Come the winter months, you may wonder what you need to do to keep your patio furniture in good condition. Can you leave it out? Do you need to cover your patio furniture in the winter? Or is it best to put it into storage?
The fact of the matter is that it depends on the type of furniture you have and what it’s made out of. Some patio furniture will definitely need to be put in storage or covered in the winter months, but there are other ways you can winterize your furniture too.
Here’s what you need to know about what can happen to the various types of furniture materials if left out in the cold and the wet and whether or not you will need to cover your patio furniture in the winter. Let’s dive into it!
How Different Materials Fare If Left Uncovered
In order to determine what to do with your patio furniture in the winter, it helps to know what could happen to it if you do nothing at all.
Wood
Wooden furniture is timeless, classy, and expensive. However, it’s highly susceptible to moisture damage, even if it’s been treated. Protective coatings can peel off and your wood furniture can begin to rot.
Wicker
A popular choice for patio furniture material, wicker is wood-based. It’s quite a thin material, and, like wood, can rot and mold if left out. This is especially true due to the fact that wicker is thinner than other materials.
Iron
If you don’t cover your patio furniture made of iron or store it away, it can rust. This can cause damage and significantly impact the furniture’s lifespan and aesthetic appeal.
Fabric
Fabric furniture brings with it the high likelihood of mold and mildew if you leave it out during the winter. It can also end up getting stained. To prevent your fabric furniture from being ruined, you’ll want to be careful to dry it off properly and then store it somewhere secured.
Plastic
Plastic furniture won’t rot the way that wood can, but winter weather can still take its toll on it. If left outside, plastic furniture can become brittle and fragile, as well as have its color ruined.
Aluminum
While there are other types of patio furniture materials, this is the last type that we will cover in this article. Aluminum is free of the troubles of rust and rot, but it can still be weakened and water damaged if left in the snow.
Should You Cover Your Patio Furniture Or Store It?
This depends on the material. For fabrics, you always want to store these, somewhere nice and dry. Generally speaking, if you can store your patio furniture, this would be the ideal option to preserve its condition. However, not everyone has the space in order to do this and not everyone has the finances available to rent out a storage space for the winter.
In this case, you can cover your furniture. As previously mentioned, be sure to remove any fabric cushions and store those indoors. You can get special winterized furniture covers to protect your furniture with. In a pinch, a heavy-duty tarp provides some protection as well. Be sure that you wrap the sides and that the bottom is covered too, so that as much of the furniture is covered as possible.
Some patio furniture should be put in storage, such as glass and wood. If it is stone or aluminum, it can be left outside, but be sure to cover it.
How Else Can You Prepare Your Outdoor Furniture For Winter?
Besides covering it or putting it in storage, there are other ways you can winterize your outdoor furniture.
- Clean it before covering it or storing it. Ensure that it dries all the way before putting a cover on so as to prevent mold or rot.
- Remove any rust and debris, as this can worsen in the winter.
- Give your furniture a protective coating.
- Refresh the paint and finish.
- Apply moisture repellent.
- Stack the furniture to save space.
It’s important to do what you can to protect your furniture. Patio furniture is an investment, and the last thing you want is to drastically decrease its lifespan because you left it out uncovered all winter long. In order to ensure that you can get the most out of your furniture and that it stays in good condition for as long as possible, take the appropriate measures to cover or store it this winter.
Kool Breeze is here to help you with your patio furniture needs. Another way we can help you protect your patio furniture is with a patio cover. To learn more about the services we can provide for you, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
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