Remove The Cushions From The Furniture
Find a space away from your outdoor furniture where you can work.
Start by removing the cushion from your furniture and place it on a level surface like a driveway or patio.
This will make cleaning much easier!
If you are unable to remove the cushions, use an upholstery cleaner that can be sprayed directly onto the fabric of your couch cushion. This is not as effective but it will remove tough stains in a pinch.
For Tough Stains Let The Area Soak For 15 To 20 Minutes
If you notice that the stain isnt breaking down, just wait a little longer.
To remove the most difficult stains from your patio cushions, let them soak for a couple of hours before you scrub.
It takes a little more time, but it may be worth it in the long run.
If the stain doesnt seem to break down, repeat the process of rinsing the cushions and applying dish soap one more time. Keep doing this until the stain disappears.
How To Clean Outdoor Cushions: Maintenance
In addition to regular cleaning, a little maintenance can go a long way in keeping your outdoor cushion covers in peak condition!
First, just take an old-fashioned whisk broom to your cushions once or twice a week, depending on how much you use them. This is an easy and highly-effective way to prolong the lifespan of your outdoor cushions, and it keeps them ready to be enjoyed at a moments notice.
Some outdoor cushion fabric is more mold-resistant than others. Some cushions, when they get wet and dont dry out fast enough, will develop mold or mildew over time. Fortunately, theres a trick worthy of life-hack status to help make sure all your outdoor cushions dry fast enough: stand them on their edges. An outdoor cushion will dry much faster standing on its edge, partly because more of it is exposed to the air and partly because this position helps with drainage.
Finally, once you have your preferred method of how to clean outdoor cushions, make sure you do it before you put your cushions away for the winter. As SF Gate puts it, this, ensures a trouble-free start in the spring. Dont give dust, bird droppings, and spilled soda a year to get comfortable. One more wash before storage is one of the most important things to remember on how to clean outdoor cushions.
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How To Clean Outdoor Cushions And Fabric Furniture
Housewife How-Tos.
The Spruce / Almar Creative
- Total Time: 3 hrs
- Skill Level: Beginner
Outdoor cushions, pillows, canopies, and umbrellas makepatios and poolsides beautiful and comfortable. Unfortunately, they take lots of abuse from dirty feet and outdoor weather, and they need to be cleaned often to remove dirt and stains.
While most outdoor fabrics are treated to prevent sun damage and to repel stains, the protective finish can deteriorate over the years. If you choose to boost the finish with a spray-on fabric protectant or wash-in protectant like those from Nikwax, that acts as a water and stain repellent, you must be sure that the fabric is completely free of stains and dirt before treating or you will simply seal in the dirt.
When purchasing outdoor pillows and furniture, look for styles that have zippers or snaps that make the fabric removable for easier cleaning.
Can Oil Stains Be Cleaned
Yes first soak up any excess oil by gently dabbing with a microfiber cloth.
Then apply an absorbent powder such as cornstarch or baking soda to the stain.
Allow the powder to sit for 10-15 minutes and then scrape it away with a straight edge. Follow by cleaning as mentioned at the top of the post, including Borax as needed.
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How To Clean Teak Patio Furniture
Teak wood is an ideal material for your patio furniture because it is durable and doesnt take much in the way of cleaning and maintenance. Teak patio furniture will either be treated with teak oil or finely sanded to show off its natural form. Even though teak is naturally resistant to rot and mold, if not properly cleaned, mildew can still form on the surface of the furniture.
- 1 gallon of warm water
To prevent your teak patio furniture from becoming discolored and succumbing to mildew build-up, make sure you are cleaning it on a regular basis. The following tips are based on one of our natural homemade deck cleaner recipes and will provide you with ways to keep your teak furniture looking like new.
Teak Furniture Cleaning Recipe #2
- 1 gallon of warm water
Use one of two easy homemade cleaning solutions either vinegar and warm water, or chlorine bleach, laundry detergent, and warm water. Apply the homemade cleaning solution to the furniture using a soft plastic brush, making sure to scrub the wood as you go.
Avoid using a metal brush as it will damage the woods surface. Remove water stains from wood before cleaning. Allow the mixture to sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with water.
