Purchasing high-quality outdoor furniture is a year-round commitment. You wouldn't expect a pool to just take care of itself throughout the year, would you? So don't expect your outdoor furniture to do it either. Unfortunately, many people don't know where to start. Luckily, we've come up with a short maintenance guide that you can use to keep your outdoor furniture looking and feeling great all year-round.
SPRING
The spring months are probably when you will use your patio furniture set the most. It's not too hot, not too cold, and there's plenty of sunshine to go around. However, one thing that spring does bring a lot of is rain, and rain can cause a lot of damage to wood and threaten metal-framed chairs and tables with rust. To help your patio or backyard furniture make it through the storm, there are a few things you can do for your wood or metal frames. Wood Frames - The biggest thing that you want to look out for is mildew. Mildew not only looks bad, but it can smell and if you're not careful, it can ruin a wood frame over time. To protect your furniture, start by clearing off the mildew spores with a soft brush, so as not to damage the wood. Once the mildew is cleared off, wash the whole frame with a damp soft cloth then let it dry. Once the frame is dry, pick out a good synthetic resin water repellent that matches the color of the wood and apply it to the frame. Metal Frames - Rust is the ultimate killer of all metal-framed outdoor furniture. Obviously, the best way to prevent rusting is to keep the furniture dry, which is why investing in good furniture covers is always a good idea. But what if rust has already gotten to your frame? The simplest method is by getting your hands dirty and scrubbing it out. Power drills often come with metallic bristle attachments designed for this kind of work. It's important to remember when using the drill bristle to make sure you only use it over the rusted areas so that you don't cause unnecessary damage to any other areas of the frame.
SUMMER
Summer is the season of outdoor barbecues and pool parties and as a result, your outdoor furniture will most likely be getting lots of use. Here are two really quick tips on how to make your summer parties more enjoyable and safe: The thing about outdoor furniture protection that you have to remember during summer is that heat not only makes your outdoor chairs hot, but it makes you hot. When you're hot, you sweat. When you sit in your chair, you sweat on your chair. When you sweat in your chair, it accumulates and...well...you can guess what accumulated sweat smells like. So do yourself a favor, just like how you would clean off a bench at the gym after using it, clean off your outdoor chairs after using them in summer. No one wants a smelly barbecue. Let's be honest, not every outdoor chair has a high-quality Sunbrella seat cover like RST Brands. So to help protect your seat covers from fading in the intense summer sun, you can either store them in shaded areas or invest in furniture covers to protect them while they aren't being used. You bought the furniture because you liked the way it looked, so keep it that way.
FALL
Fall is the awkward stage of the year for outdoor furniture. "Do I use it still?" "Is it too cold outside?" "Does it look like it's going to snow?" Instead of just letting your furniture sit awkwardly outside during the autumn months, treat fall like the ultimate maintenance period. Oil those hinges. Buff out the last little bits of rust that have accumulated throughout the year. Apply that final coat of resin to keep it watertight and safe for the upcoming winter. One thing that outdoor furniture can be used for in the fall is gathering around a fire pit with friends to enjoy the last few weeks of cooler weather before the extreme cold of winter hits. In that case, fire safety is an important thing to keep in mind. Remember these outdoor fireplace safety tips: Sometimes, the resin on wooden frames can be VERY flammable, so don't park your chair too close to open flames. Metal gets hot! I know it's obvious, but some people need to be reminded every now and then. Don't be that person that ends up with a burn scar the width of your outdoor chair metal frame because you sat way too close to a fire for too long. Some chair covers are plastic-based and when heated, they can melt to skin pretty quickly. Falling leaves are dry, flammable, and capable of spreading flames everywhere. If you practice common sense both with yourself and your outdoor furniture, fall can be a very enjoyable time of year. Just remember to be safe.
WINTER
The only thing that comes to most people's minds during winter, when it comes to outdoor furniture, is storing it. Storage for your backyard or patio furniture during the winter months is just as important as regular maintenance is during the spring and summer. When getting your furniture ready for storage, remember: Make sure your storage area stays dry throughout the year. That way you can avoid rust, mold, and mildew. Get it clean first, especially your cushions. Proper cleaning before storing can reduce the chance of mold growth. If you're using outdoor furniture covers, make sure they are fastened COMPLETELY. The last thing you want is to have water leaking all winter and potentially ruining your frames. Hopefully, this helps! Remember, purchasing backyard furniture is a commitment just like any other household purchase, but it's a commitment that can make your relaxing time at home all the more enjoyable.
