How to Clean Outdoor Cushions

July 23, 2019

With the nice weather comes your patio furniture. It looks great, but it's prone to stains that can be difficult to remove. How to clean outdoor cushions without ruining them? This is what we're going to go over so you can tackle cleaning outdoor cushions on your own and keep your furniture looking like new. 

Start with the Tags

The very first thing you want to do when cleaning cushions is to take a glance at the tag. The tag usually has very specific instructions on what you can and can't do. If there are no specific requirements, you can move on to cleaning them with products you have in the house. Obviously, if there are instructions, follow them to avoid doing the wrong thing and damaging your cushions. 

Hand Wash or Spot Clean 

Sometimes, it's easier to wash your patio furniture by hand or spot clean it. You can mix up a simple solution by combining a teaspoon of mild dish soap with a teaspoon of Borax into a quart of warm water. Put this solution in a spray bottle and saturate the areas you want to clean. Rinse thoroughly after around 15 minutes, and then let them air dry. 

Cleaning Cushion Covers in the Washer and Dryer

If your patio furniture comes with removable cushion covers, you can clean them in the washing machine. Remove the covers and give them a good shake to remove any stuck-in debris. If you see any stains, work a pre-treatment into the fabric and toss the cushion covers into your washing machine. When the washing cycle is done, you can leave the covers out to air dry, or get them almost dry in the dryer. Remove them from the washing line, airer or dryer, and put them back over your furniture before they dry completely, so they keep their shape. 

How to Clean Cushions with Specific Stains

If you're cleaning outdoor cushions, you're likely to come across stains that you wouldn't normally see with your indoor fabric cushion covers. However, you can make a cushion cleaner and get most of the marks out with a little bit of scrubbing. 

• Bird Droppings - Get a microfibre cloth and get as much of the droppings off your cushions as possible. Fill a spray bottle with a teaspoon of Borax, a teaspoon of mild dish detergent and a quart of warm water. Shake it up and saturate the area. Get a soft bristle brush and scrub at the area before blotting it dry with your microfibre cloth. 
• Mould and Mildew - Use a nylon brush to get as much of the mould and mildew off as possible. Put one part Borax with four parts water into a spray bottle or bucket and apply a generous amount to the mould and mildewy areas. Blot it dry. If this doesn't work, you can use one part water with one part bleach and repeat the cycle. This should lift the stains out. 

Contact Willow Home Living

Do you have any tips or tricks for creating a cushion cleaner and freshening up your outdoor cushions? We want to hear about them! Get in touch with us today. 

If you're looking for cushion covers for your home, you’re certain to find designs that you’ll love at Willow Home and Living. Browse our incredible range of outdoor cushion covers for both inside the home and out.

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