Equip | Outdoor Furniture Guide: How to Keep Your Patio Furniture in Great Condition All Year RoundOutdoor Furniture Guide: How to Keep Your Patio Furniture in Great Condition All Year RoundBy Tom Horton | October 31, 2023We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.During the warmer months, your patio is your own little haven – a place to unwind by the pool, kick back with friends around a fire, or sink into your favorite piece of plush garden furniture while a burger or two sizzles away on the grill. GETTY IMAGES You routinely mow the lawn and weed your garden, but let’s be honest: When was the last time you really cleaned your outdoor furniture? And sure, you relocate the coffee tables and dining chairs to your storage shed, but are you really doing everything you can to protect your furniture year round?The importance of regularly cleaning your outdoor patio furnitureDepending on the material of the furniture taking up your outdoor space, you may think you don’t need to do much (if anything) in the way of cleaning and maintenance. After all, teak furniture is already fairly weather-resistant thanks to water-repellant oils, and aluminum furniture is nearly immune to rust. However, adopting a cleanliness routine can triple your outdoor furniture’s lifespan (even in climates that experience harsh winters), while making the maintenance of other materials much easier. Some universal cleaning tips include: Vacuuming upholstery and cushions once a month. Wiping down furniture or brushing away dirt once a week. Spot cleaning stains immediately – use a trusted fabric cleaner or your own mixture of one tablespoon borax, one teaspoon mild soap, and four cups of water (use cornstarch on those extra stubborn oil stains). The calm before the storm: How to winterize your outdoor furnitureAs a rule, you should try to avoid all weather extremes: Cover chairs and tables with tarps or covers before heavy rain; invest in an awning or patio umbrella to protect against harsh UV rays; and store light or untethered furniture ahead of storms with high winds. (Velcro strips can help secure cushions as well.)Maintaining a clean and dry patio is important, but any veteran homeowner, meticulous clean freak, or “Game of Thrones” fan will tell you what your true enemy is: winter. To avoid the perils that extreme cold may bring, here are tips to winterize your patio furniture depending on the materials used.Wooden furnitureIf it’s wood, it’s likely the most vulnerable furniture piece in your yard. Moisture can and will find a way in through cracks and ridges left by harsh weather and natural wear and tear. To counter this, use an epoxy sealer with an exterior varnish topcoat – such as the Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane, which protects against moisture and direct sunlight and is sold by most retailers for under $20.Check if your patio furniture is made of teak wood – this common style provides greater durability, but the natural oils within can still attract mold and mildew. Regularly clean your teak furniture with a gentle cleaning solution (one cup of vinegar per gallon of water will do) and, when faced with tougher stains, swap out the vinegar for one quarter cup bleach and three quarters cup laundry detergent.Store your wooden furniture under tarps or furniture covers (look for breathable materials, such as anything with a layer of mesh, to avoid trapped moisture) during the colder seasons – even if they’re stored in a shed or garage – for maximum protection.GETTY IMAGES Plastic and wicker furniturePlastic furniture is easier to clean, but low temperatures will still reduce longevity by causing cracks and breaks. If you want your plastic chairs and end tables to last, store them inside during the winter months to avoid the cold altogether. Wicker furniture is the other low-maintenance option: Natural wicker will simply chip and dry out over time, so washing it as infrequently as possible is ideal. Occasional wipe-downs with a damp cloth and a quick spritz of water from a spray bottle is more than enough. If your wicker is synthetic (resin), the same rules apply, but an additional UV and weather-resistant coating can mean longer year-round durability.Aluminum and wrought iron furnitureWith aluminum, you don’t need to worry about rust. You should, however, make sure everything is completely dry before storing your furniture away for the winter – water can still sneak in through drainage holes and, over time, weaken frames. Pro tip: Touch up scratches with paint or apply a coat of car wax for added protection from excessive moisture. While aluminum is pretty much immune to rust, this is your number one concern when it comes to iron patio furniture. These absolutely should be stored away in an indoor area and/or under a durable (yet breathable) cover. If you do notice