A Guide to Using Tarps for Outdoor Furniture Protection in the Winter

Wondering how to protect plants from frost? When cold weather is coming, tarps can be your best friend. Laying a tarp over them can help save them from an overnight cold snap. Won't be using summer sports equipment for a while? Cover it with tarps to help keep it clean and dry. Wondering how to protect patio furniture? Count on tarps to help preserve it.

During the winter, you need to safeguard your outdoor furniture from everything from snow and sleet to UV rays (which can be surprisingly damaging in winter, especially since snow can reflect them and magnify their impact). That's why it's so important to make sure your furniture is protected.

Tips for Protecting Outdoor Furniture with Tarps

Keep the following tips in mind as you prepare to cover your furniture. These tips are presented with winterization in mind, but they can be helpful anytime you need to keep outdoor furniture packed away for a while.

• Make sure it's clean and completely dry before covering it. You don't want to create the opportunity for mold, mildew and bacteria to grow under the covering.
• Apply any appropriate protective coating. This might include a sealant for wood furniture. Again, make sure it has dried completely before attempting to cover the furniture.
• Bring any removable pillows or cushions indoors for the season, especially If your winters are especially harsh or routinely dip below freezing.
• Determine the number of tarps you'll need and their approximate sizes. You don't want to cover an item with a tarp that is too small or excessively large. Keep in mind that it might make sense to store certain items together under one larger tarp, such as stackable chairs.

On that note, let's look at some other characteristics your tarps should have, in addition to being the appropriate size. Most experts recommend that you use tarps that are heavy-duty, waterproof and have grommets. Waterproof vinyl tarps or heavy-duty poly tarps should do the trick, especially if they're from A1 Tarps: Our poly and vinyl tarps are UV-resistant, rot-proof and durable, with strong grommets along the edges.

When it comes to covering the furniture, remember to:

• Wrap each piece tightly and cover as much as possible to minimize its exposure to the elements.
• While you want to wrap items well, many experts recommend leaving the tarp cinched loosely around the bottom so that there is some ventilation to help prevent mold and mildew from forming.
• Speaking of cinching the bottom, this should be easy to do if you're using a tarp with grommets. You can use rope, cord or convenient tarp accessories like bungee ties.
• Once this is complete, move the furniture into a shed or other storage structure, or to a protected spot outdoors, such as under an awning or overhang.

Contact the Experts at A1 Tarps

Of course, there can be variations in this process depending on the kinds of winters you experience where you live and the type of furniture you're dealing with. If you have specific questions about how tarps can help you winterize your furniture so you can enjoy it for years to come, contact the expert staff at A1 Tarps.