Maintaining and cleaning your indoor furniture is easier compared to outdoor furniture. You can dust, vacuum and change the upholstery to give your indoor furniture a longer life. However, when it comes to maintaining your outdoor furniture, you may have to do more than covering it with plastic to ensure its longevity. Here are 5 useful tips to maintain your outdoor furniture in summer, winter or fall.
1. Get Easy-to-Care for Furniture
Wrought iron, stainless steel and even plastic furniture are considered to be the most durable and easy to maintain types of outdoor furniture. You can keep them clean using mild-soapy water and store or cover them during snowy winters. You can accessorize your furniture with removable cushions and pillows to brighten up the space during the summer months. All weather wicker furniture is also popular due to its minimum need for upkeep.
2. Re-staining or Re-painting
If your furniture has survived a few winters and now the paint is chipping off or cracking, you don’t need to hit the stores immediately to replace it. You can re-paint it or get it re-stained to extend its patio-life. Based on the type of furniture, its location and wear-tear, you can make a decision to re-stain or re-paint it. It will immediately give your old furniture a new look for a much lower cost than buying new.
3. Consider Fancy Umbrellas
Big patio umbrellas can save your furniture from harmful sun rays, dirt, dust, pollen and even heavy rains. On a day with sombre rain showers, you can have a nice cup of Oolong tea on your patio if you have a big umbrella to protect you from the raindrops. There are multiple sizes and colours of patio umbrellas available in stores and online markets that can match your patio design. These umbrellas will help maintain your furniture along with accessory pieces such as cushions, pillows, candles, flowerpots and other decorative items.
4. Special Care for Gazebos
Gazebo care is based on whether you have a permanent structured gazebo or one that can be removed and reassembled depending on the season. If you have a wooden or metal gazebo with a permanent structure, you can cover it up with big sheets and use it as storage during heavy rainy and winter seasons. However, if you can disassemble the gazebo, you can safely tuck it away in a shed, garage or basement to protect it from harsh weather conditions. Alternatively, there is always the option of re-staining or re-painting the whole structure for better maintenance.
5. Tuck the Furniture Away
If you live in a city that witnesses harsh winters or extreme rain showers, you can pack up your outdoor furniture for safekeeping until the bright summer arrives. You can use foldable or easy to assemble metal or wicker furniture that can easily be stored in a shed, basement or garage. This will ensure the longevity of your outdoor furniture. You can hire a local pro to build a small storage shade in your backyard and professional help you assemble or dismantle the furniture when you deem the season is right for you.
Caring for the outdoor furniture, be it on your front porch or backyard patio, can be time-consuming. But with a proper plan to maintain it, you can save money by not purchasing new furniture every season. Ask a local pro to help you with maintenance and care for your outdoor furniture today to ensure it lasts for many years to come.