a bit of rust, use fine-grain sandpaper to remove it before cleaning and storage.Stone furnitureWhile neutral stone can withstand most weather, you should still regularly hose down your fire pit or stone table to remove dirt and debris. A stone sealer, such as the powerful Armor AR350 Concrete Sealer (starting at $64.95 with most retailers), can also help to lock out troublesome moisture.Caring for cushions, covers, and outdoor fabricsYour cushions, cushion covers, and fabric patio furniture deserve extra attention when it comes to preparing for winter. In addition to keeping your outdoor cushions clean, you should consider storing them in a storage bag of their own. Covers, as well as outdoor curtains, are typically machine washable. Avoid the dryer and let them air dry for best results. Shopping for outdoor furniture? Check out the options below.WALMART Devoko 3 Pieces Patio Furniture Sets (Originally $229.99)$139.99 at Walmart WALMART Vineego 6 Pieces Outdoor Patio Furniture Sets, Wicker Sectional Sofa with Rattan Conversation Sets with Cushions (Originally $599.99)$409.99 at Walmart More from equiptravelThese Five Cities Have the Best Sightseeing Passes on EarthtravelFive Ways to Take the Stress Out of Your Next FlightbusinessFive Signs You Need Better Business Intelligence ToolstechThe Best Video Meeting Platforms for Business Leaders and Project ManagersbusinessEnterprise Password Managers: Why Your Business Needs OnebusinessTop 5 Managed Security Service Providers to Watch for in 2023 Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | California Notice2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.Your Privacy ChoicesAs described in our Privacy Policy, we use certain personal information to inform which ads you see on our services and disclose certain personal information in connection with advertising our services to you on third-party sites and for other ad-related purposes. If you live in certain U.S. states, these activities may be considered “sales” or “sharing” of your personal information, or “processing” of your personal information for “targeted advertising” purposes (as each term is defined under applicable state privacy laws), and you may have the right to opt of these activities. Please visit the Additional Information: US States section of our Privacy Policy for more information about your rights and our privacy practices. If you would like to exercise this opt-out right, please follow the instructions below: Email Address To opt out of our use of personal information associated with the email address you provided to us (such as through account registration, newsletters or marketing subscriptions) in connection with activities that may be considered “sales,” “sharing,” or “targeted advertising,” please submit your request here. Device Information To opt out of our use of personal information associated with a device that may be considered “sales,” “sharing” or “targeted advertising,” move the toggle to the left, uncheck the box, or otherwise select your preferences. You will need to renew this choice at each Paramount service you visit, if you clear your browser cookies, or if you return to this Paramount service using a different browser or device. EssentialThese cookies are essential for the proper functioning of our Services. Essential cookies cannot be switched off in our systems. You can set your device to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the Service will not work.FunctionalThese Cookies enable the services to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our services. If you do not allow these Cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly. Analytic & PerformanceThese Cookies allow us to collect information about how visitors use our properties. Some examples include counting visits and traffic sources, so we can measure and improve the performance of our services. If you do not allow these Cookies we will not know when users have visited our properties and will not be able to monitor performance.Allow Sale, Sharing, or Targeted Advertising of my Device Information Allow Sale, Sharing, or Targeted Advertising of my Device Information Please make sure you click on the Save Settings button at the bottom or otherwise confirm your opt-out choice. If you are in California and have enabled the Global Privacy Control signal, we will treat this as a request to opt-out of “sales,” “sharing” and “targeted advertising” for device information. For more information about how to use the Global Privacy Control signal, please see here. For instructions on how to stop receiving marketing emails from us, please see here. Back ButtonCookie List Search IconFilter IconClear checkbox label labelApply CancelConsent Leg.Interest checkbox label label checkbox label label checkbox label label Save SettingsYour Privacy Choices