How to look after your garden furniture in Winter

As the temperature begins to drop and the evenings get darker you’ll probably stop sitting out in your garden as much as you do in Summer. It’s important to know how to look after your garden furniture in the Winter months. If you look after your garden furniture it will last for years. We’ve put together our tips to help you look after your furniture.

Why are covers so important?

Covers are the best way to protect your garden furniture when you're not using it. They help keep your set free from dust and debris and protect the furniture from bad weather. One of the most annoying problems with outdoor furniture is birds. Bird droppings are the last thing you want to be cleaning off your furniture, a cover stops you from having to do that.

In Autumn as the leaves start to drop, they can drop onto your furniture, and rotting leaves can damage your outdoor furniture. A cover not only protects your furniture but it stops you from having to do all this cleaning throughout the colder months. If you decide to put a cover on teak furniture we do advise you to let the furniture breathe around once a week - just to keep your furniture looking new.

Bramblecrest has their own range of outdoor furniture covers, they’re designed for each set so it’s important to get the right one (if you’re unsure just ask). If you don't have Bramblecrest furniture but want a cover don’t worry - we offer top-quality bespoke covers. All we need are the measurements for your furniture!

All of our garden furniture can be left uncovered as it is meant to stay outside all year round and can withstand any inclement weather. However, if you decide to leave your furniture uncovered please bring your cushions inside or somewhere dry and secure. We just advise you to use a cover because they offer an extra layer of protection and prolong the life of your furniture. Not only that but when it comes to Spring you’ll have a lot less cleaning to do!

How do I look after my cushions?

Recently, we have written a blog on how to care for your cushions so I won’t go into too much detail, you can find the blog here. In Winter you must bring your cushions inside as the heavy rain and frost will start to damage the fabric. The cushions need to be stored somewhere dry and secure and preferably off the ground. We recommend that before you store your cushions for Winter that you clean them.

Alternatively, you could use a storage box or a cushion bag to keep your cushions dry. We stock outdoor storage boxes from Bramblecrest and they come in either a standard or large size. They’re made using all-weather rattan and have a waterproof liner - perfect for storing your cushions. If you are limited in space then a cushion bag is a good alternative. Our cushion bags are supplied by AeroCover and Bramblecrest. The Bramblecrest cushion bags have mesh air vents to stop trapped moisture, which would lead to mould and mildew. On the other hand, AeroCover cushion bags use a breathable water-resistant fabric to reduce condensation and prevent mould.

How do I look after my parasol in Winter?

If you have a parasol you’re probably wondering how you look after it in Winter, do you need to store it? In short, the answer is no, as parasols are quite tall it would be extremely difficult trying to find somewhere suitable for storage. Luckily our parasols are designed to be left outside all year round. We would still advise using a cover to protect the canopy. Using a cover just adds an extra layer of protection from any birds or bad weather.

What to do in Spring

Once the evenings start to get a bit lighter we start to think about sitting outside again. If you’ve followed our tips then your furniture will look like no and not need much maintenance. If you think that your furniture looks a bit dirty you could just hose it down or use lukewarm soapy water to clean it. If you are using a cover we would advise you to keep using that if your furniture is not being used. Cushions will still need storing until Summer - then you can leave them outside under your cover!

Looking after your garden furniture can seem tedious but it’s really important - and actually quite simple. As long as you keep your furniture covered and look after your cushions your garden furniture will be fine! If you need any help with covers or you’re unsure about how to look after your outdoor furniture just contact us and we will help.

Further Reading:

How to Store Outdoor Cushions

How to Clean Outdoor Cushions

How To Make Your Garden Warmer