With spring right around the corner, you are probably already daydreaming about your first BBQ of the season.
This year add patio furniture to your spring cleaning checklist. Although it’s heavy-duty, it’s not bulletproof against outdoor elements like tree sap and bird droppings (or your spilled wine). It’s best to clean your outdoor cushions in the fall before you put them in storage or at the beginning of the spring.
But don't dread cleaning your outdoor patio furniture that's been in storage all winter. We will walk you through the best ways to clean your outdoor cushions as well as the tools you'll need and household cleaners you probably already own. Then you can get back to the fun stuff like decorating for the spring and prepping your bar cart for that first outdoor party.
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Tools to Clean Outdoor Cushions
Before you begin cleaning the cushions, take a moment to collect all the supplies. Make sure to read the cleaning labels; so you don’t cause any damage. If you can’t find the label, most manufacturers have a care section with cleaning recommendations on their website. Below is a list of the essentials you need to for cleaning your outdoor cushions:
- Tarp (to safely clean cushions)
Step One: Prep the Area
Start this project early in the morning since the cushions will need to air-dry throughout the day—or find a covered area where they can dry over night. Prep the cleaning area with a tarp to prevent damage to your lawn and to stop new stains from collecting on the fabric from the pavement. Opt for a tarp larger than rather than smaller so that there is enough space for you to wash them and to let them dry without overlapping.
Step Two: Vacuum the Cushions
Grab a hand-held vacuum or one with a crevice tool to clean each cushion. Lots of crumbs like to collect on the border of the fabric or the piping. Don't forget the accent buttons and back of the seat because mildew, and tree spores can grow in these tiny pockets. Do a thorough pass with a vacuum to remove any dry debris.
Step Three: Scrub Cushions with Cleaning Solution
There are two ways to approach this step. One: Grab a bucket and fill it with water and 1/4 cup or a few squirts of dish soap (don’t be heavy-handed). Then dip your bristle brush into the cleaning solution and scrub the entire cushion (both sides).
A second eco-friendly option, a favorite because you probably already have this cleaner in your cabinet, is a spray bottle filled with undiluted distilled white vinegar that you spray all over the cushions and then scrub with a bristle brush. Depending on how large or stubborn the stain is, you may need to let the white vinegar seep into the fabric for at least 10 minutes and then scrub to remove debris. This process also works when cleaning accent pillow cushions that don’t have a removable cover.
Step Four: Rinse the Cushions
Use your garden hose or pressure washer in a low to medium setting. Make sure to rinse the cushions on the tarp to prevent any damage to the lawn, especially if using bleach or any other chemical.
Step Five: Air Dry the Cushions
Pat the cushions with a towel so they’re not sopping wet, then leave them to air dry. Ideally, you’ll want to prop them up in a sunny area and check on them in a few hours to rotate each cushion. The drying process can take up to an entire day, depending on heat and humidity. Make sure each cushion is completely dry before returning it to your seating area: residual moisture can lead to mildew or mold.
Additional Protection
Clean outdoor cushions at least once a year, so they last for the long haul. To help keep them in good shape, invest in outdoor covers. You can protect your cushions and avoid issues like tree sap or bird droppings landing on the fabric. Secondly, when you see a stain tackle it immediately, don’t let it sit on the surface. You can also try a fabric protection spray; most fabric protections last for a year or two. Simply buying a fabric protection spray and applying it to the surface can help prevent new stains in the future.
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Angela Belt is the contributing Assistant Shopping Editor at House Beautiful. She's also an interior designer and is the host of her own podcast, The Mood Board. When it comes to design, she's an esteemed expert with some of her work also appearing in HGTV, Better Homes & Gardens, The Washington Post, and more.
