My, how the seasons fly by! Can you believe it’s almost time to get the patio furniture ready for winter? A few more cookouts, a few more evenings with friends, and soon you’ll have to go inside, shut the windows and crank up your fireplace and furnace. Don’t be tempted just to leave the patio chairs and tables out back and hope for the best. Think about potential winter problems and eliminate them before they get started.

For example, cushions and wood are vulnerable to mold and mildew, which are sure to get worse if you don’t address them. Metals such as wrought iron are subject to rust. Fluctuating temperatures can make moisture freeze and thaw inside wood, causing splitting and cracking. Mosaic tiles are not immune to freeze damage. Plastics become brittle in extreme cold. It doesn’t do cushions any good to freeze and thaw.

However, things aren’t as grim as they might sound. A few hours of work this fall, plus protective furniture covers on whatever stays outside, will ease your anxiety throughout the cold and snowy nights and boost your spirits when you’re ready to open up your patio next spring. Here are a few tips on how to winterize your porch and patio this season.

How to Prepare Patio Furniture for Winter

Your furniture may hibernate but its enemies don’t. Tackle them now and put problems in their place.

Get everything clean

Mild soap and water is your best friend. A lot of furniture requires little more than this. Wash it, then let it air dry or towel it off. A “soft” brush can clean out many kinds of outdoor debris from wicker, fabric and metal porch furniture. (The key word here is “soft” as you do not want to scratch the pieces but instead clean the crude out of those little nook and cranny spots.) Many stains will yield to simple old-fashioned elbow grease and simple, safe cleaners like vinegar or dish detergent scrubbed with a terry cloth towel or soft brush. Rinse well when done. Scrape or brush rust off of metals and touch up iron or steel finishes for next season use. You can employ Murphy’s Oil on wood.

Wipe down cushions or use a vacuum cleaner with upholstery attachment, then wash them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. With quality performance fabrics like Sunbrella, sometimes it’s okay to attack stains with bleach, but you should use a diluted solution and test it on a small area per the instructions found on Sunbella’s website. REMEMBER: bleach should not be used with polyesters, olefins, Obravia, cotton or prints, as it could damage the cushion casings/covers, fade the fabric and pull out the dye instantly. When washing outdoor cushions, you should check content tags the same as you would when cleaning indoor fabrics or washing clothes.

While you’re at it, it’s a good time to clean your grill or outdoor cooker.

Protect

Wood should be sealed to keep dampness out and protect from brittleness and cracking. It can absorb moisture even if it’s covered. Clean it first, then use a wood-protective sealant such as furniture oil or mineral oil. There are specialty oils or sealers for teak. Touch up the paint if you’re dealing with painted wood. Paste wax is beneficial for wicker.

Car wax provides protection for plastics and aluminum. Metals can be touched up with paint once rust has been brushed off. You might even find a car paint to match. For extra protection try paste wax, naval jelly or a silicon sealant.

If you have hollow metal tubes, turn your furniture upside down to make sure water drains out. This is important because water trapped in metal frames can cause freeze/thaw expansion damage that is not covered by manufacturer warranties.

If anything appears to have worn out faster than it should have, check your warranties before putting product away in storage or disposing of it.

How to Store Patio Furniture

Cover it or bring it in or both. Even in a garage, dust accumulates.

There are protective furniture covers for about any size and shape of patio furniture imaginable. You can buy protective covers for chairs of all descriptions, from lounge chairs to high backs to outdoor recliners. Some covers fit round tables, oval tables or rectangular tables. In fact, single protective furniture covers can wrap up your entire dining set including the chairs. All-weather sofas, gliders, loveseats, ottomans: patio furniture covers take care of them all. And don’t forget your fire pit or fire table; there’s one for it as well. Even outdoor furniture stored in screen porches or gazebos benefit from protective covers, as they keep items clean and dry from the winter elements. Avoid the cheap vinyl protectors and buy ones that are durable, flexible and water resistant.

Bring indoors for off season storage: umbrellas, upholstery, rugs and cushions, even if they’re make of Sunbrella or other outdoor rated fabrics. All-weather fabrics can stand up to rain, snow and UV, but taking these pieces out of the elements will still help prevent fading, reduce maintenance and extend the useful product life. Enclose cushions in a cushion storage box or storage bench, or protect them with a sealed tote or plastic bag to avoid dust accumulation. Be sure that cushions aren’t crushed but have plenty of room to retain their shape and are dry before sealing them up for winter storage.

With furniture, disassemble anything that comes apart easily and store it upright. As much as possible, avoid stacking pieces on top of one another (except, of course, plastic chairs made to stack). Don’t make your tables and chairs bear weight they’re not built for.

If possible, crowd what’s left outside into a protected spot so it won’t be blown around by winter wind. From time to time brush snow and ice from the covers. Take an occasional peek to make sure varmints haven’t found a nice hidey hole.

Think about bringing your grill into storage if you have room and won’t be using it. Of course, disconnect gas lines or propane tanks before you do.

Consider whether any of your outdoor furniture can be temporarily repurposed inside. For example, those Adirondak chairs might work in a child’s room or a den.

Finally, if anything is too dirty, too worn or if you’re just tired of looking it, this is an excellent time of year to upgrade. Prices are great. But whether you buy new or lovingly take care of old, you’ll find it a pleasure to set up your clean and preserved patio furniture for your first get-together next spring.