How to Protect Your Patio Umbrellas and Market Umbrellas

There are a number of ways to protect your outdoor umbrella which can extend its life by years. If an outdoor patio umbrella is left outside, exposed to the elements such as sun, wind, rain and dust they can really damage your outdoor shade. If you follow these simple steps you will be able to use your market umbrella for a number of seasons longer than if you do not. Most of them are free and once you get into the habit of doing them they will just become second nature.

The number one thing you can do to protect your outdoor patio umbrellas is to simply close them when you are not using them. By closing your small or large patio umbrella when you are not using it will keep it from getting caught in a breeze which can cause costly damage. Market umbrella ribs can be bent or broken, or umbrella poles can be snapped just by one unexpected gust of wind that is caught by an open umbrella. Therefore, it is never a good idea to keep a patio umbrella open unless it is being used and you can observe if it is being stressed by the wind. If you do see your outdoor market umbrella being stressed by the wind, your best option is to close it to avoid damage. Many people sit under their umbrella while it is being stressed to its limits and then realize that a rib arm has been tweaked by the stress. So, it is important to close your umbrella when it isn’t being used and to close it if you notice it is being stressed by the wind.

Not only is it very important to close your patio umbrella and market umbrella when it isn’t being used it is also important to use a feature that comes with just about every patio umbrella. This very important feature is a tie. This feature is there for a reason and not just because the manufacturer had some extra fabric to use up. The reason we want to not only close our outdoor patio umbrellas, but also tie them is because the right wind can catch even a closed umbrella and cause damage. By tying your market umbrella closed you can be sure that a sneaky gust of wind does not 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 umbrella cover. An umbrella cover can cost a few dollars, but they will be among the smartest dollars you will spend. Many people spend hundreds of dollars on their patio umbrellas, so spending a little more on an umbrella cover is a really smart investment. Patio umbrella covers keep your umbrella protected from sun, rain, wind and dust. They keep your umbrella snug and dry, which keep them clean and free from mold and mildew. An important tip: If your umbrella does get wet, make sure that it is completely dry before you place your cover over it to avoid mold and mildew.

The last tip for extending the life of your umbrella is to bring it into 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 is still a good idea to bring your market umbrella indoors when winter comes. These tips should help you enjoy your market umbrella for years to come and allow you to use it season after season.