Summer weather means outdoor living is in full effect! That means you probably find yourself spending more and more time outside, whether it’s hosting friends and neighbors for a cookout, sprucing up your garden with pretty summer flowers, or kicking back on your screened-in porch with a good book.
Whatever you’re up to this summer, your outdoor setup is the perfect place to make it all happen. But before you can enjoy al fresco dining and backyard lounging during peak summer, you’ll need to cross one essential household chore off your list. Since outdoor furniture fades, loosens, wears down, and collects grime over time (especially after months of neglect during the off season), it’s so important to give your dining chairs, couch cushions, and accent tables a little extra love and attention.
To help you prep your backyard for the height of the season, we asked two experts, Ben Pettit, president of outdoor furniture retailer The Rocking Chair Company, and Julia Marcum, co-founder and creative director of home blog Chris Loves Julia, to share the top task everyone should tackle with their outdoor furniture. By prioritizing this item on your to-do list, your outdoor space will look and feel more inviting all season long.
The No. 1 Way to Get Outdoor Furniture Ready for Peak Summer
Giving your outdoor furniture a pre-season inspection and deep clean is a must-do before the height of the summer hits, according to both Pettit and Marcum. During a long winter and rainy spring, weather changes can cause your furniture to break down and accumulate dust, dirt, pollen, and mildew, which Pettit says accelerates wear over time. So, by the time summer rolls around, you may very well be dealing with cracked frames and moldy outdoor cushions.
To restore your outdoor furniture, start by checking for loose hardware, worn finishes, split wood, or other signs of damage, according to Pettit. Not only will this preventative maintenance make your outdoor furniture a lot safer, but patching up a crack in the foundation will also extend its lifespan. After fixing each respective issue, Marcum recommends power-washing the surface, using a low-pressure setting with a wide nozzle tip and holding the wand at least one foot away to avoid further damage.
Additional Ways to Prep Outdoor Furniture for the Season
While fixing and cleaning your outdoor furniture is the most important chore to complete before peak summer, there are a few other ways you can give your tables and chairs a boost.
Revamp the Surfaces
No matter the material of your outdoor furniture, restoring the surface before peak season can go a long way. If you notice rusty patches on metal furniture, Marcum recommends sanding, priming, and repainting the area before the rust spreads. For wooden furniture, Marcum explains that adding wood oil or paste wax can protect the surface from seasonal wear and tear—just be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommendations first.
Add a Protective Buffer
Like metal and wood furniture, you can also apply a protective layer to your outdoor cushions. Applying a stain repellent like Scotchgard Water and Sun Shield on your pillows will protect them from stubborn spills, water marks, and fading from the sun. After wiping away pollen and dirt, spray the product in slow, sweeping motions six to eight inches away from the surface.
Weather-Proof the Setup
Summer weather can be unpredictable—and destructive. To keep your house safe and your furniture fully intact in the face of direct sunlight or heavy rain, Pettit says keeping your furniture beneath a covered porch or patio is your best bet. If your setup is out in the open, another alternative is protecting your pieces with furniture covers. Either way, before a storm hits, Marcum suggests securing lightweight décor that could blow away in the wind.
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
