Clean patio cushions are such an underrated treat. Imagine relaxing in the sunshine on your outdoor furniture, confident that your clothing won’t have dirty streaks when you stand up. If you want to get the very best out of your backyard textiles, find out how to clean outdoor couch cushions using several simple tutorials designed to help with just about any stain.
Patio and front porch lovers appreciate lush, clean outdoor patio cushions. They unify the space with the furniture and add an extra layer of design and depth. Now, more than ever, making the most of your yard, porch, or patio space with cute accents and visually interesting fabric choices is something that many homeowners strive to achieve.
If you love cultivating the look of your outdoor spaces, you’ll want to protect your investment by keeping your couch cushions clean and your throw pillows crisp. While outdoor fabrics are generally treated with a weather-resistant coating during manufacturing, they still require consistent care to prolong their usefulness.
Pro Tips for Cleaning Outdoor Couch Cushions
We all want a little slice of outdoor luxury; our patio furniture and fabric reflect that. Drab and dirty outdoor cushions speckled with bird droppings and grass stains aren’t inviting to anyone. Learn how to wash patio couch cushions with these incredible tips.
Find out how to eliminate mold and mildew, treat grass stains with a convenient DIY spray, and even how dye sun-bleached cushions. These helpful patio cushion pointers are for everyone, and there’s no skill level required for cleaning outdoor cushions today.
Vacuum Your Patio Furniture and Cushions Regularly
Your patio furniture sits outside, exposed to the elements 24 hours a day. While the manufacturer’s weather coating protects the fabric from moisture, stains, and UV rays, the job doesn’t end there. No matter what kind of patio furniture and fabrics you have, regular vacuuming will help remove dusty, dirty buildup.
Regular vacuuming of your outdoor furniture cushions reduces the accumulation of grime and makes washing them even easier. Plus, it’s a great way to keep your wicker, canvas, and wood surfaces dust and allergen-free during the spring and summer when insect and pollen activity are at their height.
There’s no real trick for how to clean outdoor couch cushions with the vacuum except ensuring you use the soft brush attachment; this improves surface area coverage, cuts down on time spent, and prevents unintentional scratches from vigorous vacuuming. With the vacuum, cleaning outdoor couch cushions becomes easier than ever before.
How to Clean Outdoor Couch Cushions in the Washing Machine
Most manufacturers recognize the need for convenience when it comes to cleaning outdoor fabric. If you’re lucky, your patio cushions have removable covers, which makes washing patio couch cushions in the machine a super-simple way to keep up with the demand.
Unzip the cushion cover and check the interior for a manufacturer’s tag; it contains information about how to wash patio couch cushions in the machine without damaging them. Almost all outdoor cushions are machine-washable and tolerate warm water and mild detergent. Avoid using chlorine or bleaching agents on brightly-colored pillows.
Set your washing machine to the gentlest cycle, select warm water, and add your favorite laundry detergent. Include a cup of baking soda or distilled white vinegar to elevate your regular detergent if you like. Once the cycle is through, remove the cushions and place them out in the sun to dry. The UV rays help kill lingering bacteria clinging deep in the fabric fibers of your patio furniture cushions.
Getting Rid of Grass Stains on Outdoor Cushions
No one wants to find themselves scrubbing old patio couch cushions to get rid of stubborn grass stains, but the truth is, it happens all the time. The better prepared you are, the easier your life will be. If you need a pre-wash stain treatment, this cleaning solution steps up to the plate and delivers a home run. Make grass stains a thing of the past and create a batch of this Borax-based cleaning solution.
Fill an old spray bottle with lukewarm water, Borax, and dish soap. Grab a medium bristle scrub brush – anything too abrasive, like steel wool, could cause the cushion threads to break and pill.
Find the offending grass stain, cover it with your DIY cleaning solution, and let it sit for several minutes. Use your scrub brush to loosen the grass stains and rinse with clean water. If you’re satisfied, leave the cushion outside to air dry. If not, toss the cushion cover in the washing machine.
Cleaning Mold and Mildew off Patio Cushions
Mildew and mold are a real problem in damp, humid parts of America, and sometimes, it only takes one good rainstorm to get an aggressive mold colony going. If you don’t notice it for a few days or weeks, you might develop a severe mold problem and begrudgingly spend Saturday afternoon cleaning moldy patio couch cushions.
White vinegar is a non-toxic, environmentally conscious way to hand wash lawn furniture couch cushions. You don’t want toxic chemicals like chlorine bleach in your lawn or flower garden. Find an old rubber tub or a bucket and fill it with four cups of white vinegar and one gallon of warm water.
Put your rubber cleaning gloves on, submerge outdoor patio cushions, and scrub them aggressively with a medium bristle scrub brush to loosen the mold. Once you can’t see any more green, black, or brown spots, putting the cushion cover in the washing machine is safe.
How to Wash Patio Couch Cushions With Water Pressure
There are no shortcuts for cleaning outdoor patio cushions unless you have a pressure washer. When time won’t allow you to do a load of laundry, mix up a DIY stain fighter, or shampoo patio cushions by hand, this incredible tool makes the chore a little less daunting.
Unfortunately, not all outdoor cushions have removable covers; that’s when things like bird droppings and tree sap go from being a minor inconvenience to a major problem. Plug in the pressure washer, connect it to a water source, and set the PSI to its lowest setting so as not to tear the fabric.
Wet the cushions with a steady stream of water, then apply a mild, eco-friendly soap that won’t damage the plants and beneficial insects in your yard. Spray the cushion from a distance of at least two feet and continue until clean. Wring or squeeze any excess water out of the fabric and set the cushions in the sunlight to air dry and regain shape.
Refreshing Sun Bleached Cushions
Sometimes, cleaning outdoor couch cushions doesn’t help, no matter how hard you scrub. Sun-battered patio fabrics that have seen too many summers look tired and worn out, but that doesn’t mean they belong in the garbage. Discover how to pep up your patio pillows with a quick and easy backyard dye job.
Each dye manufacturer has preferred directions. However, generally, you bring a few cups of clean water to a boil in a large pot, transfer the boiling water to a rubber tub, add the fabric dye, and stir it into the water until it dissolves fully.
Add more boiling water until you have enough to submerge the cushion covers completely. Stir the material frequently for an hour or until you reach the desired shade, then rinse under cold water until it runs clear. It’s acceptable to dispose of the water down the drain because small quantities of liquid fabric dye dilute as they proceed to the water treatment plant.
The possibilities become endless when you know how to rejuvenate weather-worn patio furniture cushions. Learning how to clean outdoor couch cushions with the appropriate detergent, making a pre-wash stain remover, and even dyeing sun-bleached cushion covers are excellent skills to have if you enjoy tinkering with the look of your yard.
To keep your cushions looking their best, give them a bi-weekly deep clean in the washing machine with a mild detergent. Or, at the very least, run a damp microfiber cloth over them at the end of the week to keep dirt, pollen, and insects from settling into the fabric folds.
Extend the lifespan of your outdoor pillows; don’t leave them out in bad weather. Harsh, prolonged sun exposure or rain and hail are a patio cushion’s worst enemy. Cozy and inviting seating with clean outdoor cushions is a big part of making your backyard a place everyone wants to visit this summer.
If you feel pumped up about learning how to clean outdoor couch cushions, share these top-tier cushions care tips if your friends on Pinterest and Facebook who adore attractive outdoor spaces.