How to Clean Outdoor Cushions (and Keep Them Looking Like New!)

Quick Links to My 4 Go-To Cleaning Products

My favorite handheld vac {here} (or the newest model {here})

My favorite scrub brush set {here}

My water repellent spray for cushions {here}

My teak wood conditioner and protectant {here}

Read on for all the details on getting your outdoor cushions beautifully clean…

Vacuum Off Loose Dirt & Debris

Before you start scrubbing your cushions, vacuum them. Vacuuming will remove any loose dirt or debris from the surface, making it easier to get a deep clean. Use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner, a shop vac, or handheld vacuum to go over the entire surface of the cushion. Pay special attention to the seams and edges where dirt tends to collect.

I use {this Shark WandVac} to vacuum mine (there’s also a newer, more powerful model that you can find {here}) and it does an awesome job! You can already see a big difference from the left side that I vacuumed to the right side, which is what the whole cushion initially looked like:

Scrub Cushions With a Cleaning Solution

Our next step in how to clean outdoor cushions is to get scrubbing! If your cushions have covers that can be zipped off, you’re in luck because most outdoor cushion covers can be placed in the washing machine on the gentle cycle and then air dried. No zippers? Here’s what you’ll need to get them clean:

• Two waterproof tarps (I use {these} in the 8 x 10 size)
• Soft bristled scrub brushes (I love {this set})
• Hose with an adjustable sprayer like {this one}
• Gloves
• Bucket
• Cleaning solution

For a cleaning solution, you can use a pre-made spray cleaner such as {this multi surface cleaner}, which is the cleaner recommended by Sunbrella. Or you can make your own (this is what I do!) by mixing 2 tablespoons of dish detergent in a bucket of warm water. Also add about ¼ cup of borax if your cushions have any mildew or mold (you may already have borax from trying my laundry stripping recipe for linens and towels! 😊). For a natural cleaner, mix one cup of white vinegar with a gallon of warm water. Always test your cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area before using.

Lay out your two tarps and place your dirty cushions on one of them (the other tarp will be used for drying your clean cushions). Using a hose with an attached sprayer, spray down each dirty cushion with water. Next, spray your cushions with a cleaning solution (if you’re using a bottle cleaner) or use your scrub brush to apply it (if you mixed your own cleaner in a bucket). Scrub all sides of your cushions well with your soft bristled brush:

For box cushions, don’t forget to scrub around the sides:

Also be sure to scrub any seams well because that’s an area where dirt tends to collect:

Let the cleaner soak into the cushions for at least 5-10 minutes before rinsing.

Tackle Stubborn Stains with the Right Solution

If you have any stubborn stains on your outdoor cushions that aren’t going away with your overall cleaning solution, I have a few tips to tackle them! No matter what you use to remove stains, be sure to spot test it on a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure it won’t damage your cushion’s fabric.

For stubborn mildew and mold stains, diluted bleach works great IF your fabric is bleach friendly. If not, try mixing a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar. Spray this solution onto the affected area and let it sit for at least 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off. Spot cleaning with diluted borax (one part borax to four parts water) is another effective cleaning option.

For rust stains, try applying either white vinegar or a mixture of lemon juice and salt to the affected area and letting it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing it off.

For I-don’t-know-what-it-is stains, try making a paste of powdered Tide and a little water (you can use liquid detergent if you don’t have powder), scrub it into the stain, and let it sit for at least 15 minutes before rinsing.

What About a Pressure Washer?

For stubborn stains or even the overall rinsing of your cushions, you could consider using a pressure washer like {this one} that I have and love. I’ve successfully used it many times on outdoor cushions, but be aware that pressure washers CAN damage fabric when too much pressure is used. For this reason, be sure to test the use of your pressure washer in an inconspicuous spot on your cushion. If you decide to pressure wash, use a spray nozzle that disperses the pressure and keep the nozzle over a foot away from your cushions when spraying.

Now that your stains are tackled, it’s time to…

Rinse & Dry Your Cushions

Once you’ve scrubbed your cushions, rinse them thoroughly with your hose and attached sprayer. It’s best to do this while standing the cushion up on one end so that the dirty water drains off of the cushion:

Once you’ve sprayed the entire cushion, place it on your other tarp that’s clean & dry.

To dry your cushions, wrap them in a towel (beach towels work great for this) and squeeze to remove any excess water:

And yes, that’s Cricket in the background, who decided that I had set up her own personal sun spa 😂:

Once you’ve gotten the excess water out of your cushions, lay them out on the tarp to dry (in a sunny spot if possible):

Once the tops of your cushions are dry, flip them over so the other side can thoroughly dry too. It can take several hours or even a full day of dry time, depending on the temperature and humidity. If you have a clean spot to lean them on their sides to dry, it will speed up the drying process.

Just as important as how to clean outdoor cushions is how to protect them! After you’ve washed and dried your cushions, you’ll want to…

Protect Your Cushions from Future Stains

After getting your outdoor cushions beautifully clean, there are a few things you can do to protect them from future stains and keep them looking pristine:

Source links: Pair of lounge chairs | Palm pillow covers | Scalloped concrete table | Blue outdoor rug | Wall planters

1. Spray on a water and stain repellent. Applying a fabric stain repellent like {this outdoor water shield} can help repel water and prevent future stains from setting in:

The manufacturer recommends that you use it in a test spot first because it can slightly darken the fabric color, but I’ve noticed no difference when using it on my own cushions once they’re dry.

2. Store your cushions in an outdoor storage box. Consider storing your cushions in a large deck box like {this one} to prevent dust, dirt, and other outdoor elements from settling in and staining your cushions. Outdoor storage boxes are typically weather-resistant but not waterproof, so if they’re stored in an area with no covering, consider placing a waterproof cover like {this one} on top.

3. Use furniture covers. In Connecticut where we had a patio with no cover, we used waterproof furniture covers on our outdoor furniture year-round. We had good luck with {these Amazon Basics brand covers}.

4. Use stretchy cushion covers? We have a covered back porch so our cushions don’t ever get wet. But they definitely get dirt and pollen on them, so I’m going to try out {these stretchy cushion covers}. They aren’t made for outdoor furniture but they should do the job of keeping them from getting dirty and be easy to take on and off. Plus, unlike full furniture covers, they’ll be easy to machine wash. I’ll report back on how they work for me!

Cleaning Outdoor Furniture Frames

Now that we tackled how to clean outdoor cushions, what about cleaning the frames of your outdoor furniture? For steel frames, you can simply clean them with mild soap and water and air dry. For teak furniture like {these two teak armchairs} we have, you can also clean with water and mild soap or with a teak cleaner, scrubbing in the direction of the wood grain. Rinse and air dry your your teak furniture for 24 hours.

If there are any stubborn stains or you want to smooth the wood grain, sand lightly with 120-grit sandpaper. Then apply a teak protector – I highly recommend {this wood conditioner and protectant}:

Source link: Teak lounge chair

It not only conditions the wood, but protects it too so it stays conditioned much longer than using only teak oil. You simply rub it on,

let it soak in, and remove any excess. If your teak is really thirsty, it might need a second coat. It makes a crazy difference!

Allow 24 hours for it to completely soak in and dry before putting cushions back on your furniture.

And with that, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy your beautifully clean outdoor space! If you want other tips for freshening up your outdoor space, check out my post on back porch ideas on a budget.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!