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Last Updated on October 4, 2026 by Smarteryouu

⭐ How to Store Patio Furniture for Winter So It Lasts Another Season

Putting the set away properly is what decides whether it looks good again next spring. Our guide to storing patio furniture for winter covers cleaning, cushions, covers and what each material needs. The three picks below make that job easier.

The last warm weekend of the year always seems to arrive without warning. One day the patio is full of friends and coffee cups, and the next there is frost on the chair cushions and leaves gathering under the table.

Knowing how to store patio furniture for winter makes a real difference to how long it lasts. Snow, ice and months of freeze and thaw are hard on almost every outdoor material. A set that is cleaned, dried and put away properly can look good for many years. One that is left out uncovered often fades, rusts or cracks far sooner.

The good news is that the job is simple, and most of it can be done in a single afternoon. This guide walks through cleaning, cushions, covers, and what each type of furniture needs, from resin chairs to metal tables and wooden benches.

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⭐ When Should You Put Patio Furniture Away?

Aim to put patio furniture away before the first real freeze and before snow is in the forecast, which in much of Canada means late October or early November. Choose a dry, mild day, since everything should be completely dry before it is covered or stored.

It is tempting to wait for one more nice weekend, and sometimes that works. But furniture that is put away wet, or covered with a layer of wet leaves underneath, can develop mildew over the winter.

Watch the forecast in October and pick your moment. A sunny afternoon after a few dry days gives you the best chance of everything drying properly.

If you use your patio late into the fall, you can do it in stages. Bring in the cushions and umbrella first, and leave the frames out a little longer.

⭐ Clean Everything Before It Goes Away

Dirt, pollen, bird droppings and food spills are much harder to remove after they have sat all winter. A quick clean now makes spring setup far easier.

For most furniture, warm water with a little mild dish soap and a soft brush is all you need. Scrub gently, rinse with a hose, and let everything dry completely in the sun.

Pay attention to the undersides of tables and the joints of chairs, where dirt collects. Check for loose screws and tighten them now so nothing works looser over winter.

If you take anything apart to store it, such as removable table legs or a sectional that separates, put the bolts and small parts in a labelled zip bag and tape it to the piece. Taking a quick photo before disassembly makes spring setup much easier.

Look over each piece for small problems. A chip in the paint on a metal chair, a crack in a resin seat, or a loose strap on a sling chair is much easier to fix in fall than to discover next May.

⭐ Cushions and Fabrics Come Inside First

Cushions are usually the first thing to fail on any patio set. Even outdoor fabrics are not made to sit through a Canadian winter, and moisture trapped in the foam can lead to mildew and flattened cushions.

Brush off any dirt and wash the covers according to their care label if they are removable. Let the cushions dry completely, ideally in the sun for a full day.

Store them somewhere dry, such as a closet, basement or the corner of a garage. A breathable storage bag keeps them clean and protects them from dust and pests. Avoid sealing damp cushions in plastic, which traps moisture.

The same goes for outdoor rugs, throw pillows, table runners and any fabric curtains. Clean them, dry them and bring them inside. Our guide to making a patio more comfortable covers the fabrics worth choosing in the first place.

⭐ Should Patio Furniture Be Covered or Stored Inside?

The best option is storing furniture indoors, in a shed, garage or basement, where it stays dry and out of the snow. If that is not possible, a good fitted, breathable cover is the next best choice. Covers should keep rain and snow off while letting moisture escape underneath.

Not every piece needs to come inside. Many metal and resin frames can winter outdoors under a cover, while cushions, umbrellas and anything wooden or wicker benefit most from indoor storage.

When using covers, choose ones with vents. Covers without airflow can trap condensation, which leads to mildew and rust.

Raise furniture slightly off the ground if you can. Placing chair legs on small blocks or pavers stops them from sitting in puddles or melted snow. Stack chairs where the design allows, and group everything together so fewer covers are needed.

⭐ What Each Type of Furniture Needs

Different materials need slightly different care over winter.

Resin and plastic furniture is the easiest. Clean it, dry it, and stack it in a shed or under a cover. Very cold temperatures can make some plastics brittle, so avoid placing heavy objects on top.

Metal furniture, including steel and wrought iron, is prone to rust. Dry it thoroughly and touch up any chipped paint before winter. Aluminum does not rust in the same way but still benefits from cleaning and a cover.

Wicker, whether natural or synthetic, is best stored indoors. Natural wicker in particular can crack when moisture freezes inside it.

Wooden furniture should be cleaned, dried, and ideally stored indoors. If it has to stay outside, cover it and keep it off the ground. Many people apply a fresh coat of sealant or oil in spring rather than fall, when the wood is dry and the weather is warm enough for it to cure.

Fire tables and patio heaters need one extra step. Disconnect the propane tank and store it outdoors, upright, in a well ventilated spot away from doors and windows. Propane tanks should never be stored inside a house, basement or attached garage. The table or heater itself can then be cleaned, covered or stored like any other metal piece, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Our outdoor furniture guide explains which materials handle Canadian weather best if you are planning to replace anything next year.

⭐ What About Pergolas, Umbrellas and Glass Tops?

Patio umbrellas should always come inside for winter. Clean the canopy, let it dry completely, close it and store it in a dry place. Wind and snow can bend the ribs, and a wet canopy can mildew in storage.

Glass tabletops can crack when temperatures swing, especially if water freezes along the edges. If you can, remove the glass and store it indoors, standing upright and padded with a blanket. If not, make sure the table is well covered.

Pergolas themselves are built to stay put, but anything soft attached to them is not. Take down fabric canopies, shade sails, curtains and string lights before the snow arrives. Check the fasteners and brackets while everything is bare, since it is much easier to tighten a loose bolt now than in spring.

Planters left on the patio can crack in the cold too. Empty clay and ceramic pots and store them upside down or indoors.

⭐ Check Your Covers Through the Winter

Putting furniture away is not quite the end of the job. A quick check a few times over the winter keeps everything in good shape.

After a heavy snowfall, brush the snow off covers gently. A thick layer of wet snow can stretch fabric and pool water on top. Make sure covers are still secure after windy weather.

If you notice water collecting on a cover, adjust it or add something underneath to create a slope so it drains.

In spring, remove covers on a dry day and let everything air out before you set up. Most furniture that was cleaned and stored properly will need little more than a quick wipe. If you run out of room for everything indoors, our Storage and Organisation section has ideas for finding space in a garage or basement. For styling ideas when it all comes back out, our guide to patio decor ideas is a good place to start, and more patio guides are in our Outdoor Patio section.

⭐ Best Sellers

Top Products and Picks

Three practical pieces for the patio furniture that has to winter outside, and the cushions that should not.

⭐ Final Thoughts

Putting the patio away is one of those small end of season rituals that feels a little bittersweet. The long evenings are over, but a few hours of care now means everything will be ready the moment the weather turns again.

The steps are simple. Clean everything, let it dry completely, and bring cushions, umbrellas and fabrics inside. Store what you can indoors, and cover the rest with breathable covers raised off the ground.

Check on things now and then through the winter, brushing off heavy snow when it falls. Then, when spring arrives, you will lift the covers, give everything a quick wipe, and be sitting outside with a coffee long before the neighbours have found their chairs, enjoying the first warm afternoon of the year.