Winter is on the horizon, and it’s time to start thinking about what to do with your patio furniture. You don’t want severe weather to damage it—but you also don’t want it crowding your garage or home. A storage unit is the answer, and here are proven storage tips to use.

How to Store Patio Furniture

1. Clean the Cushions

Your cushions will have picked up debris that you don’t want to track into the storage unit, like mold and dirt, so remove the covers and wash them. This also eliminates mold and mildew spores, ensuring these problematic organisms don’t grow inside the unit and damage your possessions. 

When done, fully dry the covers before storage, and wrap them in a tarp or breathable material to keep dust off inside the storage unit. Avoid using plastic since particles can become trapped beneath, seep into your cushions, and cause mold growth.

2. Treat Materials Correctly

Wood patio furniture needs a deep scrubbing to remove debris—especially if it’s trapped in grooves and wicker weaves. Wipe it down with warm, soapy water and a bleach solution to kill mold and bacteria. Plastic patio furniture can weaken during temperature swings, so apply automotive wax to reduce damage and wrap the frame in a moving blanket to keep it warm.

Like plastic, metal furniture benefits from automotive wax, and it’s also important it stays dry. The smallest amount of moisture can cause rusting. Thoroughly dry your furniture and apply a rust-neutralizing spray to all the surfaces before the furniture goes into the storage unit.

3. Lubricate

You want your umbrella opening and closing easily when spring returns, so start by lubricating all of the sliders and locking mechanisms. Then, move it to the closed position, lock it, and bind it with a string to ensure there’s no way it can open inside the storage unit.

Cover the pole in bubble wrap so nothing scratches the finish, and if possible, store the umbrella in a long box. Should something accidentally tumble onto it, there’s less of a chance it damages any sensitive canopy framing.

Searching for a storage unit in Kalispell, MT? The team at Treweek Mini Storage is committed to keeping customers’ items safe and offers over 300 units. Since 1978, they’ve offered long-term and flexible monthly leases. You’ll find both outdoor and interior storage options, as well as packing supplies. Call (406) 752-2835 to discuss booking a U-Haul truck for your move and visit their website to learn more about the facility.