Care Guide: Furniture CoversUpdated 4 hours ago
Caring for your furniture covers
Furniture covers protect your investment, so it is worth looking after them too. A well-maintained cover will last many seasons and continue to offer effective protection. A damaged or poorly fitted cover can be as harmful as no cover at all.
Choosing the right cover
Always use a breathable, air-vented cover rather than a fully sealed or PVC-backed one. A non-breathable cover traps moisture against your furniture, which can cause mould, mildew, and accelerated deterioration — particularly on hardwood and metal frames. Look for covers with vents, drawcords, or buckle straps that allow some air circulation while still keeping rain and debris out.
Make sure the cover is the correct size for your furniture. An oversized cover will flap in the wind and cause abrasion; an undersized one will not provide adequate protection and may put stress on the fixings or seams.
Please note: It is natural for covers to fade in colour over time due to prolonged exposure to UV light and weather conditions. This is normal wear and does not affect the cover's protective performance.
Fitting your cover correctly
Before fitting a cover, always ensure your furniture is completely clean and dry. Covering dirty or damp furniture traps moisture and contaminants against the surface, which is one of the most common causes of mould and staining over winter.
When fitting, ensure the cover is properly seated over all parts of the furniture and that all straps, buckles, or drawcords are fully fastened. Pay particular attention to the underside — covers that are not secured at the base can be caught by wind and pulled free or flapped against the furniture causing surface abrasion.
Important: For wooden furniture, ensure there is reasonable airspace between the cover and flat surfaces such as tabletops and sofa arms. Direct contact between the cover and wood prevents the wood from breathing. Use a cover support pole to lift the cover away from flat wooden surfaces.
Regular cleaning
Clean your covers two to three times per season, or more frequently if they become visibly soiled. Use warm soapy water and a soft sponge or cloth, working across the surface in gentle circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove all soap residue — residue left in the fabric can attract dirt and weaken the fibres over time.
Most outdoor furniture covers are not suitable for machine washing — always check the care label before attempting a machine wash. If machine washing is not recommended, hand washing or hosing down is the correct approach.
Drying your cover
Always allow covers to dry fully — both inside and out — before fitting them back onto furniture or folding them for storage. Fitting a damp cover traps moisture against your furniture, which can cause mould, mildew, and in the case of wooden or metal frames, accelerate deterioration.
Where possible, dry covers in the open air rather than in an enclosed space. If drying indoors, ensure good ventilation. Do not tumble dry unless the care label specifically states it is safe to do so.
Important: Never fold or store a cover that is still damp — even slightly. Mould can develop on folded damp fabric within days, and once established it is very difficult to remove fully.
Fitting in high winds
Always check that covers are securely fastened before leaving them unattended, particularly during periods of high wind. A loose cover caught by a gust can flap repeatedly against furniture causing surface scratches or marks, wrap around mechanisms or structures, or be blown free entirely leaving your furniture unprotected.
Inspecting for damage
Check your covers at the start of each season for any tears, split seams, worn patches, or damaged fixings. Even a small tear will allow rainwater to funnel directly onto the furniture beneath — in some cases causing more concentrated water damage than no cover at all. Small tears can often be repaired with outdoor fabric repair tape, available from most outdoor or camping retailers. Covers with significant damage to seams or large areas of worn fabric should be replaced.
Mould on covers
If mould or mildew has developed on a cover, clean with a solution of warm water and a small amount of white vinegar, applied with a soft brush (do not use a bleach-based product). Work the solution into the affected area, leave for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Allow to dry completely in the open air before reuse or storage. For persistent mould, a specialist outdoor fabric cleaner can be used — always follow the manufacturer's instructions and rinse well.
If mould has penetrated the fabric and cannot be removed, the cover should be replaced. A mouldy cover is not hygienic and could transfer spores to your furniture.
Storing covers when not in use
When covers are not in use — for example during summer when furniture is in regular use — fold them neatly and store in a dry, well-ventilated location. A garden storage box, shed shelf, or indoor cupboard is ideal. Avoid leaving folded covers in damp environments such as the base of a garden storage box where water can pool, as mould can develop on the fabric even when covers are not being used on furniture.
What to avoid
Quick reference — do and avoid
Seasonal cover checklist
Work through this checklist at the start of each season before fitting your covers.
- Inspect covers for tears, split seams, worn patches, or damaged straps and buckles
- Repair any small tears with outdoor fabric repair tape, or replace if damage is significant
- Check covers for any mould or mildew and treat before fitting
- Clean covers with warm soapy water and allow to dry fully before fitting
- Ensure furniture is clean and completely dry before fitting covers
- Fasten all straps, buckles, and drawcords fully and check they are secure
- For wooden furniture, fit a support pole to keep the cover away from flat surfaces