Protecting Your Outdoor Furniture From The Elements
As you know, there is nothing better on a beautiful day than strolling out onto your deck or patio and sitting down in a comfortable chair. Unfortunately, Mother Nature and the various elements she throws at your furniture from time to time can turn beautiful furniture into chairs, tables, and more that are faded, torn, broken, or damaged in many other ways. If you want to protect outdoor furniture from rain, UV rays, wind, and other elements, here are some helpful tips from us here at Rollac.
How to Protect Your Outdoor Furniture From Sun, Rain, And Wind
1. Keep Your Furniture Clean
When you cover your patio furniture with heavy duty garden furniture covers, don’t assume this means no dirt and grime will accumulate. On the next warm and sunny day, clean your furniture using a mixture of warm water and dishwashing liquid. Once the covers are off, use a sponge to get rid of accumulated dirt and grime, then hose off your furniture and let it air-dry in the sun before covering it back up.
2. Use Fabric Protector
On your patio chairs and couches, the fabric on the cushions can get easily ruined if you let too much grime accumulate. Just as you should do with your furniture, clean the cushions with warm soapy water. After they’ve been rinsed off, spray them with a fabric protector to create a layer of protection against dirt, and to also keep their colors vibrant.
3. Provide Plenty of Shade
Perhaps most of all, providing plenty of shade on your deck or patio will keep your patio furniture and outdoor home appliances looking like new season after season. To do so, consider installing a retractable awning. Able to block out nearly 98% of the sun’s harmful UV rays, it will be a smart investment for your home.
4. Anchor Down Your Patio Furniture
When high winds come blowing through, they can send patio furniture and other items flying every which way. To prevent this, we recommend anchoring down your patio furniture by using Velcro. By putting a strip on the bottom of cushions and another on the furniture itself, you can keep cushions right where they belong.
5. Always Plan Ahead
When you hear bad weather is on the way, try planning ahead to keep your patio protected and your outdoor furniture from being damaged. For example, if you know high winds, heavy downpours, or a hurricane will be arriving, place your patio furniture in a storage shed or basement until the storm passes.
6. Buy a Can of WD-40
If you have metal patio furniture that you want to protect from rusting, spending a few dollars on a can of WD-40 will be well worth it. Once you have the WD-40, simply spray it on your metal furniture, then give it time to dry off. Once it’s dry, your furniture will have instant protection from rust and corrosion.
7. Seal Wooden Furniture with Polyurethane
If you have wooden patio furniture that is not sealed with polyurethane, it will be much more prone to sun damage, becoming wet and rotting, and other issues that will greatly shorten its lifespan. Rather than let your wooden furniture have an early demise, give it a coat of polyurethane each season.
Not only will this provide a crucial layer of protection against the elements, but it will also bring out the wood’s natural beauty.
8. Different Materials Require Different Cleaning
Remember, different types of patio furniture will require different cleaning methods. For example, if you have wicker patio furniture, use a soft-bristled brush and a solution of water and bleach to get rid of mildew, then wash it off with a fine mist from a garden hose.
9. Take Down the Umbrella
If you have an umbrella on your patio table, always fold it up and take it down when high wind gusts arrive. If you fail to do so, the umbrella can quickly become a projectile, flying through the air and breaking furniture and other items.
An Ounce of Prevention
When it comes to ways to protect outdoor furniture, an ounce of prevention can go a long way. If you are interested in retractable awnings, other outdoor structures, or have questions about how to protect patio furniture, contact our team here at Rollac so that our experts can help.