How To Extend the Life of Your Outdoor Furniture

In Texas, we get all kinds of weather: hot and muggy, cold and windy, with the occasional hurricane thrown in for good measure. That’s why we try not to get too attached to our patio décor; it’s liable to get pretty beat up. But a few tips on how to extend the life of your outdoor furniture can make all the difference.

Buy the Right Materials

There’s no getting around it. Skimp on quality, and your furniture might as well be disposable. Families are prioritizing outdoor living, and it makes sense that we should buy furniture that will stand up to frequent use and changing temperatures. Wrought iron, aluminum, teak wood… they’re still gracing patios because we have yet to improve on them.

Use Resilient Fabrics

Here’s one area we have improved on: the latest outdoor fabrics resist fading and all the liquid indignities that life throws their way. If you haven’t shopped for patio cushions lately, you’ll be impressed by the new, solution-dyed fabrics—the fibers are dyed before they’re woven. You can boost their water resistance even more by applying protective sprays. This can prevent mildew from forming.

Use a Lubricant 

If your chairs and chaises have wheels, ward off rust by applying silicone lubricant to keep things moving smoothly. Get those hinges, too. Your grill stand and umbrella handle will last longer without all that rust.

Clean Immediately

When you spill your daiquiri on a seat cushion, attend to it as soon as you can. If the kids leave sunscreen on a bench, wipe it down. Take those bird droppings seriously. Don’t give any of it a chance to settle in and penetrate the materials.

Clean Regularly

Those rainstorms aren’t “cleaning” your furniture any more than they’re cleaning your car. Deep clean your furniture at the beginning and end of the season with mild soap to prevent dirt and grime buildup.

Give Them Cover

You don’t have to go overboard to extend the life of your outdoor furniture. Simply protect your stuff with sturdy canvas covers. This step will delay the need to refurbish the furniture. Make sure the covers fit the pieces as well as possible, or they can get blown away or pool up with water.