If your teak furniture has seen a lot of exposure to the elements, youll want to look for a more aggressive, store-bought solution to clean the pieces. After cleaning, you may want to make furniture polish to bring back the shine to your teak furniture.
Attach The Hose + Check The Water
Attach a garden hose to the pressure washer, and turn the water on high. Before turning the pressure washer on, pull the trigger on the spray gun to make sure that water is flowing through the entire machine. Once water is flowing freely from the spigot to the end of the spray gun, you are ready to turn on the pressure washer.
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Take Care Of Spots Asap
Be sure to treat any spots and spills immediately after they happen. This will help prevent them from permanently staining the fabric.
You can treat most spills by removing them with a wet cloth and mild soap. However, certain types of stains and fabrics will require special care to remove.
This is especially important for food and drink spills. Spilled snacks or soda can attract bugs and cause mould and mildew to form.
How To Care For Outdoor Furniture Cushions
Theres nothing quite as relaxing as lounging around in beautiful weather on comfortable outdoor furniture. Quality outdoor furniture brings all the comfort of home while allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors.
But unlike other types of furniture, outdoor furniture doesnt just need to be comfortable and look nice. It needs to be able to stand up against rainstorms, scorching sunlight, and anything else nature throws at it.
Fortunately, there are many ways you can keep your outdoor furniture in good condition season after season. Read on to learn the best way to care for your outdoor furniture cushions and accessories.
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How To Wash Outdoor Cushions
For items that can go in the washer, once the pretreating is complete, use a heavy-duty detergent and cold or warm water . Do not place the fabric in a hot dryer because that may cause shrinkage. Allow the pieces to air dry. Use a cool to medium iron to smooth wrinkles if needed.
For items like large pillows or umbrella covers that cannot be placed in a washer, choose a sunny, warm day to do the cleaning. Spread the piece out on a patio or plastic tarp and get ready to apply some elbow grease.
Mix a solution of heavy-duty detergent and warm water. Using a soft scrub brush, work from the top to the bottom of a piece scrubbing a small section at a time. Rinse away soil after each section is cleaned. Do not allow the detergent solution to dry on the fabric. When the entire piece is cleaned, rinse well.
Spread the fabric or pillows in the sun to dry. If possible, hang from a clothesline to allow the water to drip and drain away. It may take a couple of days for thick items to dry so plan for hot, sunny weather to avoid mildew problems.
Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Outdoor Cushions
Below, well reiterate some important tips to help you avoid making any big mistakes when cleaning your outdoor cushions:
Always read the label! If there are any specific instructions for cleaning on the label, its best to stick to those. Be careful about what cleaning solution you use, because some types of detergent and bleach-based soaps can remove the water-repellent finishes of some fabrics. Be sure to give the cleaning solution time to work its magic. Let it soak in! Although some cushions can be machine-washed, you should typically avoid drying them in a dryer. Make sure the cushions dry out fully after washing so they dont develop mold or mildew. Dont forget to deep clean before storing for winter!
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Can I Reverse Water Damage
Like fading, you cant fix water damage. If your cushions and pillows get drenched from a storm, you need to dry them properly. Plus, the sooner you dry them, the less risk for mold and mildew.
If your cushions have covers, unzip them and drain out the water. Put the cushions on their sides so they can dry quicker. If its still wet outside, bring your cushions and pillows inside and blow dry them.
How To Clean Outdoor Cushions With Mildew
Borax powder , is a pretty tough cleaning product and many swear by it to remove mold and mildew, however, there are lots of effective ways to get rid of mildew and other types of stain without sodium borate.
A mixture of white vinegar, water and your choice of essential oils as it’s naturally anti-bac too) is a great way to treat mold and stains on outdoor cushions. Simply mix up your solution, spray it on, let it work, wash it out as above and let it dry completely.
And, depending on how many cushions you treat, you may have some oil left over to use in your best essential oil diffuser.
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Tips For Keeping Outdoor Cushions Clean
For outdoor cushions, the best offense is a good defense. For starters, look for performance fabrics meant to stand up to the outdoors, like Sunbrella, which is stain- and fade-resistant. Feldman also likes Olefin, also known as polypropylene, which is similar to Sunbrella.
