How Do I Clean My Outdoor Cushions?

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4. How Do I Clean My Outdoor Cushions?

Most outdoor cushions are made to live outside.  Being outside all spring, summer, and fall can take its toll on your outdoor cushions, but cleaning your outdoor cushions is not as hard as you might think!  Cleaning one or two times per season will extend the life of your furniture.  Before you start cleaning, you’ll want to be sure if you have Sunbrella (or another brand of quality solution-dyed) fabric, or some other kind of fabric (olefins, dyed polyesters, PVC).  This will ensure you use the right cleaning products on your fabric.  If you’re not sure what kind of fabric you have, checking your original receipt or emailing us a photo would be a good start.  We can’t always tell what fabric you have, but sometimes we can give you guidance. 

How do I clean my Sunbrella outdoor cushions:

The best way to proactively keep your Sunbrella fabric looking like new is to brush off the dirt or pollen before it becomes embedded in the fabric. It’s always easier to clean a stain or spill right when it happens. Sunbrella says that 98% of stains can be easily removed just by spraying a cleaning solution of water and mild soap and scrubbing with a soft brush, sponge, or towel. The last 2% of stains can be cleaned with a mixed solution of bleach, soap and water.  Yes, you did read that right – Sunbrella fabrics can be cleaned with bleach.  Sunbrella fabrics are the same color all the way through the fabric, so it’s impossible to remove the color, even with bleach.  Follow these steps to get those last tough stains out:

1. Mix a solution of ¼ cup mild soap (dish soap is a great one) and 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water
2. Spray or pour the solution on the entirety of the cushion and let soak for approximately 15 minutes
3. Once soaked, clean the surface with a soft-bristle brush, sponge or towel
4. Then you need to rinse the cushion thoroughly with a hose to remove all the soap residue and watch the stains disappear
5. Finally, prop your cushions vertically in some sunlight and let them air dry.  It’s best to do cleaning on a warm, sunny day if possible to make sure the cushions dry fully

How do I clean my outdoor cushions:

In order to scrub out those tough stains on your non-Sunbrella cushions, you are going to want to avoid using any bleach. The cushions can still be cleaned and look like new again. Non-Sunbrella fabrics are made of olefins and solution dyed polyester fabrics. Bleach will severely harm these, like it does to most clothing. Follow these easy steps to clean your cushions:

1. Mix a solution of ¼ cup mild soap (dish soap is okay) per gallon of water
2. Spray or pour the solution on the entirety of the cushion and let soak for approximately 15 minutes
3. Once soaked, clean the surface with a soft-bristle brush, sponge or towel
4. Then you need to rinse the cushion thoroughly with a hose to remove all the soap residue and watch the stains disappear
5. Finally, prop your cushions vertically in some sunlight and let them air dry.  Like with Sunbrella fabrics, it’s best to do cleaning on a warm, sunny day if possible to make sure the cushions dry fully.

If your cushions are beyond help or cleaning seems overwhelming, you can see our replacement cushions here, or you can email us for other sizes not listed on our website or any other questions.

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