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It's so much fun spending time outside on your deck or patio in the warmer seasons. Your outdoor furniture makes this experience all the better. Providing places to sit for all your guests while they enjoy BBQ parties and freshly made drinks, outdoor furniture are valuable investments that should last for years. Since they boost the overall satisfaction of your home and quality of life, it's important to keep them in good condition for as long as possible.

When it's time to bring your furniture into a shelter for the winter, how do you protect them so that they don't lose their good looks and function? These winterization tips will help you protect your outdoor furniture whether you decide to store them in a shed, garage, or storage unit. Therefore, you can keep your valued outdoor living setup for years without needing to replace cushions and seating too frequently.

1. Clean Your Outdoor Furniture
2. Bring Your Patio Furniture Inside
3. Storage Your Upholstery and Cushions Separately

Can Outdoor Furniture Be Left Outside?

Many homeowners wonder why outdoor furniture needs to be brought inside when they are designed to be in the open. While they are more durable and designed to be exposed to rain and sun, outdoor furniture can last the longest when you take care of them and take them out of the elements during the coldest season of the year.

If you have particularly cold winters, ice and freezing conditions can wear down metal, teak, and wicker easily. Your upholstery can also develop mold and get dirty when left outside when they're not being used. This guide will show you how to take care of your furniture so that they last as long as possible, and you don't need to find replacements prematurely.

Tip 1: Clean Your Outdoor Furniture

Furniture that stays outside gets far dirtier than indoor furniture. You have dust, mildew, pollen, and dirt to contend with along with the normal stains that occur with enjoying foods and beverages. Here are some tips for cleaning various outdoor furniture materials:

• Wicker: Remove the cushions and then make a mixture of warm water and dish soap or detergent. Apply it to the wicker with a soft bristle brush. Gently scrub all areas and then rinse them with a hose. After the wicker furniture frame dries, apply a clear lacquer sealant.
• Teak Wood: Follow the same steps for cleaning wicker furniture then apply a teak sealant to the furniture. Then, let your teak furniture dry completely before moving on to the next steps.
• Metal: Remove the cushions and then apply a mixture of warm water and dish soap or detergent with a soft rag. Gently wipe all areas and then rinse them with a hose. After all the metal dries, apply a clear protective coating.
• Upholstery: Apply a mixture of warm water and detergent and gently wipe each cushion with a soft rag. Then rinse off the cushions with a hose. Let your cushions air dry and then place them in storage. If there are any mold spots, use diluted bleach to remove them. Spot test first to make sure the bleach won't lift colors off the fabric.

Tip 2: Bring Your Patio Furniture Inside

The next step is to bring all your patio furniture into a shelter. You can either bring them inside a screen porch or find a spot in your garage or attic. However, sometimes homes don't have enough space to store these items without feeling cluttered. In this situation, keeping them outside under waterproof covers is your second best option. You may also decide to store your furniture in a storage rental unit for the season. This is helpful for stashing away a lot of other seasonal clutter like pool supplies, sporting equipment, and yard care equipment that you don't need during the winter.

Tip 3: Storage Your Upholstery and Cushions Separately

Outdoor furniture cushions are uniquely designed to dry quickly and to keep their bright colors even when exposed to strong UV sun rays. However, they are not impervious to damage when left outside for the whole year. If upholstery is exposed to freezing rain and ice, it can wear down quickly. In order to protect your outdoor furniture cushions, store them in an outdoor chest or place them in boxes and put them in the shed.

Since outdoor upholstery and cushions are hardy and made to be outside, they just need to be stored in a place where they won't get wet. But no matter how strong your cushions are, they're always at risk for mold and mildew just like other fabrics. It is also a good idea to clean your cushions according to the manufacturer's directions right before storage so that when you bring them out in the spring they look just as good as they did when you first bought them.

Storage Units for Seasonal Outdoor Furniture

If you need to store any outdoor belongings for the winter, you’ll get the best results when they are indoors. Store all your valuable seasonal items in a rental unit to reduce clutter in your home and to keep your furniture away from snow, wind, and rain. To find a storage unit for your belongings, contact us.

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We're Your Storage Solution!

Storage Rentals of America is your convenient self-storage solution. So come into our office or give our storage experts a call at 1-800-457-5678. Our call center is available 7 days a week and can help determine which storage unit size best fits your storage needs.