Outdoor Furniture Plus' Blog

Depending on what part of the country you live, you’re probably beginning to see the first definite signs of springtime. For those with patios and deck areas, it’s time to start thinking about removing the tarps and taking your patio furniture out of storage.

If you’re lucky enough to have the room to store all of your outdoor furniture indoors, there will be less maintenance than if it was left outdoors, even when covered by a tarp. It’s similar to keeping your car in a garage during winter, versus keeping it outside.

The first obvious step in taking furniture out of storage is removing any protective coverings, plastic tarps or otherwise. Once removed, fold up but make sure tarps are dry. Damp tarps have a hard time drying in storage areas and tend to develop a musty smell over time.

The next step is to dust everything, from loungers to Adirondack chairs, dining tables and umbrellas. A dry dusting cloth works best.

Next, you will want to check for signs of disrepair. Common maladies that befall wooden furniture over time include moldy, warped, or cracked wood. Mold can easily accumulate underneath tarps when furniture is not completely dry, or if the tarp is not securely tied down, making the perfect, dark and damp breeding ground mold thrives in.

Similar, plastic furniture can also warp or crack over time, especially as it contracts and expands under drastic temperature fluctuations or when exposed to extreme heat or extreme cold.

As far as metal furniture, the main enemy will always be rust. This also applies to the metal chains on swings, and the hardware in other types of furniture. Luckily, most furniture these days is made with a rust-proof coating or from rust-resistant metals like zinc, but prolonged exposure and especially exposure to saltwater can increase oxidation.

After you’ve assessed any damage and tended to it accordingly, you will want to wash furniture with warm water and a washcloth. Special furniture cleaners are great, but can be expensive; dishwashing soap works about as well, and is especially good at removing grease stains. Wash any machine washable canvas covers separately, then hose everything and allow to dry fully.

For wooden furniture, you might also need to apply protective oil. Be aware that some woods, like teak produce their own oils and therefore do not requiring as much regular oiling. In fact, over-oiling can be deleterious to furniture, causing the wood to turn black. In general, though, with woods like cedar, oiling once to a few times per year depending on your area’s climate and weather should be about right. If you live in an especially arid part of the country dominated by deserts, you may need to oil more than someone living in a temperature or humid region.

Since Spring is also the time for new beginnings, it’s a perfect time of the year to experiment with new stains and paints. Sometimes all it takes is a new coat to breathe life into a worn piece of furniture. Just make sure to adequately sand, dry and follow all of the instructions on paint containers to ensure the best results.