The cold winter months can be harsh on your outdoor furniture in several ways. A drop in temperature and exposure to snow can leave the metals rusting while cracking the wooden furniture. It can leave your seats with a serious mold infestation that would be hard to eradicate in the future.
Winterizing your patio furniture is crucial and can save you some money in the long run. With a proper strategy, you can keep your patio furniture safe in winter. Here are a few strategies that can protect your furniture while preparing them for summer.
Patio Furniture Maintenance
The fact that dirt holds moisture increases the chances of your furniture getting damaged in winter. Dusty furniture will stay damp for an extended period during the cold month and melting the ice can do more harm. Unfortunately, damp furniture is prone to damage and decay, so you should clean them before the cold months start. When cleaning your furniture, you should handle each material separately.
- Wicker: Furniture made from wicker tends to collect mildew and dirt in harsh weather conditions. Before winter, you should get rid of the gunk by cleaning them using water and bleach.
- Teak: This material may be wooden, but it does need extra care. You can hire a professional who can remove the stains or work on them yourself. If you prefer the DIY way, then you should prepare a mixture of warm water and vinegar. Next, clean your teak seats using a soft brush before letting them sit for a few minutes. Finally, you can rinse them and let them air dry.
- Wood: Before storing your wooden furniture, you should clean them using a mixture of vinegar, water, olive oil, and detergent. After washing them, you can dip a piece of clean cloth in warm water and rinse them.
- Metal: Instead of using harsh chemicals, you should prep your metal accessories for storage using gentle cleaning products. Apply your anti-rust solution on the metal part of the chairs before returning the chair covers.
- Plastic: Unlike metal and teak, plastic seats become brittle when exposed to low winter temperatures. You should rinse them first before washing them with a mixture of mild detergent and warm water. Rinse your furniture again before air drying them.
You can even repair the damaged furniture before the cold winter damages it further. People with closed patios can just maintain the furniture and prepare their space using the many winter deck decorating ideas available.
Take Your Patio Furniture Indoors
After cleaning your furniture and patio accessories, you can take them indoors and protect them from snow. You can store them in your garage or an outdoor closed structure on the property. This method works perfectly for furniture with softer furnishings and wicker that can get damaged when left outside.
Use Furniture Cover
Unfortunately, most homes don’t have enough space for storing their patio furniture. Without proper furniture, the ones with enough space can still leave some of them exposed to the harsh weather elements. You need furniture covers that can offer another layer of defense even indoors.
When looking for the right furniture cover, you should look for one that can protect them from water damage. Wet weather is quite common during cold winter months, so you should have all the right mitigations in place.
Just because it’s winter, it doesn’t mean that the sun won’t shine, so you should get a cover that also offers UV protection. Most importantly, make sure it’s the right fit and shape. Avoid huge furniture covers as they can get loose, resulting in water and snow reaching your furniture. A smaller cover won’t cover your furniture properly; make sure you get customized furniture covers. Customized covers should protect the furniture irrespective of its size and shape.
Apply a Coat of Sealant on Your Furniture
Manufacturers always treat their furniture before selling them with a sealant, unfortunately, it can wear out with time. To protect your property, you should sand them using sand paper and apply a new coat of sealant. If your furniture was painted, then you should repaint it using a color that blends with your winter deck decorating ideas that can transform your backyard. You can even improve your curb appeal by repainting the entire deck in the process. Protect the wicker furniture by cleaning them and then covering them with a layer of varnish.
Get the Right Insurance Cover
Unfortunately, most home insurance covers that protect your property against theft and damages don’t include your patio furniture. If your current home policy doesn’t cover your patio furniture, then you should look for a different policy. You may have to pay extra for a new policy, but it will be worth it when your property gets destroyed.
Endnote
Cold weather can damage your patio furniture, so you shouldn’t leave them unprotected in winter. Start by cleaning them, repair the damaged ones, and repaint them. Apply a sealant that can keep the moisture out and store it indoors. Make sure you cover your furniture with the right type of cover that can keep moisture away.
