Clean your garden furniture, let it dry completely, and put it away under cover at the end of summer, on a dry day. Cushions come indoors or into storage bone dry, and anything with fuel or gas is emptied first.
When to pack it away
The Royal Horticultural Society suggests doing any maintenance and storing at the end of the summer season, in dry weather. Packing on a dry day means nothing goes away damp.
Getting each piece ready
The RHS gives simple care advice for each material:
- Plastic: wash with soap and water. Plastic left out over winter or in strong sunshine can become brittle over time, so it’s worth bringing in.
- Hardwood, such as teak or eucalyptus: the most durable kind. A wash once a year with a brush and soapy water is all it needs.
- Softwood, such as pine: wash it down with a wood cleaner and treat it with a preservative stain or paint, ideally once a year, in dry weather.
- Metal: clean it and check for rust. Treat any damaged spots with rust-preventing paint, and oil stiff joints and fixings.
Cushions and parasols
Make sure cushions, seat pads and parasol canopies are completely dry before they go away, because anything packed damp can turn mouldy. Wrap them in breathable covers or blankets rather than sealing them in plastic bags, which can trap moisture.
Barbecues, heaters and the mower
Gas barbecues, pizza ovens and patio heaters can come into storage once the gas bottle is taken off, and charcoal barbecues once the ash and grease are cleaned out. The gas bottles themselves stay at home, as do fuel cans and charcoal, because fuel and gas are what start fires. A petrol mower is welcome once it’s been run completely dry. Our guide to lawnmowers, gas bottles and barbecues explains how.
Short of space in the shed?
The RHS suggests the back of the garage or a garden shed, if you have the room. If you don’t, a storage unit is a clean, dry and secure place for the winter, and we’ve written more on storing garden furniture in a unit. Furniture can go in just as it is, without boxes, and a few habits keep it in good shape:
- Stand pieces on a pallet or sturdy boxes, off the floor.
- Leave a small gap at the walls so air can move.
- Use dust sheets or blankets as covers.
Our shortest stay is two weeks, so you can book just for the winter months. Give us notice when spring comes, normally 14 days, and we’ll refund any unused days once the unit has been checked. Your furniture needs contents cover while it’s stored, through our contents protection or your own policy.
Tell us what you’re storing and we’ll suggest a size: call 0800 2545585, or get a price online.
Related questions
- Do I have to put everything in boxes in a storage unit?
- Are storage units waterproof?
- Do storage units get cold in winter or hot in summer?
Further reading