After spending your days in the sunny outdoors and enjoying a few harmless gusts of wind from autumn, it’s starting to get extra chilly.
Winter might be approaching, and you’re probably wondering if you should keep your patio umbrella outside.
Well, You don’t want to do that. Patio umbrellas are built for sunny and occasionally rainy weather, but freezing temperatures are where these shades draw the line!
Stick around to learn more about why you shouldn’t leave your patio umbrellas outside and the best way to store them.
Can You Leave a Patio Umbrella Outside In the Winter?
Even though patio umbrellas are built to withstand extreme conditions, keeping them outside during winter isn’t a good idea.
You’re better off storing it so that it can last longer during the sunny spring and summer months. Trust me, it’s a better match against the scorching UV rays than icy rains and heavy winds.
Can You Leave a Patio Umbrella Base Outside In the Winter?
Rather than risk damaging your patio umbrella base in the cold weather, it’s best to store it indoors along with its fabric.
To do so, ensure it’s clean with a quick soap and water wash. If your patio umbrella comes with a water ballast base, drain it entirely.
Next, make sure every part of the base is completely dry. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting mold or mildew.
Then, wrap the whole base in plastic, especially if it’s metal. Now, your patio umbrella base could have a large cantilever base that’s too difficult to move in your shed.
In this case, you can wrap the umbrella’s base in plastic while it’s outside to protect it from the inclement weather.
How to Store Your Patio Umbrella
Whether a storm is brewing or winter is fast approaching, you’ll need to store your patio umbrella from harm’s way. Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Clean It
You need to clean off any accumulated dirt, debris, and stains before putting your patio umbrella away. Start by vacuuming off the dry bits and pieces around the base and the fabric.
Then, spread the fabric out, wet it, then brush it with a soapy solution to get rid of the stains and ingrained dust.
Lastly, rinse the material and leave it to air dry, preferably in a sunny spot.
Step 2: Disassemble It
If your patio umbrella has a removable fabric, then you need to take it out first before storing it. Disassemble the pole and detach any decorative items.
Step 3: Cover the Base
Use a piece of plastic or cardboard to cover the umbrella’s exposed pole. Make sure the pole is completely dry for this step. Otherwise, you could risk getting mold.
Step 4: Cover the Umbrella
Aside from the base and pole, you must also ensure the umbrella’s canopy is well-protected with a breathable fabric.
In some cases, the patio umbrella may come with a dedicated cover. If the ribs and support bars are detachable, make sure that they’re covered as well with a waterproof material.
Step 5: Search for a Storage Space
One of the most critical requirements of storage space is that it needs to be dry, temperature-controlled, and away from other objects and curious pets.
Subsequently, you can keep the umbrella indoors in your garage, storage room, or basement.
If you don’t have indoor space, you can take it outdoors into a shed or keep it in a storage container.
Step 6: Hang It or Keep It Upright
You can choose to either keep the umbrella upright or suspended. In the latter’s case, there’s usually a hook provided at the top of it.
Alternatively, prop it against a flat surface to keep it stable. You can also attach the umbrella’s base pole to make it stand upright.
Step 7: Regularly Check on It
Just because it’s out of sight doesn’t mean it should be out of mind! You’ll want to check on your umbrella every few weeks to make sure nothing got through its protective layers.
Are Patio Umbrellas Waterproof?
Standard-design patio umbrellas do not offer waterproof protection. They’re only useful against UV rays.
Nevertheless, some designs do have a water-repelling feature. With these designs, water will form a bead shape and roll off the shade.
If you don’t have a waterproof umbrella, you can try changing that by using a waterproofing spray. It works by spraying a water-resistant polymer material over your fabric to protect it from water.
Final Thoughts
Still wondering: Should I leave my patio umbrella outside? In short, if the weather is too moist, cold, stormy, or windy, you need to keep these outdoor shades protected!
Otherwise, you run the risk of sustaining some damage from the excess moisture and strong winds.
Fortunately, storing them is straightforward. You just need to clean, disassemble, cover, and store them in a safe space in your shed or garage where they can be away from moisture.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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