Weather proofing your garden furniture is not only good practice to keeping it looking its best, it is also a great way of getting the most out of your money by doing your utmost to keep it in good working order. So where should you start when protecting your patio furniture from the harsh elements?

Prior to doing anything else, give the furniture a good, thorough clean with a sponge dipped in warm, soapy water. If you have wicker seats or chairs, these can be sprayed down with a garden hose. Metal furniture that has gone rusty may need to be cleaned using wire wool but make sure you only rub it very gently to prevent permanent scratching. Wooden furniture should be treated with a protective varnish such as Cuprinol or repainted to keep it from being left vulnerable to the elements.

If you don’t have anywhere to store your furniture inside, consider investing in outdoor furniture covers. These covers can be bought in a range of materials and can be used to not only protect items from the rain and wind, but they can also prevent damage from strong UV rays from the sun.