Don't Believe The Myth: You Can Leave Some Patio Furniture Out In The Rain

If you have some amazing patio furniture that you often use, it's typically recommended that you bring it inside when not in use. However, this isn't as necessary as it may seem to be. The decision to store patio furniture or leave it in the rain should vary based on the materials and whether the furniture has been designed with water resistance in mind. Leaving some materials in light rain is fine and won't usually lead to damage.

Water-resistant furniture can withstand a very small amount of water but has its limits. Waterproof furniture is better and will do a good job of withstanding a significant amount of water.  However, no patio furniture will be completely waterproof. You'll want to find out how the furniture you're buying is marketed and plan accordingly. Consider the weather carefully to buy the perfect outdoor furniture and understand the materials when deciding whether to leave it out in the rain.

Regardless of the materials, it's always a good idea to take steps to protect patio furniture by bringing it inside or covering it with Amazon's top-rated patio furniture covers. Especially if weather conditions are particularly severe, it's best not to take chances. Bring your furniture inside if there will be heavy rain, high winds, or hail. 

Patio furniture made from certain materials is unlikely to experience damage if it gets wet, so you should choose carefully between the most durable furniture materials for your patio to prevent issues. In particular, plastic furniture does pretty well in the rain, but you should avoid letting it freeze, or it could get damaged. Teak wood is another great choice that's durable and withstands all kinds of damage well. Aluminum resists water as well but may experience corrosion as time goes on. It's also susceptible to freezing damage and can lose its strength over time with repeated exposure to moisture.

On the other hand, common patio furniture materials that you should definitely avoid leaving in the rain are wrought iron and wicker. Wrought iron will rust fairly easily and oxidize, changing color. Since wicker is a wood material, it will rot and may experience mold and mildew growth. Regardless of the material, remember that you should clean your patio furniture regularly to prevent damage and increase its lifespan. If patio furniture does get wet, lay out the various pieces in the sun to dry it.