The weather is turning, and your garden is ready to be prepared for winter. A final mow of the grass, one last hedge-trim to keep everything looking neat, and then you can store your garden furniture to keep it in good condition for next year.
Pushing all your garden furniture into the shed might not turn out to be the best plan, though. Why not explore the option of a self storage unit to keep your furniture dry, safe and secure through the winter months.
Storing wooden garden furniture
Wooden furniture tends to gather lichen and fungal spores, so before storing your wooden furniture make sure you’ve given it a good scrub with a stiff brush and hot, soapy water. Allow it to dry properly and try to oil it before storing or covering in a heavy tarpaulin – if keeping it outside, make sure the feet are off the ground so that the legs don’t soak up any ground moisture.
Storing plastic garden furniture
The main risk with this is discolouration from mildew if it’s not kept properly dry and ventilated. After cleaning your furniture with hot soapy water (using a hot cloth – nothing abrasive), dry it thoroughly before storing it in a unit. If it has stained over the summer, try using neat bleach to get it back to its original whiteness.
Storing rattan or wicker garden furniture
Rattan and wicker can be tricky to clean because of the weave. To remove dust, use your vacuum before giving it a good clean with hot soapy water – a toothbrush should help you get into all the nooks and crannies, or give it a blast with a high-pressure hose.
Wicker furniture should always be kept indoors when not in use. You could varnish it before popping it into storage to perform its lifespan.
Synthetic rattan is rather more hardy and designed to weather the winter months. To keep it looking top shape, you should cover it with a PVC sheet or fitted furniture covers if leaving outdoors. If you have room, or a storage unit, this is a better place to store rattan than leaving it outdoors.
Storing iron garden furniture
Rust is the biggest risk when storing iron garden furniture. Once you’ve given it a clean and ensured that it is dry, check for any blossoming rust spots and remove – you can get rust removal products from any DIY shop, or try soaking the affected area in white vinegar applied with a soft rag and rub with aluminium foil. Rinse clean and allow to dry completely before storing it under a tarpaulin or to keep your garden neater, in storage.
Fabrics
If your garden furniture seats have soft cushions, it’s a good idea to store these indoors somewhere rather than in external storage space – mice and other creatures would be eager to adopt your cushions as a new home! Similarly, parasols should be kept indoors. Wash or dab clean all soft materials and allow to dry thoroughly before storing them.
Sheds, garages or storage boxes are at high risk of being burgled in the winter months, for safer, secure storage consider a local self storage unit. Also, if you lack space to store your garden furniture, you might consider renting a unit.
Our units are indoors, protected against pests and the elements and monitored by CCTV and alarms. You could also keep your gardening equipment with us so that everything is kept clean and dry until you next need it.
Once your garden furniture is stored and your other outdoor jobs are done, your garden will look neat and tidy until spring – and then the real work will begin again!