TL;DR
Almost all winter damage to outdoor furniture comes from one mistake: covering or storing something that was not completely dry. Trapped moisture under a cover produces mildew on cushions, rust under paint, and swollen wood over a few months of cold weather. The order is always clean, dry fully, then cover -- never clean and cover the same afternoon.
Why this is a fall job and not a spring one
Everything on a patio is about to sit untouched for months in the wettest, coldest part of the year. Whatever condition it is in when you walk away is the condition it will hold, plus whatever the weather adds.
Organic residue is the problem. Pollen, tree sap, food, drink spills, sunscreen film, bird droppings, and leaf litter are all food for mildew, and all of them are on the furniture at the end of a season.
Left in place through a damp winter, that residue feeds growth that stains cushions permanently and etches finishes. Bird droppings are acidic and will mark paint and some metals if left through the season. Sap hardens into something far harder to remove in April than in October.
Doing this in spring means removing six months of set-in damage instead of one afternoon of surface residue. That is the whole argument for doing it now.
What order should you close down a patio?
Clear and sort first, then clean each item by material, then dry everything completely, then cover or store. Drying is the step that gets skipped and the step that matters most. A cover over a damp cushion or a wet metal frame creates exactly the conditions that cause the damage the cover was meant to prevent.
Step one: clear and sort
Take everything off the patio or deck before cleaning anything.
Separate what stores indoors from what stays outside covered. Cushions, textiles, and anything with fabric belong inside if there is space. Frames can usually stay out under a cover.
Discard what is finished. A cracked plastic chair, a rusted-through frame, or a cushion with growth inside the foam will not improve over winter, and storing it takes space that better items need.
Empty and drain everything that holds water: planters that will freeze and crack, watering cans, buckets, the umbrella base, and any container that collects rain.
Disconnect and drain hoses, and shut off exterior water where the climate requires it. A hose left connected can hold water back to the spigot and split a line in a freeze.
Step two: clean by material
Different materials need different handling, and getting this wrong causes its own damage.
Cushions and outdoor fabric. Brush off debris dry, then wash according to the label. Many outdoor covers unzip and can be washed. Air dry completely, which in fall may take a day indoors rather than an afternoon outside. Never store fabric even slightly damp.
Powder-coated aluminum and steel. Soapy water and a soft cloth. Look for chips in the coating and touch them up, because a chip is where rust starts under a cover.
Wrought iron. Check for rust at joints and feet, address it, and keep it dry.
Teak and other hardwoods. Wash gently with soapy water. Do not pressure wash, which erodes the soft grain between the hard rings and leaves a permanently rough surface.
Plastic and resin. Warm soapy water. Avoid abrasives, which scratch the surface and make it hold dirt faster next season.
Glass table tops. Clean and store flat or well supported, since an unsupported glass top under a snow load can break.
Material-by-material detail is in how to clean patio furniture by material.
Step three: dry completely
This is the step to be stubborn about.
Stand furniture on its side or upside down so water drains out of the frame tubing and the joints. Hollow frames hold water that never evaporates in place, and freezing water inside a tube splits it.
Give cushions more time than seems necessary. Foam holds water in the core long after the cover feels dry to the hand.
Dry indoors if the weather will not cooperate. A garage with a fan does in a day what a damp patio cannot do in a week.
Check the underside of every seat and the inside of every fold before covering anything.
Step four: cover or store
Covers help only when what is under them is dry.
Use breathable covers rather than fully sealed plastic. A sealed cover traps whatever moisture is inside and holds it against the material all winter.
Secure covers so wind does not lift and abrade them, and so they do not collect a pool of water in the middle.
Raise items off the ground where possible. Furniture sitting directly on wet concrete wicks moisture up into feet and legs.
Store cushions indoors in a breathable container rather than a sealed plastic bin. A sealed bin with any residual moisture becomes a mildew chamber.
Do not store cushions in a shed on a concrete floor with no barrier. Concrete gives off moisture.
The rest of the shutdown
The grill and outdoor kitchen. Deep clean before the cover goes on, and store propane outdoors and upright, never in a garage or basement. Detail is in grill and outdoor kitchen cleaning cadence.
The umbrella. Clean it, dry it thoroughly, and store it closed and upright indoors. A wet folded umbrella grows mildew in its own folds, as covered in how to clean a patio umbrella.
The deck or patio surface. Sweep and clear leaves rather than leaving them to mat down. Wet leaf mats stain wood and pavers, hold moisture against the surface, and make the surface slick, which is covered in how to clean outdoor patio and deck.
Drainage. Clear leaves out of deck gaps, drains, and low spots so water runs off rather than standing.
Outdoor rugs. Clean, dry fully, roll, and store indoors. A rug left in place traps water against the deck all winter and marks it.
The payoff in spring
An outdoor space closed down properly needs an hour to open. One closed down carelessly needs a weekend and often needs something replaced, which is the difference laid out in spring patio and deck wake up cleaning.
FAQ
Should you clean patio furniture before storing it for winter?
Yes, and it is the more important half of the job. Organic residue such as pollen, sap, food, and bird droppings feeds mildew and can etch finishes over a damp winter. Cleaning in fall removes a season of light residue; skipping it means removing set-in damage in spring.
Can you cover outdoor furniture while it is still wet?
No. A cover over damp furniture traps the moisture against the material for months, which is what produces mildew on cushions, rust under paint, and swollen or split wood. Dry everything completely first, including the inside of hollow frames and the core of foam cushions.
How do you store outdoor cushions over winter?
Clean them, dry them completely, and store them indoors in a breathable container rather than a sealed plastic bin. Foam holds moisture in its core long after the cover feels dry, and a sealed bin with any residual dampness becomes a mildew problem by spring.
Should you pressure wash teak furniture?
No. Pressure washing erodes the softer grain between the harder rings and leaves the surface permanently rough and more prone to holding dirt. Wash gently with soapy water and a soft brush, working with the grain, and rinse at low pressure.
What should you do with the propane tank at season end?
Disconnect it and store it outdoors, upright, and away from ignition sources. Never store a propane tank in a garage, a basement, or an enclosed shed. Cap the connection and keep it off bare wet ground.
When should you close down a patio for the season?
Once the space is genuinely done being used and before sustained wet or freezing weather arrives, rather than at the first cold snap. Working in dry conditions matters, because the drying step is the one that determines whether the storage actually protects anything.
Shutting down an outdoor space and getting a house ready for indoor months tend to land the same week. If you want the indoor half handled, get a quote or read more about house cleaning services.
