Are you prone to forgetting to bring in your outdoor tables and chairs before the wet and cold winter weather ruins your furniture? With winter fast approaching, it’s time to start making arrangements for your outdoor furniture. What better way to store them than in a long term furniture storage unit? This will help keep your patio furniture protected against the elements, and keeps you from having to make room to store it in your home or garage. Here are our tips for storing patio furniture for the winter in a self storage unit.
Patio fabric and cushions should be cleaned prior to storing. This will ensure that it doesn’t develop mold or mildew while in storage and means it’s ready to use when the weather starts to clear up. To do this, follow the instructions on the label for each fabric. If there are no instructions or the label has been removed, you can use a mild cleaning solution such as the one listed:
After making your cleaning solution, use a sponge with the detergent mixture to scrub the cushions, then rinse with water and leave the cushions to dry completely. You can also use this solution on your patio umbrella.
Before storing away in your storage unit, either wrap your cushions and fabrics in tarps or blankets, or put them in a container bin. This will keep the fabric clean safe while it’s being stored.
Before storing any type of furniture, it’s important that it go into the storage unit clean, and properly protected. Fortunately, cleaning plastic furniture is fairly simple. All you need is a detergent solution, water, and a microfiber cloth. You can create your own cleaning solution using a mixture of dish soap and water, and rub it on using your microfiber cloth. Then, follow this process by rinsing the furniture with water.
Plastic furniture can become very brittle when it freezes, which can lead to cracking. In order to avoid this, be sure to store plastic furniture, such as tables and chairs, in a temperature controlled unit.
Metal is prone to rusting when it becomes wet, which can be very damaging to your furniture. For example, untreated rust can lead to the weakening of the metal and cause the material to begin breaking down. To prepare your metal furniture for long term furniture storage, treat any rusted areas with a rust-neutralizing primer and follow with paint to match the metal. Next, you’ll want to apply a coat of paste wax which protects the surface from water damage and will preserve the metal while it’s being stored. Lastly, be sure to keep your metal furniture in a dry Reno self storage unit and for added protection, cover it with a tarp to keep clean.
Wicker furniture is more delicate than other types of patio furniture. Because of its design, dirt and dust often get trapped within the small crevices of the material which makes it more difficult to clean. Luckily, the process will be much easier with these tips. Start by dusting your wicker furniture with a clean soft-bristled paintbrush. The bristles will be able to get into the crevices much easier and will easily remove dirt from those hard to reach places. Then, use a cleaning solution of ¼ cup liquid dish soap and 2 cups of water with a microfiber cloth to wipe down your wicker surface. You can also add 1 cup of white vinegar to your solution if you notice any mold or mildew. And finally, apply a moisture repellent to the feet, legs and anywhere else the grain may be exposed.
Before storing your wicker furniture in a storage unit, be sure to cover it with a tarp or large cloth, and be sure to keep it dry.
When moisture gets trapped inside wood, it can cause irreparable damages. This is especially true if the water within the wood freezes because it can later cause the wood to crack. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that wood can absorb moisture in the air, so even if you cover your wood furniture, moisture can still get in. In order to completely keep moisture out of your wood furniture, coat it with a protective sealant.
The best way to keep wood patio furniture safe while it’s being stored in a Reno self storage unit, is to coat the surface with a sealant, and cover it with a tarp. This will also help keep it dust and dirt free.
Be sure to keep your patio furniture safe from the elements this winter with Ample Storage! Our Reno self storage facility is the perfect place to keep your outdoor furniture during the winter this year. Not only are our units secured by 24/7 security, but we also offer temperature controlled units that will help preserve the quality of your important items. Rather than stuffing your patio tables and chairs in the garage, or even worse, leaving them outdoors, connect with Reno Ample Storage today! We have storage unit sizes that range from 5x5 all the way to 20x20.
