Winter is dreary, wet, and miserable. It’s also the season that dampens your dreams of buying patio furniture or turns your existing furniture into rusted, dirty shadows of their former selves. But if you invest wisely and maintain properly, your furniture will not just survive the season, it will give you a place to relax and chill on those mild winter nights when you need a little fresh air.
Preparing your furniture for winter just takes a little forethought, both when you’re buying your furniture and when you’re maintaining it. Take a look at the following tips for more information.
Clean the Patio
Give your patio a thorough sweep and clean before winter. Remove any leaves and other debris and if you have a pressure washer, use it.
If left over the winter, all that mud and those leaves will stain the patio and become ingrained, making them tough to remove and leaving you with a dirty patio.
You may also want to think about sealing your patio, something that becomes even more important as it ages. Sealing is not an easy job, but you can pay a professional company to do the work for you. They will do all of the cleaning, as well, making sure your patio survives the winter rain, wind, and snow, and comes out the other side looking brand new!
If there are any cracks or chips in the patio, repair them first. Even the most minor of issues can become something much more serious when the rain starts falling and the snow piles up. A quick fix now could prevent you from needing an expensive repair further down the line.
Prepare Your Lights
Outdoor lights are essential any time of the year. One of the greatest benefits of owning a large patio and quality furniture is that you can relax and unwind during those summer nights.
As the days get shorter and the nights get darker, lights become even more important. Without them, you won’t be able to see the drink in your hand and those cozy nights on the patio will be filled with dropped plates, spilled drinks, and stubbed toes.
Think carefully about the light placement, opting for multiple small lights as opposed to large spotlights. The goal is to light the way without turning your patio into a runway.
Place the lights on the floor, over the furniture, and anywhere else they can be hung or embedded.
Prepare Your Heaters and Firepits
You don’t need to wait for the summer before you spend some time in your garden. You can still organize dinner parties, birthday parties, and other gatherings during the winter—you just need to get a little more creative.
Start with a firepit to keep your guests nice and toasty, and to make sure they’re not sitting, shivering, and waiting for the appropriate moment to make an exit.
A large firepit can serve as a centerpiece for your patio, sitting in the middle of your furniture. The trick is to keep it an adequate distance from the furniture so that it doesn’t scorch or burn while still being close enough to provide heat.
If you don’t like the idea of open flames, a patio heater is a great alternative. Just plug them in, position them close to the furniture, and they’ll keep the cold away.
Both firepits and patio heaters are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, and the prices range from a low of $50 (for a basic metal firepit or portable heater) to a high of several thousand dollars (for luxury firepits and restaurant-quality patio heaters).
Firepits and heaters are not just for the winter, either. They’re good for all seasons, from cool Spring and Summer nights to cold Fall mornings.
Buy High-Quality Furniture
Think carefully about the furniture that you buy. Outdoor furniture is designed to be used and stored outdoors, but the durability and quality of the materials can differ quite substantially.
At Seven Summers, for instance, we sell furniture made from high-quality poly lumber. It’s manufactured from recycled milk cartons and detergent bottles and while it has a wood effect, it’s much more weather-resistant. It won’t break, chip, or swell like wood and it won’t rust like metal, either.
What’s more, poly lumber is much stronger than cheap plastic and it’s also a medium weight, so you can move it around with ease.
Poly lumber will survive the winter, and you don’t need to do anything special to prepare it for those wetter and windier months. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when buying furniture made from other materials:
- Wood: Although wood is the go-to option for many homeowners, it’s also one of the most problematic. It needs to be treated every year or every couple of years, and you also need to make sure that you get a premium type of wood. If not, it will split, crack, and cause all kinds of problems.
- Metal: Iron and steel furniture is long-lasting and incredibly strong. It’s heavy, as well, and if you’re looking for something that won’t blow over, it’s ideal. However, it will also rust, and you must take extra precautions to ensure that the rust is removed as soon as it appears.
- Wicker: Most “wicker” furniture is actually made from a synthetic material. It’s usually treated in a way that ensures it’s strong and long-lasting. If it’s real, you’ll need to treat it yourself and should also think about the damage caused by rain and snow.
- Aluminum: A lightweight option that doesn’t have many of the issues you get with steel and iron furniture. However, aluminum is often very light and weak. It’s not as stable, and unless you add cushions, pillows, and throws, it won’t be very comfortable, either.
- Rattan: Rattan furniture is made from a synthetic material that has been treated but is not completely water-proof. It will get wet and the moisture will damage it over time. You can protect against this damage by covering the furniture during the winter.
If you don’t have high-quality outdoor furniture, it’s time to clear some space so that you can store your tables and chairs before winter arrives. It means that you don’t need to clean or treat them and can ensure they are protected.
Of course, it also means that you can’t use them throughout the winter and they’ll take up a lot of space in the meantime, which is why it’s best to get furniture that can brave the cold and the rain. Alternatively, you can cover the furniture with water-resistant sheets and make sure they are weighed down so that they don’t blow away.
Read our guide on What You Need to Know About Patio Furniture for more information on materials, care tips, and cost.
Wash Your Furniture
Whether you have metal, wood, or poly lumber furniture, it needs to be washed every now and then. Don’t assume that the rain will do the cleaning for you.
After heavy snow or rain, give your tables and chairs a quick wash with soapy water. You don’t need any specialist detergents and should avoid using bleach, lest it cause more damage.
Remove the dirt and debris and focus on the stains and rust.
Prepare Your Upholstery
If you have any cushions, covers, or pillows on your outdoor furniture, you should consider covering them or storing them during the winter. Some fabrics are water-resistant and will withstand whatever Mother Nature has to throw at them, but the same can’t be said for all of them, and if they lose that water-resistant coating, they will become waterlogged, sodden, and dirty.
Wet fabrics will attract mold and bacteria growth. It will start to smell and stain. It will also be uncomfortable to sit on.
If you’re leaving those fabrics outside, be sure to strip them and put them in the washing machine before you use them again. If there are no covers to remove, just mix some bleach-free detergent with warm water, grab a brush/sponge, and start scrubbing.
Check the tags and upholstery type for more information about water resistance and for cleaning instructions. If you’re in the market for some new cushions, durability and care should be some of your main considerations.
Summary: Preparing Your Patio for the Winter
As you can see, it doesn’t take much to prepare your patio for the winter and ensure that the space can be used whatever the weather!
Once the snow has melted, the rain has stopped, and you’re starting to think about venturing outside once more, just give everything another quick clean and prepare for Spring!
Don’t assume that the sunshine will dry all the fabrics and cure the damaged wood. If anything, the heat may encourage the spread of mold in sodden fabrics and turn that dirt into stains.
It’s generally good practice to clean your patio and furniture after every season, but before Winter and during the Spring are the most important times.