How to protect your patio umbrellas and market umbrellas

There are several ways to protect your outdoor umbrella that can extend its life by years. If an outdoor patio umbrella is left outside, exposed to the elements like sun, wind, rain, and dust, it can really damage your outdoor shade. By following these simple steps, you will be able to use your market umbrella for several more seasons than if you don’t. Most of them are free and once you get in the habit of doing them, they will become second nature.

The first thing you can do to protect your outdoor patio umbrellas is to simply close them when you are not using them. Closing your large or small patio umbrella when you’re not using it will prevent the breeze from catching it, which can cause costly damage. The poles of the market umbrella can bend or break, or the umbrella poles can break with just an unexpected gust of wind that is caught by an open umbrella. Therefore, it is never a good idea to keep an umbrella open unless it is being used and you can see if it is stressed by the wind. If you see that your outdoor market umbrella is stressed by the wind, your best option is to close it to avoid damage. Many people sit under their umbrella while stressed to the limit and then realize that stress has pinched a rib. Therefore, it is important to close the umbrella when it is not in use and close it if you notice that it is being stressed by the wind.

Not only is it very important to close your patio umbrella and your market umbrella when not in use, it’s also important to use a feature that comes with almost all patio umbrellas. This very important characteristic is a tie. This feature exists for a reason and not just because the manufacturer had some extra fabric to use. The reason we want to not only close our outdoor patio umbrellas but also tie them down is because the right wind can catch even a closed umbrella and cause damage. By tying up your closed market umbrella, you can be sure that a sneaky gust of wind won’t catch your umbrella and break it.

The third most important thing to remember that will help you extend the life of your umbrella is to buy a protective cover. An umbrella cover may cost a few dollars, but they will be among the smartest dollars you’ll ever spend. Many people spend hundreds of dollars on their umbrellas, so spending a little more on an umbrella cover is a really smart investment. Umbrella covers protect your umbrella from sun, rain, wind and dust. They keep your umbrella comfortable and dry, which keeps them clean and mold and mildew free. An important tip: if your umbrella gets wet, make sure it is completely dry before placing the cover on it to avoid mold and mildew.

The last tip to extend the life of your umbrella is to take it to your garage or shed if you are in an area that gets very cold in the winter months. This will help extend the life of the fabric, which can be damaged by ice and snow. Even if you have a cover, it’s a good idea to take your market umbrella indoors when winter comes. These tips will help you enjoy your market umbrella for years to come and allow you to use it season after season.