Enjoying the comfort and elegance of your artificial wicker outdoor furniture during the balmy Australian summer months is one thing, but the challenging task is protecting these precious items from the harsh winter weather. Safely storing your wicker furniture during winter not only ensures its durability, but it also maintains its aesthetic appeal for the longer term. If you're new to caring for artificial wicker furniture or you're unsure of how best to protect your outdoor gems during winter, fear not. This blog post is an all-inclusive guide that will assist in navigating these uncertainties.
A Comprehensive Understanding of Artificial Wicker
Artificial wicker, also known as synthetic wicker or resin wicker, is a weather-resistant version of its natural counterpart. However, despite its robustness, it's essential to accord it proper care and maintenance, particularly in harsh weather such as Australian winters. Here's why proper maintenance is important:
- It helps to protect the aesthetic quality of your furniture.
- It extends the life and durability of your furniture.
- It prevents any cost that may arise from replacing damaged furniture.
Now, let's delve into the nitty-gritty: how do you safely store your artificial wicker outdoor furniture during winter?
1. Thorough Cleaning
The preliminary step to your winter-storage regimen entails deep cleaning. You wouldn't want to store your furniture when it's dirty, would you? A power washer or hose should suffice to remove the surface grime. For those stubborn stains, use warm soapy water and a soft scrub brush. Rinse the soap off after washing and let your furniture dry off completely. This helps to avoid mildew growth and water stains.
2. Protective Covering
Though artificial wicker furniture is known for its resilience, preserving its quality requires that extra layer of protection. As such, consider investing in waterproof, UV-resistant covers that offer full coverage. These covers shield your furniture against moisture and harsh sun rays that may sneak in during the winter months.
3. Indoor Storage
If space allows, an excellent option is moving your furniture indoors during winter. A garage or shed will do just fine. This ensures that your furniture is shielded from the nasty weather, hence maintaining its longevity.
4. Elevating Your Furniture
Sometimes indoor storage isn't feasible. In such a case, elevate your furniture. This can be achieved by placing wooden planks or bricks under the legs of your furniture. Elevation prevents the furniture from coming into contact with water pools, snow and frost, thereby averting any potential damage.
Tips to Remember
When securing your artificial wicker outdoor furniture for the winter, bear in the back of your mind that:
- Indoor climate should be well regulated - If you're storing your wicker furniture indoors, ensure the space is not prone to sudden temperature shifts which can harm your furniture.
- Covering is crucial - Covering your outdoor furniture is paramount; not a step to overlook. Quality covers can be a substantial investment and a saving grace for your furniture's longevity.
- Securing loose covers - If you opt for covering, remember to secure any loose ends to prevent wind from blowing off the covers.
In conclusion, while artificial wicker outdoor furniture is hailed for its sturdiness, affording it the right winter care is integral to extend its lifespan and maintain its aesthetic charm. It's as simple as deep cleaning before storage, using protective covers, opting for indoor storage (where possible), and elevating the furniture. Rest assured, with these tips in hand, your wicker furniture will offer comfort, style and weather resistance that will serve you for multiple chilly seasons to come. So gear up, put these recommendations into action, and safeguard your artificial wicker outdoor furniture this winter.
Be sure to share these insights with friends and family because, here in Australia, we believe in caring, sharing, and preserving the things we love. After all, knowledge is power and sharing it only makes for a stronger community.
As we often say, “Winter is not a reason for despair, but an opportunity to prepare.” Happy furniture care!