Secret Cleaning Tricks That Will Make Your Outdoor Cushions Look Like New

The sun is officially setting later, which means that spring is almost here. As you're preparing your backyard with beautiful blooming plants and stunning landscape designs that all your neighbors will envy, you're likely also figuring out how to create the most inviting outdoor living space to fully take advantage of the soon-to-be nice weather. In other words, it's time to bring out the outdoor furniture.

While we love the softness and style outdoor cushions and pillows bring to an alfresco space, we don't love how dirty these accents tend to get thanks to the natural elements. Though the fabric on your outdoor cushions should be heavy-duty and fairly durable, that doesn't completely stop rain from soaking in, bugs from getting curious, and critters from using your furniture as their own private bathroom. Dirt, mildew, debris, and any other blemishes on the fabric can make sitting outside a much less enjoyable experience.

So as you're also starting on your spring cleaning checklist, it's important to go into this chore knowing how to clean outdoor cushions in order to use them as soon as possible. Plus, cleaning your cushions now will make prepping them before storing them away again in the late fall even easier.

Below, we'll walk you through the best tips on how to clean outdoor cushions using household items you likely already have. Once this chore is checked off your to-do list, then you can go back to the fun part of getting ready for spring, like prepping your bar cart for the first outdoor soirée of the season and deciding which fire pit would look best in your yard.

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 that is larger than rather than smaller so that there is enough space for you to wash your curtains in one area and to let them dry in another, 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. Do a thorough pass with a vacuum to remove any dry debris. Don't forget the accent buttons and back of the seat, because mildew and tree spores can grow in these tiny pockets.

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, and a favorite because you probably already have this cleaner in your cabinet, is to fill a spray bottle 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. These will protect your cushions and avoid issues such as tree sap or bird droppings landing on the fabric.

As the season wears on, when you do see a stain, tackle it immediately; don't let it sit on the surface. You can also try a fabric protection spray. Simply buying a fabric protection spray and applying it to the surface can help prevent new stains in the future, and most fabric protections last for a year or two.