The luxury outlet Dunas Living is set in a 6,000-square-metre garden along the route between Almancil and Quinta do Lago. They are known and admired for their outdoor furniture from well-known, internationally-respected, high-end brands. Founders Judy and Simon Clayton stress the importance of protective covers, sold with all Dunas Living pieces, to protect during the winter months from rain, and in the spring from pollen dust and scattered showers.

Ceramic tables and synthetic wicker furniture, they say, can simply be washed with soapy water, and because all their brands’ cushion fabrics are washable at 30 degrees, they can be cleaned as required. Parasols should be dry and closed for the winter months with their winter covers in place, and in very windy areas it is sensible to move them to a protected location, such as against a wall. All canopies can be removed and cleaned professionally, but it’s not something that the team at Dunas Living would say is necessary annually.

Slings Outdoor Living in Quarteira, on the E125, is a family business led by brothers Max and Sem. All of the furniture they sell is designed and manufactured in materials able to cope with rain, strong sunlight and changing temperatures. If furniture is not going to be used for a full season, they recommend it is covered properly and that loose cushions are stored indoors. This will help prevent unnecessary exposure to the elements and, importantly in the Algarve, sand and sea salt, which can speed up rust on certain materials, like metal. They also advise that dirt, dust and sand are regularly removed with a soft brush or cloth.

It is Slings’s recommendation that fabrics are treated with a protective coating to make them more water- and dirt-repellent and to allow any pesky spills from food and drink to be removed more easily and prevented from leaching into the fabric.

Another top tip from the brothers is to allow furniture and cushions to dry completely before covering or storing them to stop mould from forming; the company offers a range of maintenance products and can supply protective covers for around 75% of the furniture it sells.