before winter storage. This maintains its good condition and guards against damage from moisture and dirt that may lead to corrosion or mold over storage. To maintain good condition, every kind of outdoor furniture requires particular cleaning techniques.
Wood Furniture
Warm water mixed with dish soap will allow you to softly clean the surface with a gentle brush. Look at areas where dirt gathers at corners. Rinse with fresh water; dry under the sun. Use a teak cleaner to get the gray surface off of any teak furniture.
Metal Sets
Start with rust. If you detect any, brush it with a wire tool. For difficult dirt, use a mixture of vinegar and water; wash with soapy water. To prevent fresh rust, dry everything with old towels.
PE Wicker
With warm, soapy water, gently brush between the meshes. While rinsing thoroughly with a hose, keep water from gathering in the frame. Arrange the furniture in the sun till it dries totally.
Don't overlook cleaning the rear and bottom of every piece; dirt typically accumulates there and might lead to issues down road.
Tip 2: Cover Your Furniture Properly
Winter storage depends critically on good protective covers. Although premium covers could be more expensive, they stay longer and better protect your furniture than standard plastic sheets or tarps.
Choose coverings appropriate for your furnishings. Although the best coverings are waterproof, they still allow air flow to prevent moisture from becoming caught beneath. Get covers that fit your furniture size; too large or too tiny covers will not be effective.
For Tables and Chairs
Cover the furniture once it is absolutely dry. Tightly pull it over the borders and make sure it reaches all the ground. Most decent covers include ties or straps; use these to keep the cover in place in strong winds.
For Cushions and Pillows
Separately in a waterproof storage bag or bucket, arrange cushions and pillows. Should you have them with the furniture, cover them under the same cover and raise them off the ground with the furniture seats.
Throughout storage, routinely check your covered furniture. Fix any flimsy covers and search for tears allowing water in.
Tip 3: Pick the Perfect Storage Spot
Where you store your outdoor furniture is just as important as how you clean and cover it. The right location keeps your furniture safe from winter damage and makes it easier to access when spring arrives.
Indoor Storage Options
Winter storage ideally uses a garage, shed, or basement. These areas guard your furnishings against cold weather, ice, and snowfall. Choose somewhere that is dry and cool all through winter. Steer clear of windows where direct sunlight could fade the color of your furniture or damage protective coatings.
Setting Up Your Storage Space
Never place furniture directly on concrete or dirt floors. These surfaces can hold moisture that seeps into your furniture, causing damage even when covered. Instead:
- Use wooden pallets to lift furniture at least 4 inches off the ground
- Place thick cardboard or old rugs under metal furniture legs to prevent rust marks on your floor
- Stack chairs carefully, with padding between each piece to prevent scratches
- Leave some space between furniture pieces for air circulation
A covered porch or deck can be a final resort if you lack indoor storage space; nevertheless, be very careful with covering and safeguarding your furnishings. In this situation, slightly slant your pallets so water flows off rather than accumulating around your furniture.
Tip 4: Take Apart What You Can
Before storage, disassembling your outdoor furniture frees space and facilitates moving and storage of everything. Although it will take some more time now, organizing everything will help to simplify things.
What to Disassemble
The legs of most patio tables are removable from the top. Sectional sofas break apart, and some chairs feature replaceable backs. From tables and stands, remove umbrella poles. Store your glass tabletops separately if you have them to ensure their safety.
Keep Track of Every Piece
Write on each plastic bag containing all screws and small bits what they are for, say "Patio Table Screws." Before you begin disassembling, grab a quick picture; this will come in handy when you want things back together in spring. Arrange all the components for every piece of furniture such that nothing disappears.
Storage Tips for Disassembled Pieces
Wrap glass carefully in old blankets. Store tabletops on their side if you need to save space. Keep cushions flat to maintain their shape. Tie table legs and poles together so they don't get scattered. If you still have the instruction manual, keep it with the furniture parts.
Tip 5: Fix What Needs Fixing
One opportune time to review your furniture and address any issues is during winter storage. Fixing things now will help you not worry about them when warm weather returns.
What to Check
Look at every piece of furniture and walk around it. Do any of the screws come free? Does rust exist on metal parts? Feel for split or rough areas on wooden furniture. Shive every chair slightly to ensure they are robust. See whether any cushions are beginning to fade.
Making Repairs
The most often used fixes are really basic. Loose bits are handled using a screwdriver. On minor rust or rough wood, sandpaper performs really nicely. Paint touch-ups as necessary. A fast repair will prevent tiny tears in cushion covers from becoming more pronounced.
Extra Protection
Consider some protection once repairs are finished. Wood sealers help to prevent moisture from reaching wooden furniture. On metal parts, a coat of wax battles rust. On cushions that spend a lot of time outdoors, you might choose to spray fabric protector.
Get Your Furniture Ready for Winter!
Taking care of your outdoor furniture before winter is about safeguarding your investment and ensuring that your preferred patio pieces last for years, not only about keeping things neat. Following these five steps—cleaning carefully, using appropriate covers, selecting a suitable storage location, separating furniture where feasible, and repairing any damage—you will save yourself both money and trouble down road. A few hours of labor now will result in damage-free, spotless furniture ready for usage in spring. Furthermore, next season you won't have to handle repairs or replacements.
