How to Shop for Outdoor Furniture Covers Like a Pro
Size
Outdoor furniture covers truly come in all shapes and sizes. It’s a good idea to measure your furniture to ensure the covers you buy will fit properly. (Remember that you can stack chairs so that you only need one cover for them all.) However, there are some furniture covers that are universal in design, meaning they are large and flexible enough to cover groups of furniture, like a sectional couch or a patio table with chairs.
Material and Durability
Durability is everything when it comes to choosing the best outdoor furniture covers. Maida Cameron, director of design at Milliken & Company, says that aside from water resistance, you should also look for materials that resist fading and stand up to mold and mildew.
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Still, that doesn’t mean you must choose the ugliest covers you see, assuming they are the strongest and fittest for the job. “When choosing a performance fabric, color and design shouldn’t take a back seat in exchange for durability,” Cameron says, noting that outdoor covers that are up to the task do come in a variety of materials, which offers some choice in color and design. Cameron says your best bet is to choose covers made from acrylic or another type of synthetic performance fabric. “They stand up best to the unpredictability of the outdoors,” she explains.
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Note: Always check your furniture’s care guidelines before purchasing any protective covers. Some furniture surfaces might react to PVC or other types of waterproof linings.
Ease of Cleaning
Assuming you’ll be keeping your furniture out in the open while it’s covered, you’ll want a water-resistant barrier that keeps out rain and snow, plus has some sun protection to keep your furniture from fading. But just because your furniture is kept clean underneath those covers doesn’t mean the covers themselves don’t need some TLC every now and again.
“Another consideration [for outdoor patio covers] is ease of cleaning,” says Cameron. “It’s important to note that no matter what brand you select, if it has a high-quality fabric, it will be bleach-cleanable—including oil-based stains that are absorbed—as long as you follow the manufacturer’s cleaning techniques.”
Questions You Might Ask
Can you leave covered patio furniture outside in winter?
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Yes—in fact, that’s exactly what outdoor furniture covers are for! “Outdoor furniture is rated for the elements, but it does have to be maintained regularly, so it can keep its vibrant colors and look,” says Eddie Karr, founder of Bellareed Luxury Pools. “You have to wash them off, cover them perhaps when there is a big storm, and every once in a while even put them in the laundry or [use a] professional cleaner.”
Should you use outdoor furniture covers when it rains?
Outdoor furniture covers are weatherproof and are indeed designed to be used outdoors in rain and other inclement weather. “When purchasing them, take a look at the labels and the maintenance instructions, to ensure you are using them properly,” says Karr.
Are outdoor furniture covers worth it?
In a word, yes. Karr says, “You can ask yourself this: Do you want to buy new furniture every year, or get the covers that maintain the integrity of the furniture so you can use it for years to come?” He says you can consider the covers as “insurance” that protects your outdoor furniture investment.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Barbara Bellesi Zito, a freelance lifestyle writer based in Staten Island, NY. To compile this list of best outdoor furniture covers, she researched products from top brands while considering factors like material, durability, and size options. For expert advice on what consumers should know when purchasing outdoor furniture covers, she consulted Eddie Karr, founder of Bellareed Luxury Pools, and Maida Cameron, director of design at Milliken & Company, a textile manufacturer.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor