How to Properly Store and Maintain Outdoor Furniture

There is nothing quite like having a large outdoor living space and filling it with outdoor furniture. Patio furniture creates a space for you to comfortably enjoy the natural sights and sounds of your own yard.

But when winter weather hits, will your plastic furniture stand up to the elements? What about teak or cedar? No matter what furniture materials your patio set is made of, properly caring for and storing your pieces when not in use will allow you to enjoy them for many years to come.

Left uncared for, outdoor furniture can become brittle during the winter months. Grime build-up develops easily, bringing a dingy look to your outdoor oasis. Stashing your outdoor furniture pieces in a shed or storage unit for the cold weather season will help preserve the appearance and stability of your outdoor furniture.

Keep reading to learn how to store patio furniture. You’ll be ready to develop a plan for next fall by getting your furniture back into shape now, keeping it that way all summer and properly prepping it for its next storage period.

In-Season Furniture Care

The most important aspect during summer is to keep furnishings as clean and dry and protected from excessive sunlight as possible. Most outdoor furnishings are designed to endure a little weather, but try to put outdoor cushions away — in the teak storage boxes or in the shed — when they’re not being used. If they’re wet, let them dry out first in the sun to prevent mold and mildew growth. Shake them and dust off pollen with a brush. A little enzymatic stain remover works wonders on soiled spots.

Every week or so,  pick the leaves and twigs off the seats and tabletops. Spray the furniture with a garden hose and scrub grimy-looking surfaces with a brush. Some will advise you to use a pressure washer to keep outdoor furniture clean, but others save the pressure washer for the brick and concrete patios—and maybe the smoker grates on occasion.

Preparations for Winter Storage

If you want your outdoor furniture to last for a long time, it should be moved to shelter for the winter. That means in a shed or other dry storage space, or at least under furniture covers. If you do use a tarp, make sure to tie securely so that it won’t blow away, but leave a little space around the bottom of the package to promote circulation.

Before putting outdoor furniture away for the season, however, it should be thoroughly cleaned, repaired (if necessary) and protected for the long haul. The best way to go about this depends on the material the item is made from.

Best Way to Store Outdoor Cushions

• If the cushions have removable covers, take them off and launder them, with a little bleach if the label allows, to kill mildew.
• Restore the dry covers to the cushions and stack loosely in a clean, dry space off the floor. If storing in an outdoor shed, you might want to cover the stack with a cloth tarp, not a plastic one.

How to Store Outdoor Hammocks

• Wash cloth or rope hammocks in the washing machine with laundry detergent; dry and fold. Store indoors.
• Wash umbrella fabric with brush and mild detergent. Let dry in open position, and lubricate switches, locks and pivots. Store in closed position.

How to Store Metal Furniture

• Wash all surfaces with water and detergent; scrub with a brush and rinse with a hose.
• Inspect all surfaces for rust or other oxidation. If you find any, treat the area with a rust-neutralizing primer. Smooth the treated area if necessary with steel wool, then apply spray paint of a color that closely matches the original finish.
• Apply a thin protective coat of car wax to all surfaces and buff.

How to Store Wicker Furniture

• Brush all surfaces with a bleach-and-water solution to clean and remove mildew; rinse gently with fine spray from a garden hose and let furniture dry thoroughly.
• Repaint with spray paint, if needed, to freshen finish.
• Apply moisture repellent to end grain on feet and legs.
• Store wicker and natural rattan furniture in a dry place on blocks to keep feet off the floor or ground.

How to Store Wood Furniture Other Than Teak or Cedar

• Wash thoroughly with a water-detergent-bleach solution and a mildly abrasive sponge. Rinse thoroughly with a garden hose and let dry.
• If wood is painted and the finish needs restoring, don’t wait for it to get worse. Do it now.
• If wood has a natural finish that still looks good, apply clear water repellent and a protective coat of paste wax.

How to Store Teak and Cedar Furniture

• Apply a bleach solution to kill mildew and lighten the wood. Let the bleach act for a day or two.
• Sand surfaces with 120-grit abrasive.
• Apply tung oil (also called China wood oil).
• Treated teak and cedar can be left outdoors.

How to Store Plastic Resin Furniture

• Wash thoroughly with detergent solution and rinse.
• Store where the temperature won’t drop below freezing.

Follow these instructions and there won’t be much to do next year, other than set out your furniture and keep after the kids to take good care of your stuff—just like you do.

Michael Chotiner is a DIY expert and homeowner who writes about home improvement projects for Home Depot. He spends a lot of time outdoors around the home, and offers time-tested ideas about keeping outdoor furniture in tip-top shape. A variety of outdoor furniture from Home Depot’s Home Decorators collection can be found online.