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Winterizing Your Patio: 7 Fall Steps to Get Started

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Although it's only August and Winter is still a few months away, Fall is just around the corner and that is the perfect time to start preparing your patio for harsh weather ahead. For today's post on winterizing your patio, we're going to outline some steps that you can do during the upcoming season to prepare and protect your outdoor space. From storing to cleaning, these 7 tips will help you keep everything in your patio ready and waiting for warmer weather.

1. Clean and store your patio furniture.
If you're packing away patio furniture for the winter, now is the best time to give everything a decent cleaning so your furniture is ready to use when Spring comes back around. No need to go overboard though - they're bound to gather dust before next season - but for now, wipe dirt and debris off tables and chairs, and spray and wipe down everything with water. Make sure it all dries completely before storing it indoors or covering it with a patio-furniture cover. Remember, if you're using furniture cover, be sure to tie each one to the furniture's legs so that it stays in place.

2. Scrub patio cushions.
Outdoor cushions can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Wipe off all your outdoor cushions with a soapy sponge and water, and scrub off anything that needs to be removed. Let it dry completely for a few days to make sure there's no moisture left.

If you find any mildew when cleaning your cushions, leave them in the sun, which is a natural mold inhibitor. When the cushion is dry, scrub off loose spores with a dry sponge. After washing and drying completely, wrap your cushions in an old sheet or a garbage bag and store them inside to keep nesting animals from making use of them.

3. Clean off the grill.
First, fire up your grill for several minutes to burn off any remaining residue. Turn it off, and scrape off all the extra bits with a wire brush or ball of aluminum foil. Remove the grease tray and wash it in the sink with dish soap, and wipe all of the exterior surfaces of your grill with a soapy sponge and water.

If you have a grill that can move and you're planning to move it indoors for the winter, make sure to detach the propane tank. Propane tanks should never be stored inside. Cover the tank loosely with a large plastic bag, and keep it in a safe spot outside. If you're keeping your grill outside, make sure everything is turned off and cover it.

4. Store garden tools and accessories.
If you have small potted plants you don't want to bring inside, toss them into the compost. It's generally better to just start fresh next year. Turn any empty large containers upside down to avoid water collecting inside. Untwist and untangle hoses, and wind them in a neat circle to put inside so they won't freeze and crack.

5. Clean off hammocks and clean and store umbrellas
If you have an outdoor hammock, take it off of its hooks, lay it flat and scrub it with warm water and dish soap. Rinse and hang to dry. Make sure you never use bleach on hammocks - it may wear through the fibers, creating a safety hazard.

As for outdoor umbrellas, if there's just a bit of dirt and pollen on it, simply dust it off and store it inside until summer. If it needs a bit of a scrub, wash it off with dish soap and a sponge. If you have a vinyl umbrella, a detergent made for convertible car tops can do the trick. After you're done washing the umbrella, make sure to let it dry completely in the sun for a couple days to avoid mildew.

6. Freshen up the base of your patio.
It's always a good idea to get the summer grit off of your patio before winter hits. Power-washing your patio base will help remove any dirt and debris that's piled up. If you have a pavers in your patio design, now would be the time to weed and apply new sand. Simple spread dry sand across the pavers, allowing it to get into all of the cracks in between. Sweep up the excess and wet the sand with a light mist from the hose.

7. Keep using it!
If you live in a location blessed with mild winter weather, you may very well be able to continue to use your patio throughout the winter. Keep everything covered so it won't get dirty or wet, but don't store your furniture so you can still use it at a moment's notice. Consider using an outdoor patio heater or fire pit and keeping some quilts handy for brisk evenings outdoors.

*header image via Thinkstock/Getty Images
 
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