Store Your Outdoor Furnishings to Make Them Last

 


Article by: Debbie Rodgers

In many parts of North America, the end of "porch season" has arrived. Whether you're clearing out for some oncoming bad weather, , Companion Planting closing up the cottage for the season, , William Baffin Climbing Rose beating the vandals on devil's night, or just retreating to your nest for the winter, , The Glory of Autumn: What Causes the Color? you'll want to store away all of your outdoor , Patio Umbrellas items with maximum care.

Dirt particles can settle deep into fabric and wood , Discount Patio Furniture An Easy Way to Get the Best fibers and making tiny cuts that hasten their deterioration. Untreated soiled spots can become irremovable stains. Moisture , Ideas For Your Front Yard Landscaping Project can breed mold, mildew and rot. Rust will spread, eating through metal. , Indoor Gardening With Foliage Plants So proper storage will not only make your spring , Natural Pond Filters - Let Nature Do the Hard Work! set-up more pleasant, it will prolong the life of your furnishings and décor.

The first step is to clean and dry all pieces.



  • Remove any loose dirt and dust from all pieces. For cushions and wicker furniture, , Bamboo: a Versatile and Renewable Resource use a vacuum or a soft-bristle brush. Then attack any specific problems.

  • If there are mildew spots from a humid summer, , Hibiscus Care remove them with a bleach and water , Selecting the Right Roses for Your Garden solution (1/4 cup bleach to 3 gallons of water).

  • Remove rust spots on metal , Solar Outdoor Lighting frames; sand , Dream Yard the area lightly to remove as much as possible.

  • Use toothpaste applied with a dry cloth to get rid of scuff marks on vinyl furniture , Things You Should Consider When Buying Your First Garden Leaf Blower or strapping.

  • Once specific areas have been treated, wash all pieces with mild soap and water , A Guide for Servicing Your Chainsaw and rinse well. If you have cedar furniture , Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) that is dingy, you can use a pressure washer set on low to help restore its lustre. Umbrellas covers may need to be scrubbed with a bristle brush.

  • Wipe down all pieces with a dry cloth and then leave to thoroughly air , Things You Should Consider When Buying Your First Garden Leaf Blower dry. This is probably the most important step.



Secondly, repair , Garden Sheds and protect surfaces.



  • Apply vinyl protectant to vinyl straps.

  • Oil moving parts such as wire umbrella frames and hinges by spraying silicone on the joints.

  • Use furniture , Palm Tree Care paste wax to polish wooden , Hibiscus Care umbrella poles.

  • Apply car wax to non-textured metal , Pond Liners finishes, and baby oil to textured ones. This will help maintain the surface.

  • If there were rusted spots that you have cleaned up, apply touch-up paint , Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (part 4) Environment or clear lacquer.



Third, store your items away.



  • If you live in a climate , Summer Gardening is All Weeding and Watering! with long snowy winters, , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts seriously consider indoor , Selecting the Right Roses for Your Garden storage of your furniture , Science Can't Explain Everything! & decorations for the season, , Online Flower Shops whether that's in your back shed, , Gardening on a Budget a neighbour's garage, , Cannibals on the Porch or a rented storage facility.

  • If you cannot store your items inside , Building a Deck Things to Check if Using Softwood Species away from the brunt of winter's fury, then do cover them - but make sure the furniture , Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (part 4) Environment is dry before you cover it! If it is not, the plastic , Earthworms in the Garden/Earthworm Facts tarp can promote mold growth. Inspect the tarp carefully for tears so that water , Are You New To Organic Gardening and snow , Cannibals on the Porch do not leak in.

  • Some furniture, , Summer Gardening is All Weeding and Watering! such as teak benches, , The Not So Common Day Lily cedar chairs , Cyclamen and wrought iron table sets are designed so that they can be left in the elements year round. If you have some of these furnishings and will not be using them in the winter, , Selecting the Right Roses for Your Garden bring them in if you have the space. Yes, they will endure the winter, , Dream Yard but winter , Cannibals on the Porch protection will extend their life.



So take some time now to store away your outdoor , Bamboo: a Versatile and Renewable Resource paraphernalia. It will pay big dividends next spring. , Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)
About The Author

Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, , The Glory of Autumn: What Causes the Color? and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor , Online Flower Shops living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web , Patio Umbrellas at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on "Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor , Solar Lighting space". Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com

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