It’s wonderful relaxing out in the sun underneath a great big outdoor umbrella, but when the sun is gone during winter, you have got to put the umbrella away. The reason why? When you stop using your patio umbrella, a lot could happen to spoil it. Because you seldom go outdoors in the time of winter weather you cannot stop problems such as the umbrella falling over and a rib splitting. They get blown with mud that embeds in the fiber and can create mildew. Snow can deteriorate ribs and connectors. The sunlight can whiten wooden umbrellas. There’s just a lot of risk leaving your umbrella out when not in use.
So what can you do to safeguard your umbrella investment when not making use of it? Here are four great tips to follow.
- Clean it off – Prior to stocking your outdoor umbrella, make sure that it’s clean. Taking a wet towel, wipe off any dust or grime. This will help protect your outdoor patio umbrella, helping it last more.
- Maintain it nice and dry – Once you have wiped it down, really dry off your outdoor umbrella before storing it away. Don’t store your patio umbrella away when wet. A large umbrella can keep plenty of liquid. You umbrella might be moldy and stinky when the water stales, and might be unhygienic
- Wrap it up – A lot of patio umbrellas feature a protective cover that you could get over the folded patio umbrella to make sure that it keeps clean and dry when stored. If you do not have a protective cover for your outdoor patio umbrella, a garbage bag will also get the job done. Just put the bag around the outdoor umbrella and, working with a rope, wrap the outdoor patio umbrella good and snug.
- Stow it away – When ever putting away your umbrella, whether short or long-term, be sure to put it somewhere dry and away from the sun’s rays.
