Guest Post - How to Take Care of Your Outdoor Furniture During Winter

​As the winter wonderland is very much present and is honoring us with its breathes of cold air and first snowflakes, it is the perfect time to start preparing everything for yet another white season. Of course, as magical as it may sound, winter has its downsides as well. The colder weather can greatly affect the condition of many things; so keeping this in mind, it is only reasonable to find suitable solutions for these issues. We are not the only ones who need protection from the cold, our furniture can also suffer. So these are some ideas on how to protect them this winter:

Image Source: Pixabay

Metal and Aluminum
 
Perhaps the most reasonable choice when it comes to patio furniture is choosing metal, steel or aluminum materials. It is because these materials are very much resistant to any weather conditions and are mostly powder coated, which protects it from further rusting. This furniture is great as it does not require high maintenance. The best you can do is clean it thoroughly and apply another coat of rust-resistant paint.
 
Wood and Wicker
 
Wooden furniture looks the most appealing choice for most people’s gardens. Of course, depending on the quality and type of the wood, most wooden furniture can withstand harsher winter conditions. Recommended by Wintons Teak outdoor furniture producer, the best way to go is choosing durable wood and applying protective coating. Wicker on the other side should be stored or at least covered during winter as it has a tendency of expanding with humidity which could cause cracks and splintering.
 
Plastic
 
The best way to preserve your plastic garden furniture is giving it a rinse of water and properly drying it. Considering the fact that plastic is quite a fragile material and is prone to cracking, it would be recommendable to store the furniture inside during the harshest weather conditions. Also you could try using simple tools to remove excess dirt or residues which could not be handled with water.
 

image source: Pixabay

​Stone
 
Stone-based furniture requires a lot of attention. As resistant as it may seem, stone is a natural material and contains a lot of cracks which can be fatal during the winter. If it happens that water gets in the cracks it will freeze and contract which will further lead to more issues and ruckus. This is why it is the best idea to keep the stone furniture safe by storing it somewhere inside.
 
General Maintenance
 
One of the most important things to keep in mind is some basic things about cleaning and maintaining your patio furniture. Firstly, the outdoor furniture should be cleaned about twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Also there are special cleaning products for garden furniture that do not harm the materials. Protective coats should be applied every now and then in order to make your furniture more resistant and resilient to colder weather conditions. If taken with care, most furniture will have no issues withstanding another winter.
 
Just like with everything in our life, if we wish to preserve something, we need to know how to properly take care of it. This applies for both tangible and intangible things in life. This is why learning how to take care of the things we cherish is of crucial value.