Your Winter Maintenance Guide for Outdoor Furniture

Relaxing in your garden may be wonderful during the summer months. As winter comes around, the harsh weather can be hard on outdoor furniture.  With the right care and maintenance, you can make sure your furniture survives the cold season and is ready to enjoy come summer. Whether your furniture is metal, wood, plastic or rattan, this maintenance guide will help you look after your outdoor furniture.

Wooden Furniture

Wooden garden furniture should be treated with a protective sealant to ensure that the wood is sealed against moisture damage all year round. The cold and wet weather during the winter months can cause moisture to soak deep into and freeze in the wood, resulting in cracking.

In addition, make sure to buy a rainproof cover to put over your items, because treated wood is still able to absorb moisture from the air.

Plastic Furniture

While you may think that plastic furniture is the ideal solution, it can still be a problem during winter. Very cold temperatures can make plastic brittle, causing it to crack when used. Even though outdoor furniture is designed to withstand harsh conditions, you should bring your plastic patio furniture indoors if it snows.

Use furniture covers as these will protect your plastic furniture from the elements while ensuring adequate ventilation so that mildew does not develop.

Metal Furniture

It is best to avoid leaving your metal patio furniture outdoors during the colder months as it can rust. If your patio furniture starts to rust, the metal will weaken and break down. Although galvanized metal does survive better than regular metal, in the long run, this too will suffer in harsh weather. You should bring metal furniture indoors whenever it rains and especially during the winter months.

Rattan Furniture

Rattan sofas, tables and chairs are comfortable, stylish and a great way to give your patio a facelift. High quality synthetic rattan furniture need not be covered during winter, as the high-grade polyethylene weave is resistant to frost and rain. However, it is still good practice to cover it, since this will keep it looking good.

Poor quality synthetic rattan furniture  will certainly need to be covered when the weather turns cold because the colour will only have been applied to the outer part of the weave and the material is more likely to break and split in a hard frost.

You should never use cane or natural rattan furniture designed for use in conservatories in your garden either during the winter or the summer. If this type of furniture is placed on a moist surface like grass, its legs will swell and split. Even when kept in a garden room, you need to think about humidity levels caused by plants. Even this source of moisture can cause the natural material to start to warp and mould to develop.

Cushions and Covers

Most outdoor furniture comes with removable cushions that will not stand up well to winter weather conditions. They can easily be damaged by the freeze and thaw of winter. Mildew and mould may start to form. It is best to store cushions and covers indoors, in a storage box or in your shed when not in use.

If you're ready to choose some stylish new garden furniture to give your outdoor space a brand-new look visit Rattan Direct and explore your options. 

Disclosure: Collaborative post