As the leaves fall from the trees, the days get shorter, and the nights get colder, we know that winter is looming over.

And while the most festive time of the year has many positives for all to look forward to, such as Santa climbing down the chimney. Unfortunately, there’s a crippling negative – the weather.

From harsh cold winds to sleet, winter weather sheds mayhem on your homes’ exterior, such as the roof and the outdoor furniture.

While leaving the table, umbrella, and chairs to perish in the cold and wet weather is optional, if you want to conserve the look and comfort of those furnishings, ready to be pulled out for next summer, taking steps to protect them during this time of year is a must.

To do this, there are three steps to follow. The first is maintenance, the second is using adequate furniture covers, and the third is finding a safe storage space to place your items.

Thoroughly Clean the Outdoor Furniture

The garden table and chairs have more than likely endured a lot over the summer and autumn months. Such as sticky food stains and spilled drinks from summer BBQs. And debris from plants, dead insects, and falling leaves.

So it’s time to give your outdoor furniture some TLC, with a spot of cleaning.

To begin with, use a bristled brush to remove cobwebs and dust from the furniture. Then with a cloth and a bowl of soapy water, wipe down each piece, and finally, rinse with clean water. A hose or jet washer can come in handy for this part.

If your chosen day to clean the furniture is sparing a bit of sun, you can leave each piece out to air dry. Alternatively, if the weather is dismal, you can wipe it all down with some paper towels.

Find Suitable Furniture Covers

Once the furniture is bone dry, it’s time to buy and add suitable furniture covers to each piece.

Outdoor furniture covers, in particular, provide a few advantages for keeping your outdoor seating and dining equipment in top condition.

Firstly they protect your furniture from UV rays to help maintain the furnishings’ original color and shine. While there is less sun during the colder months. UV rays are still present and can impair the aesthetics of the furniture.

Furthermore, furniture covers can help prevent accidental scratches caused by harsh weather conditions, branches falling from nearby trees, and furnishings swept over by the wind.

So whether you keep the furnishings outdoors or in an outbuilding, furniture covers are essential for adding a layer of protection.

Ensure you size up the furniture to be covered and compare this to the covers in-store or online before purchasing. Ideally, a bit of wiggle room is preferable to ensure the covers can slip on and off without too much hassle.

Purchase a Durable Storage Solution

As mentioned above, while furniture covers can provide some protection from the elements. They can’t, for example, stop furniture from;

• Being blown over by strong winds
• Insects and debris working their way under the covers and settling onto the furniture
• Or from someone accessing the garden and stealing the furniture

This is why the last and most crucial step is to place your clean and covered outdoor furniture in a sheltered location.

If the home or garage isn’t an option, you might want to consider purchasing a safe storage space to install in the garden, such as a lockable steel shed.

This way, you can ensure your garden furniture has the perfect place to hibernate throughout the winter, without the risk of being stolen or poor weather sweeping in to tarnish the furniture’s look and structure.

How do you protect your outdoor furniture during the winter?

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