How to Protect Your Outdoor Furniture

In the fair weathered months, an extravagant outdoor getaway is an enviable asset to have. While shopping for the necessities to build the perfect outdoor oasis can be easy and fun, knowing the right way to care for your new outdoor set can be a little more challenging. Protecting your stylish new investment from water damage, elevated temperatures, and the scorching summer sun is easier than you think!

While most outdoor furniture features all weather materials like rust-free powder coated aluminum, UV-rated fabric and foam, and naturally rot-resistant wood, a little care and maintenance can really go a long way. Follow these helpful tips and tricks to keep your outdoor furniture looking fresh for several summers to come!

Choosing the Best Material for Your Outdoor Furniture

Choosing the right material for your outdoor furniture can mean the difference between deterioration and durability. Here, we’ve laid out the most common material types found in outdoor furniture – and the benefits of each.

Outdoor Teak Furniture. Because of its high durability, teak is one of the most popular wood types for outdoor furniture. Compared to other woods, teak is distinctive because it produces its own natural oils, making it resistant to mold, mildew and overall deterioration. Similar varieties of hardwood include acacia and oak.

Outdoor Resin Wicker Furniture. Similar in appearance to rattan, resin wicker is a synthetic fiber designed specifically for use in the outdoors. Offering a natural look and feel – and little need for maintenance – resin wicker furniture is the perfect choice for creating a breezy patio or backyard ambience.

Outdoor Plastic Furniture. The sleek texture of plastic is highly sought-after for its incredible stain-, fade- and mildew-resistant properties. Plus, because it is easy to produce, plastic – along with eco-friendly recycled plastic – is also one of the most affordable options for outdoor furniture.

Outdoor Iron Furniture. Heavy, long-lasting and vintage-chic, iron furniture offers a versatile, classic elegance that goes with every style. Perhaps its only downside is its susceptibility to rust – but even that can be prevented with protective coatings and routine furniture maintenance.

Outdoor Aluminum Furniture. Aluminum offers the same durability, longevity and vintage-inspired aesthetic as iron, but for a fraction of the price. Because it is so light, though, aluminum furniture is often recommended in areas with little to no winds – especially if the piece is made entirely from 100% aluminum.

Best Material for Fighting Mildew

Many woods and fabrics are porous, meaning that once moisture is absorbed into them, it’s hard to get out. When left outdoors for a while, these wood types become susceptible to mildew and mold. Instead of taking a risk, worrying whether or not your outdoor furniture will harbor moisture and become a factory for mildew, opt for coated metal designs – which are not porous in the least, and from which water will literally bounce off. If you have your heart set on wood, though, go for teak, acacia and pine, which, as mentioned above, are more mildew-resistant thanks to their natural oil-production and low porosity.

In terms of fabric, most upholstery designed for the outdoors will feature woven polyester coated with PVC. This is also known as textilene fabric, and is water-resistant by design. Other types that stand well to moisture include cotton canvas, olefin and vinyl.

Choose one of these fabric options, and you’re good-to-go when it comes to mildew-resistance. But remember: many designs within the outdoor furniture industry are only -resistantand not -proof. To up your insurance, keep patio furniture covers on hand, and whip them out when the weather starts to humidify – or rain is on the way.

How to Keep Outdoor Furniture Clean

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this applies to outdoor furniture sets! The best way to keep a set clean is with furniture covers. As mentioned above, you can try polyester covers, but there are also types made of canvas and vinyl, both of which provide resistance to the elements. If you're worried about dust, sap, mud or even bird poop, use covers as a barrier for your furniture surfaces.

How to Protect Outdoor Cushions

For smaller pieces like cushions and throw pillows, protection comes from storage. When you're done using your outdoor space, be sure to move any smaller accessories into a contained bin, especially if the pieces are not weatherproof. Find outdoor furniture sets with built-in storage, like lift-top coffee tables, for a stylish way to protect your accessories. 

How to Secure Patio Furniture

One of the drawbacks of a front patio setup is that furniture and other expensive items are susceptible to theft. Ideally, you would place any new furniture in the backyard, but if you have your heart set on a welcoming porch leading to your front door, take extra steps to ensure it will be there tomorrow! For one, try a steel cable lock at night or when not in use. Another smart tactic is the security camera above the front door, which will catch any wrongful intentions in the act and, more importantly, serve as a "warning" and ward off any thieves from the start!

How to Protect Outdoor Wood Furniture

If you've bought an outdoor furniture piece made of wood, you don't have to worry about protection as much, since anything "outdoor"-labelled is designed to resist elements. However, it's still important to cover wood when not in use. Covering outdoor wood furniture from direct sunlight and rain when not in use is a vital step in protecting outdoor furniture, as wood is still a porous material that expands and contracts in moisture and temperature changes.

If you're wondering about placing a wood piece not made for outdoors in a backyard or patio, make sure to keep it under an eave or extended roof. Consider taking any pieces not made for outdoors back inside during colder months, and always use a form of protection, whether a sealant directly on the wood or a canvas covering.

How to Protect Wicker Furniture

To protect resin wicker furniture, keep it covered from extreme heat and sunlight.

Whether placing wicker furniture indoors or outdoors, pay attention to nearby windows. Energy efficient windows can cause a glare that can sometimes become hot enough to melt resin wicker or burn fabric. Following these guidelines is especially critical for rattan and wicker, which is more delicate than wood and metal, but generally, if it's made for outdoors, it's already been treated for weather-resistance.

The best weather-resistant and most durable outdoor furniture pieces are outlined below. Click on any of the links to browse the customer reviews and product details, and you'll see exactly why we chose them for this list!

Most Durable Outdoor Furniture

Best Weather-Resistant Patio Furniture

Best Outdoor Furniture for Rain