Experts Say Winterize Your Outdoor Furniture In a Specific Way
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As we head into the holiday season, it's important that we have all of our wintertime projects checked off our list before the first hard freeze is expected. So, it's essential to plan for winterizing your outdoor furniture. Frost and cold weather can be particularly harsh on materials like wicker, upholstery, unsealed wood, plastic, and coated metal. Although many products are marketed as weatherproof, it's important to consider whether protective covers or alternative storage solutions are necessary. that time of year when you need to start planning how to winterize your outdoor furniture.
Winterizing outdoor furniture involves customized care, but learning the best practices for different materials is straightforward. Read on to learn about the most effective winter care tips for various types of patio furniture and to find the most suitable protective solutions for keeping your pieces in excellent condition.
Know Your Materials
Furniture made from wood, metal, plastic, and upholstered materials should ideally be stored indoors during the winter, such as in a garage or shed. If this isn't possible, using a snug-fitting furniture cover is essential. Cold temperatures can cause wood to contract and expand, leading to warping, moisture ingress, and cracking. Wicker furniture is vulnerable to water seepage, which can freeze and cause cracking or unraveling. Cold weather can also make powder-coated metal and plastic more brittle, while cast aluminum, though rust-resistant, may corrode unless protected or brought inside.
On the other hand, if your outdoor furniture is made of Polywood, then you don’t need to make any extra arrangements over the winter to keep your furniture looking new. While it can be a bit pricey, it's worth it for its easy upkeep—Polywood is extremely resistant to temperature fluctuations, UV rays, water, and snow, making it a solid choice for all weather conditions. If you’re on the hunt for furniture you don’t have to shuffle around and cover during inclement weather, then Polywood furniture is the way to go.
Modern Adirondack Chair
Nautical Arms Chaise
Classic Adirondack Chair
Pick the Right Fabric and Protectant
If you're in the market for some new outdoor furniture cushions, these are two great materials we recommend investing in:
Sunbrella fabric is superb for all weather conditions due to its mold and mildew resistance and abrasion resistance. Sunbrella fabrics also typically come with comprehensive five-to-10-year warranties, are incredibly soft and comfortable, and come in a stylish range of trendy colors and designs.
Olefin fabric is another great option for outdoor upholstery and shades. It is a synthetic polypropylene fabric and is resistant to fading, mold, and mildew. However, it can be hard to get oil-based stains out of Olefin. Olefin is typically cheaper than Sunbrella but may not last as long.
When you're covering your outdoor furniture for the winter, make sure to remove any cushions and keep them in storage for the off-season. Even if they are made of resilient, outdoor-safe fabrics, this will lessen the amount of clean-up you'll have to do when spring arrives.
Store Your Cushions
If you are unable to bring your cushions inside a shed or garage during the winter, consider buying a storage bag or deck box to protect them. Though the cushion fabric itself might be water-repellent and weather-resistant, water may still be able to seep in and saturate the padding, eventually leading to mold and mildew.
These cushion storage bags made from Sunbrella offer an extra layer of protection, come in two sizes and colors, and have plenty of room to fit all your cushions and some extras. The storage bags also feature waterproof seaming and TPU laminated backing. These durable deck boxes from Keter are also generously sized, they're made of weather-resistant polypropylene resin, and they feature automatic opening mechanisms.
Sunbrella Outdoor Cushion Storage Bags
Westwood 150-Gallon Outdoor Deck Box
City 30-Gallon Resin Deck Box
Stack Your Furniture
If you have stackable furniture, like dining chairs, make sure to find a cover that can fit over the whole stack on the front, back, and sides. Depending on the design, you may also be able to stack your pool chaises and slimmer armchairs. Stacking your furniture allows you to purchase fewer covers and save space on your patio—just make sure that the furniture is secure and won't topple.
Standard Size Stackable Chair Cover
Custom Stackable Chair Covers
Ravenna Stackable Chaise Lounge Cover
Choose the Right Covers
Outdoor furniture comes in all shapes and sizes, so finding a cover that fits well and doesn’t leave large gaps for water or snow to seep in can be challenging. If you’re unable to find the perfect size from your furniture model's brand, there are many after-market solutions online that are adjustable. Look for durable, water-resistant materials and warranties on the covers that'll prevent you from getting frustrated should one rip.
Straight Sofa Covers
Heavy Duty Patio Sofa Cover
Waterproof Patio Furniture Set Cover
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