How to Prepare Outdoor Furniture for Winter

The Fall season presents the perfect time of year to prepare your outdoor furniture for the upcoming cooler months.  While most furniture nowadays will stand up to whatever winter brings, there are some things you can do to make sure it will look its best next year.  After all, the happier you are with your furniture, the more likely you are to use your outdoor space for entertaining and good times!

Before you jump right in and accept that this year’s Summer season is coming to a close, keep in mind that some of the best temperatures for spending time outdoors in Hilton Head Island have yet to come.  If fact, you may find yourself outside more now than during those hot afternoons since October’s weather ranges from the low 60’s to the mid 70’s!

End of Summer Checklist to Keep Outdoor Furniture Looking its Best Year After Year

1. Know what choices you have for storing outdoor furniture.  Whether it be a garage, shed, or storage unit, knowing how much space you have ahead of time will make things easier for you when it comes time to store it.

2. If storing in a dry location isn’t possible, at least remove the cushions, wash them if possible, and put them indoors.  You can also use a mild soap and water to clean them.

3. If you have to leave everything outdoors, we recommend investing in heavy-duty, waterproof covers that will protect from the elements.  Vinyl is a durable and budget-friendly option!

4. Before covering your outdoor furniture, it’s really important to clean everything first.

How to Clean Your Outdoor Furniture

–Clean Wicker: Power wash with a gentle spray to remove any loose dirt from between the weaves.

–Clean Wood: Use a dry brush to remove loose dirt and dust, then rinse off with the hose.  Gently scrub with a cloth and soapy water, rinse, and allow to dry completely before covering.

–Clean Metal: Wipe down with a damp cloth.  Remove any rust spots with some oil on a soft cloth.

-Clean Plastic: This is the easiest to clean.  All you need is soap, water, and a cloth.

-Remove Mold: Mix 2 capfuls of bleach in a bucket HALF full of COOL water.  Use a scrub brush with strong bristles and gently rub over mold.  Make sure to rinse completely and allow to dry before covering.

Once all of your outdoor furniture is clean, you can cover it and move it to where it will be stored during the winter months where it will wait in anticipation of entertaining again next Spring!

What other tips do you have for preparing outdoor furniture for winter?

My name is June Seebohm and I am an experienced Realtor serving the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, SC area’s. I am happy to help you in any way that I can in regards to learning about our beautiful area, as well as any and all of your real estate needs or questions! Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email: june@alwaysjune.com or call 843-290-2929. I also have a Facebook Page and would love to connect with you there. Whether you are a vacationer, resident, buyer, seller, or current home owner/renter interested in the Hilton Head area, this is a blog you’ll want to follow!

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Welcome Fall With These Events in Bluffton

While you may not be able to soak up the warm sun on the beach or learn a new water sport during the cooler months, the Hilton Head Island area still offers so much to do.  In fact, the town of Bluffton has a variety of fun, family friendly events that just wouldn’t be the same any other time of year!

Locals and visitors alike look forward to the Fall activities and changes in routine that the season brings, and with the charm and beauty that Bluffton is known for, it’s a perfect location for these events.

Here’s a look at what’s planned for the next few months in Bluffton:

• September 22 – Beer and Brats at Calhoun Promenade

• October 13 – 3rd Annual Lowcountry Rockin’ the Pink Breast Cancer Walk – This event has been moved back to Red Cedar Elementary School this year so there will be plenty of room to walk and to park!

• October 14-21 – 8th Annual Historic Arts and Seafood Festival – This week long event offers a myriad of activities, showcasing the locally harvested seafood, delicious Low Country cuisine, rich history, culture and art of the area and Southern hospitality found only in Bluffton.

• October 27 – Alzheimer’s Memory Walk in Old Town

• October 27 – Zombie Mile in Old Town at 5:00pm

• November 3 – Bluffton International & Craft Beer Fest at Calhoun Promenade

• November 10 – Greater Bluffton Chamber Lowcountry Boil and BBQ at Oyster Factory Park

• November 30-December 2 – Weekend of Lights (including our Christmas parade)

Over the next few months there are so many opportunities to gather the family and your friends and head to an event that allows for fun, meeting new people, and even a little exercise!

There’s never a shortage of things to do and if you have any questions about these events or anything else happening in or around Bluffton, let me know!

What do you like best about the Fall season in Bluffton?

My name is June Seebohm and I am an experienced Realtor serving the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, SC area’s. I am happy to help you in any way that I can in regards to learning about our beautiful area, as well as any and all of your real estate needs or questions! Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email: june@alwaysjune.com or call 843-290-2929. I also have a Facebook Page and would love to connect with you there. Whether you are a vacationer, resident, buyer, seller, or current home owner/renter interested in the Hilton Head area, this is a blog you’ll want to follow!

Search Hilton Head Island Homes for Sale

Brief History of Hilton Head Island, SC

Ever wonder how Hilton Head Island came to be one of the most beautiful vacation and living destinations on the East Coast?  Keep reading for a brief history of our area and learn why the locals are unusually proud to call Hilton Head Island home!

Native Americans lived on Hilton Head Island as from as early as 10,000 years ago, living off the land and sea.  The first non-indigenous people to visit the region were Spaniards, who briefly checked out and named nearby St Helena Island.  The first European to claim Hilton Head was William Hilton, who surveyed it and claimed it for England in 1663, naming it “Hilton’s Headland”.

Hilton worked tirelessly to promote settlement but English settlers were slow to respond, nervous as they were about the local tribal people living on the island, and the Spaniards and their colonial ambitions.  It wasn’t until the early eighteen hundreds that Hilton’s Head began to be settled and planted, and by then South Carolina was an established colony with a plantation based economy.

Land owners on Hilton Head grew cotton, rice and indigo, labor intensive crops that relied on slave labor.  The planters amassed large profits on the backs of the African slaves, but the onset of the Civil War changed this forever.  Many Civil War battles were fought around Hilton Head and the lovely antebellum homes and flourishing crops were left behind by the planters.  Many plantation homes remain on the island today.

The island remained a quiet spot for decades, until the close of the Second World War, when the resulting developmental boom lead to burgeoning development throughout the country.  The island’s first bridge was built in 1956, and developer Charles Fraser created “Sea Pines”, the island’s first resort community, and several new developments followed.  Fraser worked hard to render his development environmentally sound, and his code of conduct has been a positive influence on subsequent development.

What else do you want to know about Hilton Head Island?

My name is June Seebohm and I am an experienced Realtor serving the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, SC area’s. I am happy to help you in any way that I can in regards to learning about our beautiful area, as well as any and all of your real estate needs or questions! Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email: june@alwaysjune.com or call 843-290-2929. I also have a Facebook Page and would love to connect with you there. Whether you are a vacationer, resident, buyer, seller, or current home owner/renter interested in the Hilton Head area, this is a blog you’ll want to follow!

Search Hilton Head Island Homes for Sale