Tips for Cleaning Outdoor Cushions and the Best Cleaners

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With fall just around the corner, you’ve probably already started thinking about picking out outdoor furniture. If you bought new furniture for your garden, porch, or even patio this summer, you’ll want to protect it from the cold and keep it perfect for next season. While outdoor furniture and textiles can withstand the great outdoors, they’re not bulletproof, and it’s best to store or protect them as fall and winter roll around. There may still be a few more days to enjoy the outdoors, but autumn rains and winter frosts, especially if you live in a colder region, aren’t the right outdoor cushion for you.

It’s best to clean up your patio cushions in the fall before putting them away, or clean them up in early spring before taking them out and using them again.

But don’t be afraid to clean the patio furniture you’ve been enjoying all summer long. We’ll tell you the best way to clean outdoor cushions, along with the tools you’ll need and household cleaners you probably already own.

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Tools for Cleaning Outdoor Cushions

Before you start cleaning your mat, take a moment to gather all the items you will need. Don’t forget to read the cleaning label on the pad cover; so you don’t do any harm. If you can’t find the label, most manufacturers have a care section on their website with cleaning advice.

Here are the essentials you need to clean your outdoor mats:

• Tarp (for safely cleaning the mat)
• soft brush
• cube
• hose
• handheld vacuum cleaner
• Dish soap or undistilled white vinegar

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Step 1 – Prepare the area

Do this cleaning in the morning as the pads need to air dry during the day, or find a covered area and let them dry overnight. Prepare the cleaning area with a tarp to prevent damage to the grass and to avoid soiling the fabric of the mat being cleaned. Choose large tarps so you have enough room to wash them and let them dry.

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Step 2 – Vacuum the mat

Thoroughly clean each cushion with a handheld vacuum or a vacuum with an upholstery nozzle. Debris often accumulates on the edges and seams or edges of fabrics. Don’t forget the upholstery buttons and the backrests of outdoor armchairs and sofas, as mold and tree spores can grow in these small crevices. Thoroughly remove any dry residue with a vacuum cleaner.

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Step 3 – Rinse the cushion with a cleaning solution

There are two ways to accomplish this step. One: Take a bucket and fill it with water and 1/4 cup or a few drops of dish soap. Then dip the bristle brush into the cleaning solution and scrub the entire cushion (both sides).

The second greener option, and one of our favorites since you probably already have this popular cleaner at home, is a spray bottle filled with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Spray on cushions and scrub with a bristle brush. Depending on the size or persistence of the stain, you may need to allow the white vinegar to soak into the fabric for at least 10 minutes, then wipe to remove any residue. You can also use this process on upholstery pads that don’t have a removable cover.

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Step 4 – Rinse the Mat

Use a garden hose or a low or medium pressure pressure washer. Be sure to rinse the mat on the tarp to prevent damage to the turf, especially if bleach or any other chemicals are used.

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Step 5 – Air Dry Seat Cushion

Pat the mat with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible, then allow to air dry. It’s best to keep them in a sunny spot and check after a few hours, turning each pad over. The drying process can take all day, depending on how hot and humid you live. Of course, it’s important that each cushion is completely dry before storing it or putting it back on the seat: residual moisture can lead to mildew.

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Extra protection for your outdoor cushions

Clean outdoor mats at least once a year so they last a long time. To keep them looking good, invest in outdoor covers and outdoor furniture covers.

With patio furniture covers, you not only protect your cushions from the weather, but also from tree sap and bird droppings.

When you spot a new stain, treat it right away – don’t let it dry on the upholstery fabric. You can also try a fabric protectant spray, most fabric protectors and water repellents last a year or two. Just buy a fabric protector spray and apply it to the surface, it will help prevent new stains in the future.