While many pieces of outdoor furniture are suitable for year-round use, you may find you naturally don’t use your outdoor space as much in the colder, winter months. If you’re not planning on using your outdoor furniture frequently, it is beneficial to store it in a secure location to preserve and protect its quality. In this article, we outline how to store your outdoor furniture during the off-season.

Clean your furniture

It is important to first clean your outdoor furniture before storing it, especially if you have been using it all summer. You can use a soft brush and mild detergent to remove dirt and grime, but avoid harsh chemicals that could damage the material of your pieces. For any mildew or strong odours that have formed, use a vinegar or mildew killer mixture, then rinse it away with warm water. This should stop the spread of any fungus and parasites which are living on it.

Protect your furniture

If you are storing your outdoor furniture over the off-season, then protecting it is essential. You can use a thick plastic sheet or tarp to keep dust and debris from covering your chairs and tables, but if you want something more durable that will last longer than just one year of use, then consider buying covers for each piece of furniture in your set.

Make sure to get a waterproof cover. This type of cover will resist water penetration so that even if rain falls on top of it whilst, in storage, no moisture will get through.

You could also invest in a cover that is fireproof. If there is any chance at all that someone might try starting a fire near where your furniture is located, or you may fall victim to a bush fire, then having a fireproof cover over each piece of outdoor furniture you own could save both lives as well as property damage costs associated with replacing broken items due to exposure to the flames.

When buying a cover, there are several things to make note of. Make sure it fits, and buy one that is breathable. This is to avoid trapping any moisture underneath the cover, where it can fester and rot your precious items, which is never something you want to see happen.

Choose your storage room

Remember to store your outdoor furniture properly to avoid damage and mould in the off-season. This should be in a spare room inside your house, or in a garage or outhouse. If the environment you choose to store it in is damp or wet, then ensure that you take proper precautions.

When you take your furniture out of this environment for the first time, you can always leave your pieces outside to air them out on a warm day. This will allow them to shed any moisture that they have accumulated over their time in storage, and they will be dry by the time you choose to use them.

We hope that this article has helped you learn how to store your outdoor furniture over the off-season. Remember, if you’re looking for a way to buy your own furniture pieces, then why not contact us at Dreamo today?