7 Mistakes You're Making with Your Garden Furniture (and How to Fix Them Before Winter)

When did you last actually look at your garden table?

Not just glanced at it through the kitchen window, but checked what the rain, fallen leaves and longer nights are doing to it? If the answer is “not for a while”, you’re in good company. Late October has a way of making outdoor jobs feel easy to postpone: I’ll sort it at the weekend. Then the weekend comes, it’s cold and drizzly, and the chairs are still where summer left them.

There’s no need to feel guilty. A few small steps now can help protect the furniture you already own and make next spring feel less like a repair job. Here are seven common mistakes, and how to put them right.

1. Leaving it out because “it’s only October”

It can feel too early to pack the garden away. But the long stretch of damp weather can be harder on furniture than cold alone. Rain settles into joints and finishes; repeated wet and dry spells leave things exposed for weeks before winter has properly arrived.

The fix: Decide what needs to be stored and what can stay outside under suitable protection. Check the care instructions for your furniture, and make sure anything you cover is clean and fully dry. Even moving pieces to a sheltered spot can reduce their exposure.

2. Covering it with whatever’s to hand

A cheap, poorly fitting cover or a loose tarp can seem like an easy solution. But if it traps condensation or lets water collect in puddles, the furniture underneath may stay damp rather than dry. Waterproofing matters, but so does air movement.

The fix: Choose a well-fitting cover designed for outdoor furniture, ideally one that allows some ventilation. Avoid letting it sag onto the table or form dips where rainwater can pool. Secure it against gusts, then lift it now and again to air the furniture and check for moisture. Always follow the cover maker’s instructions.

3. Leaving cushions on the frame, or putting them in a damp shed

Cushions can feel dry on the surface while moisture lingers in the filling. Leave them out under a cover or tuck them into a damp shed and they may come back out smelling musty. That’s a disappointing welcome to spring.

The fix: Bring cushions and throws indoors if you can. Let them dry completely first, and wipe them down according to their care labels. If you’re using a storage box or shed, keep the textiles dry, leave room for air to circulate, and don’t pack them tightly into a damp space.

4. Covering furniture without cleaning it first

A few crumbs, bird mess, tree sap or a film of algae might not look like much in October. But once the furniture is covered for weeks, that grime is left sitting against the surface. It’s much nicer to start next year with clean furniture than with a stubborn winter’s worth of marks to tackle.

The fix: Brush away loose leaves and dirt, then clean the surface using a method suitable for its material. A soft cloth and mild soapy water are a sensible starting point for many pieces, but check the furniture’s care guidance first. Rinse where needed and leave everything to dry properly before covering it.

5. Shoving everything into a corner

When you want the patio clear, stacking chairs and wedging tables together is tempting. But awkward piles can put pressure on frames and joints. Scraping furniture against a wall or leaving metal parts pressed together in a damp spot can also lead to scratches and rust forming at vulnerable points.

The fix: Stack only items designed to stack, and do it as the manufacturer recommends. Don’t force pieces into a tight space or rest heavy items on delicate parts. Keep furniture level, leave a little breathing room and check that legs and joints aren’t under strain.

6. Forgetting the parasol, base and gazebo

A parasol left open in a strong gust can catch the wind like a sail. A heavy base can be awkward to move at the last minute, while a damp parasol or gazebo canopy folded away wet may develop marks or an unpleasant smell.

The fix: Close and secure the parasol whenever it’s not in use, and take it down or store it somewhere sheltered if possible. Brush off debris and let the fabric dry fully before folding it away. Check the base is stable and the fabric is secure. If you have a gazebo, follow its instructions for wind and winter storage, including whether the canopy should be removed.

7. Ignoring the little faults

A loose bolt, missing foot cap, wobbly leg or squeaky hinge seems minor when the garden is empty. But small problems are easy to forget over winter, and they can become more awkward if they’re left until the furniture comes back into use.

The fix: Give each piece a quick once-over while you’re cleaning it. Tighten loose fixings gently, replace missing caps where you can, and make a note of anything that needs a closer look. A small repair in October may be far simpler than discovering a bigger problem on the first sunny weekend of spring.

A small job now can make spring easier

You don’t need to turn this into a full weekend project. A little time to clean, dry, store and check your furniture can make a real difference, and you can tackle one job at a time if that feels more manageable. For specific materials and finishes, your furniture’s care instructions should always come first. You can also refer to Gloster’s guidance on protective covers and Glatz’s parasol cleaning and maintenance advice.

If you’re missing a few practical bits, Trotters Traders can help with covers, storage boxes, throws, parasol bases, tools and hardware. You can browse our garden furniture, parasols, gazebos and tools online. We’re a local family-run business, and our prices are often lower than B&Q, Wickes, supermarkets and garden centres, without making a fuss about it.

You’ll find Trotters Traders in Grimsby, Louth, Scunthorpe and Beverley, with the option to collect from our Scunthorpe store. And if your autumn visit includes a look at heaters, throws or winter fuel, you can take care of that while you’re here too. Our stores are dog friendly, so bring your four-legged companion along.

Your garden furniture doesn’t need to be perfect by tonight. Just start with the first cushion, the first wipe-down, or that one wobbly leg, and the rest can feel much easier.