It’s Time: How to Store Your Patio Furniture for Fall and Winter

For some, winter is the most wonderful time of year. The world just seems quieter and calmer when there’s a layer of snow on everything – and you’re bundled up in blankets on the couch drinking hot cocoa. But if you have taken time to spruce up your spot with outdoor patio furniture and/or a fire pit, there’s a little bit of preparation you need to take in order to make sure everything is picture perfect – and totally functional – when it’s time to haul it out again in the spring.

Not to worry – CubeSmart is here to help you organize, store and clean outdoor furniture and accessories with plenty of easy tips and tricks. We’ll cover what outdoor furniture can be left outside in winter as well as why and how to store your patio furniture, along with useful links to learn more. So, crank up that thermostat, light that pumpkin spice candle, and let’s get going!

Why Store Your Patio Furniture?

First, let’s answer the age-old question: why store your patio furniture? Well, to put it bluntly, the cold, wet, and dry conditions that characterize winter in much of the United States will wreak havoc on your belongings, even if you have tried to protect outdoor furniture with a covered patio or porch. Wood will peel, split, and rot. Plastic will fade and become brittle. Metal will rust. All not great looks come summertime.

Storing it inside, however, will help extend your patio furniture’s lifespan and protect both how it looksand feels. Proper storage also protects your items from “porch pirates”and other criminals looking to vandalize or steal anything that isn’t nailed down. Last but definitely not least, indoor storage also can protect belongings from mice or other vermin. If you’ve ever picked up an outdoor cushion and had the stuffing fall out from a giant hole in the fabric, you know what we’re talking about.

Which Outdoor Furniture Should Not Be Left Out in Winter?

If you take the time and make the effort up front to winterize patio furniture, there are some pieces that can be left out. On the flipside, there are some that should definitely not be left out – even if you buy tarps and bungee cords – or even fitted covers – to secure patio furniture from wind and wet.

Let’s dive a bit deeper a few common questions we hear about how you should treat patio furniture once the mercury begins to drop:

Can You Leave Wicker Furniture Out in Winter?

Wicker furniture is made from natural materials like bamboo and rattan and can be damaged extremely easily by the elements. To store your wicker furniture, clean it well, remove outdoor cushions, and wrap it up before placing it in a secure, climate-controlled storage spot. Synthetic wicker furniture can handle weather much better than natural wicker, according to this piece from HomeServe, but still should be covered and moved to a protected area.

Can You Leave Outdoor Cushions Out in Winter?

Let’s answer the question by asking one ourselves: Can outdoor cushions get wet? Generally, yes, as long as it has time to dry out. But even if an outdoor cushion is treated to be water-resistant, if it gets wet repeatedly, you run the risk of mildew, mold, and discoloration. You’ll thank yourself next spring if you clean them and pack them away indoors.  

Can You Leave Wrought Iron Furniture Out in Winter?

Wrought iron furniture is extremely durable, so many make the mistake of leaving it outdoors, uncovered, in the rain and snow. Repeated exposure to the worst that Mother Nature has to offer can make your wrought iron pieces begin to rust, which weakens the metal – and looks terrible to boot.

Can You Leave a Fire Pit Out in Winter?

If your fire pit is professionally made, it is likely weather-resistant and built to withstand temperature fluctuations. You can always cover it with a custom vinyl cover for extra protection from the elements.

Do you have more questions specific to your type of furniture or environment? You can always reach out to the manufacturer for advice.

How to Store Your Patio Furniture

There is a right way and a wrong way to store patio furniture. Let’s cover the wrong way first: take it as is – the dirtier and wetter the better – and shove it in your attic, basement, shed, or unheated garage. Revisit on May 1.

Now, let’s cover the right way, in five easy steps:

1. Deep Clean Outdoor Furniture Before Storing

Different types of furniture require different types of cleaning, according to HGTV. Teak furniture, for instance, which is one of the few types of patio furniture that can be left outside over the winter, can be simply dusted and soaped a few times a year if you don’t mind the gray, weathered look. If you want to maintain the original color of your teak furniture, however, you must also use both a UV inhibitor and tung or linseed oil a few times a year.   

2. Let Dry

It is absolutely critical that you let your furniture dry completely (including any cushion or cushion cases you’ve washed in your laundry machine) before storing. The last thing you want to do is uncover your patio furniture next year and see (or smell) mildew. If you leave metal furniture wet, it will rust and may even become ruined.

3. Use Sealants and Coatings

As always, refer to the care instructions that (hopefully) came with your patio furniture with regards to sealants and coatings. That said, the CliffsNotes are that if you do seal your wood furniture, you can use just about any wood sealant from the hardware store or specialty natural oils. When it comes to sealing wrought iron furniture, there are also a bunch of options to choose from, including zinc primers, epoxy enamel and silicone sealants with different gloss levels. 

4. Invest in Covers to Protect Outdoor Furniture

Although bungee cords and tarps do have their time and place, try not to rely on them when covering your outdoor furniture. You spent a lot of money on your furniture; treat it well with properly fitted covers.

5. Move to Storage

You’ll want to keep your cleaned, polished, and covered patio furniture in climate-controlled storage for the best possible outcome. The changes in temperature and humidity in sheds and attics can cause a surprising amount of damage to natural and manmade materials. Make sure your furniture is somewhere that isn’t prone to leaks or vermin, either.

Now that you know what you’ve got to do to get the most life out of your patio furniture, get to it! Your furniture – and your family – will thank you come spring.