Summary: The back patio or deck is made for entertaining, but how do you keep the bugs out of your furniture? This blog gives 8 easy ways to prevent pests from invading or ruining outdoor furniture throughout the warmer months. Pointe Pest Control provides efficient solutions to PNW pest problems.
At this point in July, we’re still soaking up the sun and enjoying the extra hours of daylight. Patio furniture gets a lot of love this time of year (have you visited a hardware store lately?), and not just by humans.
There are a lot of creepy-crawlies that hide from the heat in outdoor furniture, and no one wants to sit in a chair covered in cobwebs and dead bugs. We have the full scoop on how to protect your patio from invasive pests, all in 8 easy steps!
Think About the Materials
The starting point for pest-free patio furniture is, of course, choosing the right materials! We’re not insisting that you only choose the furniture we deem good for this cause. This step is just to give you something to think about while you shop for patio furniture.
Generally, natural or upholstered furniture are more likely to harbor pests because they like these materials. You can definitely still have these types of furniture, but just be aware that you might battle more patio pests if you choose these materials.
The furniture materials that don’t attract as many pests include:
- Treated wood (cedar, redwood, teak) — The natural oils repel pests and make the furniture weather-resistant.
- Synthetics (resin wicker, HDPE wicker, polymers) — These manufactured materials don’t have the real fibers that pests love.
- Metal (aluminum, wrought iron, steel) — Since it doesn’t have fibers and is hard, pests don’t want to live on metal.
Clean the Furniture Often
Once you have your outdoor furniture, it’s a good idea to consistently clean it throughout the warmer months. Spiders, ants, flies, and other tiny pests are often found in forgotten patio furniture. As with any pest problem, these infestations will only get worse if they’re left alone.
We suggest wiping everything down at least once a week when you’re regularly using the patio. Use a rag soaked with vinegar or soap and water to get in the cracks and crevices of each piece, taking care to remove the grime and spiderwebs that might attract other pests. If there’s a lot of loose particles, use a shop vacuum to remove those before going in with the rag.
Be Careful with Food and Drinks
Since food is the number one pest attractant, it’s crucial to keep it under control while you’re outside. If you’re hosting and your party fare is offered buffet-style, use coverings (mesh domes, foil, lids, etc.) to protect the dishes. Consider moving the buffet indoors to keep everything as far from pests as possible.
After dining outside, make sure all dirty dishes make it back into the kitchen. Clean up any crumbs and spills with a broom, vacuum, or antibacterial wipe. The goal of this cleanup process is to remove all traces of food from the patio. Trust us, you don’t want to find ants invading your patio furniture mere hours before your next outdoor party.
Use Natural Repellents
Essential oils, repellent plants, and citronella candles are easy ways to keep your patio from being overrun by pests. No matter which one you choose, keep in mind that these aren’t guaranteed methods to keep your space pest-free. Rather, these are helpful tasks that lower the number of visible pests.
Out of all the natural repellents, we recommend these for helping to deter pests:
- Essential Oils — Combine 30 drops of your oil of choice and water in a spray bottle, then spray the patio furniture. Reapply throughout the day as needed. The best oils are lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, basil, thyme, tea tree, and peppermint.
- Plants & Herbs — The oils in certain plants and herbs are horrid to pests. These oils are released when it’s hot outside or when the leaves are squeezed. Plant your greenery of choice in pots around the patio. The most impactful plants include lavender, petunias, asters, marigolds, chrysanthemums, thyme, basil, peppermint, rosemary, and sage.
- Citronella — Mosquitoes famously hate this scent, so don’t be afraid to introduce citronella products to your patio! Light a citronella candle (and keep an eye on it), place a citronella plant on the table, or spritz a citronella oil spray on the furniture.
Have the Right Lighting
When it comes to outdoor lighting, remember this basic principle: insects are more attracted to cool-toned lights than warm-toned lights. If we can put our science caps on for a second, this is because insects don’t see the longer wavelengths of warm lights. They do see the shorter wavelengths of cool lights, which are blue, purple, or ultraviolet in hue.
We recommend using warm, yellow, or amber lightbulbs in your patio light fixtures. Avoid using white or blue lights if possible. String lights are great for adding some cozy lighting that doesn’t attract every bug in the world. If you’re trying to enjoy an evening on your patio, turn off the bright indoor lights to prevent pests from crowding around the doors and windows.
Wash the Patio
When you’re trying to keep the pests out of your patio furniture, don’t forget the patio itself! A clean floor helps prevent pests, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. We suggest doing a major cleaning at the beginning and the end of the warmer seasons, when you use your patio the most. Throughout the patio months, quick cleanings should suffice.
We like the 2-step process for a deep cleaning of the patio floor. First, remove the larger debris (pet hairballs, leaves, twigs, etc.) with a shop vacuum or a broom. Then, use a pressure washer or the hose to wash away the smaller dirt and debris. If you have a rug, shake it out over the grass and give it a quick cleaning with the shop vacuum.
Place Fans Around the Space
Since patio season overlaps with the warmest days of the year, there won’t be much objection to placing electric fans around the space. Smaller flying pests — flies, mosquitoes, gnats — can’t fly in strong winds. By setting up a fan or two around the patio, you can effectively keep these pests at bay.
It’s extra helpful if your fans oscillate, but it’s not a requirement for preventing pests. Just place them near the seating area and turn them up to a high speed. If you leave these fans outside, clean them often. You won’t believe the dust and dirt that collects on outdoor fans! Wipe down the idle blades with a microfiber rag or give the fan a quick blast with the leaf blower.
Store Fabric-Based Items
If your patio furniture has a lot of fabric-based items, like cushions and throw pillows, you’ve probably noticed how easily they collect pests. Fabric collects crumbs, webs, and moisture, all of which mean pests. During patio season, vacuum or wipe down these items often to prevent them from becoming a pest’s paradise.
When we talk about storage, we’re referring to the off-season where you’re hardly using the patio. There are a couple options here:
- If you want to leave everything out, protect each item with all-weather covers. These can be as expensive or affordable as you want them to be.
- If you have room in the garage to store smaller items, move the pillows and chair cushions in for the winter. Storing them in plastic bins is even better, as these keep nosy rodents and spiders out in the colder months.
Have a Pest-Free Patio with Pointe!
No outdoor space is complete without ongoing pest protection, and that’s where Pointe Pest Control comes in. Our licensed technicians are dedicated to solving every Pacific Northwest pest problem with the efficiency and care that they require. When we’re on the scene, you can rest assured that your home and family are in qualified hands.
We use the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy for all of our services to reduce the amount of chemicals used and to target the root of each problem. Contact us today for a free quote on our efficient services!
Citations
10 best ways to keep bugs away from patio furniture. (2024, May 7). Castlery. Retrieved July 11, 2025, from https://www.castlery.com/us/blog/keep-bugs-away-from-patio-furniture
What you can do to keep bugs away from your patio furniture. (2023, June 21). Palm Casual Patio Furniture. Retrieved June 11, 2025, from https://palmcasual.com/what-you-can-do-to-keep-bugs-away-from-your-patio-furniture/
