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The patio area outside of our homes is a big part of our outdoor lifestyles today. They are basically a room we use that is exposed to all the natural elements. Even with a covered patio, these elements can be blown onto our outdoor furniture by the wind.

Storing your outdoor furniture in the cold, wet winter time is a good idea, but not all of us have the extra space, and when the weather is mild enough it is nice to have it still in place so we can catch a day or two of outside enjoyment when we can.

Today people are investing a little more money in outdoor furniture than in the past. The quality, style, and comfort of the more modern outdoor stuff are much better than the old easily rusted metals and plastic fabrics of yester year.

So how do we enjoy the use of our outdoor furniture outside where it is supposed to be and keep it protected from water damage and mold at the same time? Here are a few good tips.

The smartest and easiest thing that will give the most protection for our outdoor furniture is to keep it covered in bad weather. Vinyl covers for your outdoor pieces can be purchased at just about all stores that sell outdoor stuff.

They are relatively inexpensive and are well worth the money spent, especially if you have expensive furniture. You can even use a heavy clear plastic or inexpensive vinyl tarps and make your own covers, but if you do they will need to be fastened securely to keep from being blown off.

Even in the spring, summer and fall when our patio furniture is in use, it can get wet unexpectedly from rain. When this happens, it is good to dry it off as soon as possible. If your fabrics are water resistant, the water should not really hurt the cushions, but where there is moisture combined with dust and dirt, mold can begin to form.

There is nothing more uninviting than outdoor furniture with mold growing on it. So keep your cushions, metal, and wood pieces of your furniture clean and dry to help prevent unsightly mold. This can be done by using warm water, a cloth or soft cleaning brush, and mild detergent.

Using bleach products can cause a breakdown of the fabric on your furniture if it is not rinsed thoroughly, so do not use it unless it is absolutely necessary.