Winter is approaching fast. Your patio will be exposed to the elements, so it’s important to learn how to protect your outdoor furniture. For some people that means indoor storage. For others, furniture covers and cleaning may suffice. You need to check your outdoor furniture for repair. Proper maintenance will protect your investment and give you many hours of lounging, dinners al fresco or hang time by the pool.
First, you need to clean your furniture. Remove all cushions from your outdoor sofas, outdoor sectionals, loveseats, chairs and ottomans. If the covers are removable, launder them. If not, you can mix up a solution of mild dish soap or oil soap and water, scrub them with a stiff brush and rinse with a hose. When your cushions are dry, spray them with a fabric protector to prevent discoloration. You can find fabric protectors at most stores that sell cleaning supplies. Store them in a deck box or in a garage, basement or shed.
Clean woods with a gentle soap and water. Teak has a special cleaner you can purchase at any hardware store. Coat your wood furniture with a wax paste, an oil stain or other protective coating such as polyurethane to protect it.
Clean your metal furniture, checking for rust spots. You can remove rust with sandpaper or steel wool. Most metal outdoor furniture has a protective coating. Wipe down your tables and chaises. Touch up any rust spots with a rust-resistant paint after sanding to keep the furniture from further deterioration.
Vacuum wicker furniture thoroughly with a brush attachment and spot clean with a gentle soap and water. Inspect the weave of the wicker, moving the weave back into place with your fingers if it has shifted. Clip any broken strands, securing the ends by weaving it back into the wicker.
For more information on cleaning your particular type of outdoor furniture, click here.
If you don’t have a good location to store your furniture indoors, you can cover it. There are a number of quality covers made these days. Purchasing the correct covers can extend the life of your outdoor furniture. Solutions range from vinyl covers to treated canvas and more breathable fabrics.
Measure. Some people don’t take the time to make sure their furniture covers are right size. Check with the manufacturer to see if they make covers for their furniture. Many times they do. Avoid the one-size-fits all solutions and order covers with the correct dimensions. If your covers are too small they won’t fit. But if they are too large, they can drag on the floor and catch dirt and water.
Most manufacturers claim their covers are made with waterproof materials, but they only provide minimal protection from the elements. However trapping moisture inside the cover can lead to mold and fungi growth. Breathable covers have vents built into their design to allow for circulation between the furniture and the cover. While this will cut down on mold and mildew, you are sacrificing the weather-proofing aspects of the covers. The correct solution will depend on your area and winter weather.
Make sure to purchase covers with a soft cloth backing. Covers can rub away paint or finish coatings on your furniture, leaving unsightly spots. It’s important not to have a material that will scratch the finish of your furniture, especially if you have stained wood furniture. Avoid this by purchasing covers with a soft cloth backing.
You also want to make sure your covers have tie downs. During a storm or windy day, your furniture covers will balloon and fly off with out them. Tie downs will keep you from chasing the furniture covers across your neighborhood.
When you’ve purchased your covers, simply install them, checking to make sure your covers are secure, and you are protected.
If you have the space, store your outdoor furniture indoors to keep it in tip-top shape. The most important thing is to keep your outdoor furniture dry because wet furniture cushions will mildew and mold. After you have cleaned and repaired your outdoor furniture, make sure it is thoroughly dry before storing it.
Create a plan to stack your outdoor chairs and tables. Try different configurations until you find the best one that takes up the least amount of space. Wherever you store them, keep them up off the floor. Moisture can seep in through a porous concrete slab. Pets can decide to mark their territory. Consider these things when choosing your storage space. Stack your ottomans, benches and other outdoor furniture on a pallet or tarp to provide an extra layer of protection for your outdoor furniture from moisture, mold and mildew. You can also move your outdoor furniture inside to a sunroom or enclosed space for the winter, and use the furniture year round.
Your solar landscape lighting can be left outside year round, but if you decide to store your lights for more than three days, protect your rechargeable batteries by storing them where they can receive some light each day. Your lights must be fully charged and discharge once a month. Do not store your lights in a dark room or box where they will receive no light. You shouldn’t store solar lights for prolonged periods, but if you do, you can remove their batteries and replace them when they are ready for use.
When the leaves turn in the fall, it is time to think about winterizing your outdoor furniture. It takes some time to clean the cushions on your outdoor sofas, outdoor sectionals and chaises. Removing the rust and coating your wood or metal furniture can be hard work. But the extra effort is worth it. Consider these things even if you’re just exploring outdoor living room ideas. You are protecting your investment and ensuring that your family will enjoy many hours of outdoor living in the years to come.
© Woodley's Fine Furniture | Powered by OmniVue® - www.microdinc.com | Site Map