How to Store Outdoor Decor for Winter
As crisp autumn air settles in, it’s time to winterize your patio, deck, or garden space by properly cleaning and storing your outdoor decor and furniture. Proper storage is essential to protect your outdoor living items throughout winter, ensuring they’re in great condition when spring arrives. Learn how to winterize and store your outdoor furniture, cushions, rugs, lanterns, lights, and garden decorations so they last for seasons to come.
How to Winterize and Store Outdoor Decor
Before packing away your outdoor living essentials, take the time to prepare them for storage. Properly winterizing and storing your outdoor decor will extend its life and ensure it’s ready to use when warmer weather returns.
Following the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and storing your outdoor decor and furniture, thoroughly clean all items to remove dirt, grime, mold, and mildew. For fabric items like cushions and rugs, deep cleaning may be necessary. Once clean, allow everything to dry completely before storing.
By taking these initial steps, you'll be well on your way to protecting your outdoor investments. Let's dive deeper into specific care tips for different types of outdoor decor.
Tips for Seasonal Outdoor Furniture Care
Your outdoor furniture is an investment, and proper winterization and storage are key to preserving it for years to come. Regular maintenance will help your outdoor furniture withstand the elements and look its best season after season. Consider these essential winterization and care tips:
- Deep Clean: Before storing, remove dirt, mildew, mold, and grime with mild soap and water or a specialized cleaning solution. For wicker or aluminum furniture, consider a protective spray. Pay attention to hidden areas like under cushions and in crevices.
- Apply Protective Coating: For wooden furniture, apply a waterproof sealant or wood preservative to prevent cracking, warping, and damage from moisture.
- Dry Completely: Ensure all furniture is completely dry before covering or storing to prevent mold and mildew growth. This is especially important in humid climates.
- Cover Up: Invest in high-quality, breathable furniture covers to shield your furniture from dust, rain, snow, and harmful UV rays. Choose covers that fit snugly.
- Store for Winter: The ideal storage location is a dry, climate-controlled space like a garage or basement, which protects your furniture from extreme temperature fluctuations and moisture. If your only option is outdoor storage such as a shed, elevate furniture off the ground to prevent moisture damage. You can save space by hanging folding chairs or stacking any stackable furniture.
Follow the same guidelines when storing your patio umbrella: Use warm water and gentle soap to clean away any dirt and debris accumulated during the summer, then leave it open to allow it to dry fully to prevent mold and mildew from growing. After completely dry, close the umbrella and wrap it in an umbrella cover or other protective layer to block dirt and mildew and prevent damage. Store your umbrella in a dry location through the winter. An indoor storage area, like a garage or basement, is ideal.
