How to Winterize and Store Patio Furniture (By Material)
Good outdoor furniture is built to live outside, but how you close it up in the fall decides how it looks next spring. Our care and maintenance FAQ covers everyday cleaning. This is the seasonal version: what to do before the first freeze, material by material, using the care instructions the makers themselves publish.
The short version
- Clean before you store. Dirt, pollen and sunscreen left on over winter are harder to remove in spring.
- Dry everything completely. Frames, cushions and covers should go into storage bone dry.
- Cushions come inside, or stay under a breathable cover. Never seal them in plastic.
- Drain hollow frames if furniture stays outdoors or in a cold garage.
- Cover what stays out with a breathable, well-fitted cover.
- Fire tables: burner cover on, table cover over it, and the propane tank stored outdoors.
All-weather wicker (Lloyd Flanders)
Lloyd Flanders weaves its Lloyd Loom wicker over a fully welded aluminum frame, and the company notes that Lloyd Loom won't absorb moisture, so it resists expanding, contracting and rot. Before you close it up, wash the weave with warm water and a mild detergent, rinse, and let it dry in the sun. Lloyd Flanders' own advice for long winters is simple: a cover or dry storage for the cushions.
The same routine suits the woven vinyl collections like Mackinac and Grand Traverse. For other woven furniture, Homecrest asks for a hose rinse and no pressure washer, and Woodard says to shake out excess moisture and let the weave dry fully before storing. For more on the material itself, see Lloyd Loom vs. all-weather wicker.
Aluminum, sling and marine grade polymer (Telescope, OW Lee, Homecrest)
Aluminum doesn't rust, which is why so much of what we sell from Telescope Casual, OW Lee and Homecrest is built on it. Winter care is mostly about the powder coat and anything trapped inside the frame.
- Drain the tubing. Telescope's winter instructions say furniture stored outside or in other cold areas must be drained of any water, because water that freezes inside the tubing can damage it, and Telescope does not cover freeze damage under warranty.
- Clean the finish gently. Natural soap and water for cleaning, and a non-abrasive cleaner for scuffs. Telescope warns against acetone, mineral spirits and lacquer thinner on powder coat. OW Lee and Homecrest both say never to use a power washer.
- Wash slings in place. Spot wash with lukewarm water and mild soap, rinse thoroughly and air dry. Homecrest's cushionless Air seating has nothing to bring inside at all.
- Marine grade polymer needs only routine cleaning with a common detergent. Telescope asks you to avoid teak oil and anything hotter than 180°F, so keep stored pieces away from a furnace or heater.
- Store tables right side up. Telescope's warranty states that its tables must not be stored upside down.
OW Lee adds one more rule worth following all winter: never leave furniture standing in water, so move pieces off low spots where snowmelt collects.
Wrought iron (OW Lee, Woodard)
Wrought iron is heavy and strong, and its finish is what protects it, so the job before winter is to find and seal any chips or scratches. Check arms, feet and the undersides of seats.
- OW Lee: clean seasonally with mild soap and water, then touch up scratches, chips or occasional rust seepage from hidden crevices, which OW Lee notes is inherent in some ornate designs. Touch-up pens come in matching frame colors, and we can order them for you.
- Woodard: clean with warm soapy water. Woodard says to touch up scratches promptly to prevent corrosion: sand lightly, then apply thin coats of touch-up paint with drying time between coats. A fine automotive wax keeps the gloss on non-textured finishes.
Once touched up and dry, wrought iron can stay out under a cover. If you are deciding between metals, see OW Lee aluminum vs. wrought iron.
Cushions (Sunbrella and other performance fabrics)
Cushions are where a bad winter shows first. Performance fabrics like Sunbrella resist fading and mildew, but the foam inside still needs to go into storage clean and completely dry.
- Clean: sponge with mild soap in lukewarm water (Woodard says not above 100°F), then rinse until no soap is left. Don't remove covers, submerge cushions or use a power washer (OW Lee), and never put them in a washer or dryer (Homecrest).
- Dry: stand each cushion on its side so water drains and it dries faster, a Homecrest tip. Woodard asks that cushions be air dried completely before storing.
- Store: indoors, or under a breathable furniture cover (Homecrest's guidance). Use a breathable storage bag or a dry closet, and avoid wrapping cushions in plastic, which can trap any moisture that's left inside.
If a set's cushions are flat or faded after a few seasons, a new set can make the furniture feel new again. See our replacement cushions.
Covers: what they should do
A good cover breathes, fits snugly enough not to catch the wind, and doesn't let water pool on flat surfaces. Telescope's Weather Max covers use a breathable fabric with a shock cord and back buckles to hold the corners down in high winds. If you own Telescope, note that its warranty excludes finish damage caused by covers not made by Telescope, so its own covers are the safest choice.
For everything else, our custom made furniture covers are cut to your exact pieces in a breathable, hybrid or waterproof fabric chosen for your climate. They typically take 5 to 6 weeks, so order them early in the fall. Always clean and dry furniture before covering it.
Fire tables
Turn the gas off, let the burner cool and clear debris from the fire glass or lava rock. Then set the burner cover in place: Homecrest makes aluminum burner covers that turn the table into a usable surface, and many Telescope fire tables include an aluminum top cover. Then put a full table cover over it. Lloyd Flanders' advice is to cover the fire table when it's not in use and follow the burner care instructions included with it.
For propane, disconnect the tank and store it outdoors, upright, in a ventilated spot away from doors and windows. As general safety guidance, a propane tank never belongs in a garage, basement or house, even for the winter; your local fire code and the burner manual have the final word. For natural gas, close the shut-off valve. Choosing a new one? Our fire table buying guide explains sizes and fuels.
Covers and burner covers we carry
Frequently asked questions
Can patio furniture stay outside all winter?
Should I wrap outdoor furniture or cushions in plastic?
Do I need to drain aluminum furniture before winter?
Can I store a propane tank in the garage over winter?
When should I order custom furniture covers?
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