During the warmer months, your rattan furniture has served you well, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful outdoors all summer long. However, as the seasons change throughout the year, many of us take the time to clean and store our outdoor furniture and accessories for the warmer seasons ahead. Therefore, you will need to know how to prepare your rattan style garden furniture for storage. Before we can learn tips for proper storage, it is important to first understand the importance of storing this type of furniture.During the warmer months, your rattan furniture has served you well, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful outdoors all summer long. However, as the seasons change throughout the year, many of us take the time to clean and store our outdoor furniture and accessories for the warmer seasons ahead. Therefore, you will need to know how to prepare your rattan style garden furniture for storage. Before we can learn tips for proper storage, it is important to first understand the importance of storing this type of furniture.

Why is proper storage important?
Winter is a relentless season with heavy snow, freezing temperatures and very unpredictable snowstorms. The harsh weather is especially harsh for your rattan furniture. If left unattended, constant snow and hail can weaken the quality of your furniture. To keep them in their current condition, you should store them away during the winter months when they are not in use. The only way to ensure the durability of your furniture for many seasons is to store it properly and correctly. Some people just casually cover it up when not in use, only to find mold clinging to your furniture when they take it out to use it again. This is because some dirt actually retains extra moisture when furniture is stored directly without post-care. Also by exposing it to freezing temperatures, moisture may still get inside the cover. When moisture gets under the lid, your furniture becomes susceptible to mold and mildew.

Methods of correct storage：
Rattan is UV and weather resistant so it can take good care of itself. However, you can still store this type of furniture by following the steps below thus effectively preventing dirt and mold.

Keep them clean
Your rattan furniture set spends most of the year outside. During these months, the furniture may accumulate a lot of dirt, algae, bird droppings and lichen from the surrounding environment. Due to the weave, rattan garden furniture can be difficult to clean. To remove the dust, use a vacuum cleaner and then clean thoroughly with hot soapy water. Using a toothbrush should help you get into all the nooks and crannies, or use a high-pressure hose to blow. Winter is the perfect time to clean your furniture before storing it. Give them a deep clean and make sure your garden furniture looks stylish and fresh when you take it out of storage in the spring.

Stack them
When not in use, it is best to stack rattan garden chairs. This is especially useful when storing furniture in a shed or garage. This will help to maximize space savings. If you don't have space to store them inside, try placing your chairs in a relatively secluded area of your garden and covering them with a tarp or other waterproof cover. The covers for your garden chairs should fit snugly, but not too tightly, so some air can circulate around your furniture. Stacking your chairs when you put them outside will also add weight so they don't topple over in strong winds.

Keep them covered
After cleaning and stacking your furniture, covering it well will help keep it in good condition for next spring. But before covering, make sure they are sufficiently dry and remove all cushions and pillows. Your patio furniture cover should be made of UV-resistant, mildew- and moisture-resistant material and come with ties to hold it in place. When using furniture covers, make sure they are tied securely and lift the legs of chairs and tables off the floor to allow for air circulation. To do this, you can place a board on the floor and place the legs of your furniture on it. Choose the right furniture cover to ensure that your rattan style garden furniture has the highest level of protection from moisture.

Store cushions
Please store your rattan furniture cushions separately. Most people use decorative cushions on patio chairs and sofas to make the furniture more comfortable and attractive. However, these cushions tend to get dirty after several months of continuous use. Before placing patio furniture in winter storage, you should separate the cushions and make sure they are thoroughly cleaned. When it comes to storage time, these smaller pieces need to be protected from the elements and kept in a safe place where they won't be lost or damaged. So where and how should you store your cushions for rattan furniture? You can pick up some plastic storage bags and a shelving unit in your garage, shed or basement. If you use this area to store other items, you can label it to make it easier to find what you are looking for.

Bring them indoors
If you have space in your garage or garden shed, bring clean and dry rattan garden furniture inside during the wet months. Bringing it indoors will further protect it from the elements. Also you should regularly check all furniture and cushions stored in sheds and garages to ensure they are still dry.

Once your garden furniture is stored away, your garden will look clean and tidy until spring. When spring comes, it's time to enjoy that piece of furniture and you'll be glad you put in the effort.