Tips for Outdoor Grills and Patio Furniture Storage

Autumn marks the beginning of cooler weather, leaves falling from the trees, and pumpkin-flavored coffee. It’s time to think about moving seasonal items like patio furniture, and outdoor grills into storage. Fall is a great time to prep these items and place them in storage for the winter months. If you prepare them properly, then you will be able to immediately use these items again in the spring. Before you place your outdoor grill or patio furniture in storage, take a good look at them to see if anything is broken or needs repair before going into storage. If the grill or patio furniture appears broken beyond repair, then this is the time to dispose of them.

Storing Patio Furniture

If you decide to keep the patio furniture outside throughout the winter months, it is important to have it covered with water tight coverings. Remove the fabric cushions and place them in a fully sealed outdoor storage container. As an alternative, putting your patio furniture into a self storage unit and keeping it out of the elements will help prolong its life. Thoroughly clean your patio furniture before placing it in your self storage unit. Remove and wash the cushions and wipe down all surfaces of the chairs and tables. Wash wicker, mesh or plastic and wrought iron chairs with a solution of dishwater soap and water. For wooden furniture, use wood oil soap. Let the furniture dry completely after rinsing off the cleaning solution. To keep the furniture protected, wipe the wicker or wood furniture with a furniture grade wax.  Clean the fabric or canvas cushions with a solution of Lysol and hot water. Make sure that the cushions are completely dry before placing in storage.  In a storage unit, stack patio furniture chairs on top of one another to gain extra storage space. To give more storage space in the unit, remove the legs of the patio table and keep all screws and nuts together in a plastic bag attached to the legs.

Storing Grills or Barbecues

If you cannot move the grill to indoor storage, then, it is important to have it covered with water tight coverings. You do not need to disconnect the propane tank, but make sure that the tank is completely shut off. Store your grill or barbecue in your storage unit to keep it in optimal shape for usage the next spring. Like the other outdoor items, make sure it’s thoroughly cleaned and wiped down before placing it in storage. Use a wire brush or steel wool to clean off any cooked-on food or grease. Clean and empty the ash pan, drip pan and burner shield. The grill needs to be thoroughly dry before you place it in storage. If you are storing a charcoal grill, remove and properly dispose of the charcoal before storing. For gas grills, consult the owner’s manual before disconnecting the propane tank from the grill. Always shut off the gas source before removing the tank from the grill.  As a safety precaution, propane tanks should not be stored in enclosed areas and cannot be stored in storage units. For winter storage, disconnect the tank and store it outside of your home in an upright position away from dryer and furnace vents and children’s play areas. Cover the stored grills with protective grill covers while in storage. ezStorage has a variety of self storage units, climate controlled and non-climate controlled, in sizes ranging from 5×5 to 10×30 for all of your household storage needs.