Before pillows get so moldy that they need a vigorous scrub or soak, take care to keep them out of the elements. Store them in the off-season and in extreme weather conditions. Feldman also recommends protective sealants, like Scotchgard, to further prevent staining and mildew. Finally, look for a cover to protect pillows and furniture when not in use. If outdoor furniture is in a sunroom, a humidifier can also help keep things from staying moldy and damp.
Patio furniture covers can also be good to use throughout the warm season for extreme weather and throughout the cold months. But even if your patio furniture is covered during the winter, you’ll want to store cushions inside to really protect them. This is an excellent time to clean and treat them, too.
How To Remove Mildew From Fabric
I poured straight undiluted 30% vinegar into a spray bottle and spritzed it all over our outdoor cushions and patio furniture. Let the vinegar sit on the mildew / mold stains for about 15 minutes.
For any extremely stubborn stains, soak a rag in the 30% vinegar and let it sit on the stain for 10-15 minutes.
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S To Remove Mold Or Mildew From Outdoor Furniture
According to Sunbrella, Heavy cleaning for stubborn stains and mildewSunbrella fabric does not promote mildew growth, however, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from the fabric.
As long as the affected fabric was made for outdoor furniture and safe for bleach, you can follow these instructions from Sunbrella:
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Cleaning Outdoor Cushions Is Easy With Outer
Outer Wicker Outdoor Sofa – 3 Seat
Now you know how to clean outdoor cushions, and weâre willing to bet it was a lot more simple than you might have originally thought!
Investing in outdoor cushions with removable covers and easy-to-clean fabrics is your best defense against excessive cleaning duties. If youâre on the lookout for new outdoor cushions and outdoor furniture, be sure to check the ins and outs of the fabric before purchasing.
Each and every Outer sofa, sectional, and armchair comes with our patented performance fabric to ensure your outdoor cushions are soft, durable, and most importantly, easy to clean!
Whether youâre looking to get rid of a small stain on your cushion, revitalize your 3-Seat Aluminum Outdoor Sofa, or give your Eco-Friendly Outdoor Rug a spring cleaning, Outer takes the worry out of all lifeâs messes.
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Storing Your Outdoor Furniture
You can make your outdoor furniture last longer by storing it whenever its not in use. Some good ways to store outdoor furniture include covering it with a protective tarp or placing it in a sheltered place, like a basement, shed, or garage. Wherever you choose to store your furniture, make sure its a dry environment thats free of pests.
If you place your cushions in plastic storage bags, make sure they have ventilation holes. This will allow air to get in while keeping moisture, insects, and rodents out. Proper airflow will help prevent the growth of mould and mildew.
It can be a good idea to give your outdoor furniture a good cleaning before putting it in storage. This will help make sure the past seasons stains wont set in. However, if you do wash your furniture, make sure its completely dry before putting it away.
How To Clean Patio Cushions With Mildew
Once your patio space is ready, you get the space to spend your whole summer enjoying the outdoors. But apart from enjoying, the patio space brigs the dilemma that how to clean dirty outdoor cushions. The cushions kept outdoors get a musty smell and unremovable stains.
The worst thing to experience is mildew that arrives without invitation on the outdoor furniture. Here we will show you how to clean porch cushions.
Mildew is the living organism that grows inside the cushions and furniture cloth where it is damp and dark. It grows mostly in the rainy season. Avoiding removing the mildew from cushions can weaken the fabric and cause damage. Mildew may also cause big health issues to people if they inhale it in large quantities.
Getting rid of mildew is the best thing to avoid all of it. Let us see how to clean outdoor cushions with bleach step by step.
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Let The Cushions Air Dry
Ideally you will have chosen a hot sunny day to clean your outdoor cushions so they will air dry easily.
‘Excess moisture can be absorbed with thick towels to ensure that as much moisture is absorbed as possible before leaving them to dry,’ suggests Laura Schwarze of Luxury Rattan .
Then stand the cushions up vertically. Be sure to keep them on the protective plastic so that any fresh dirt or garden debris doesn’t become attached to them and spoil their new look.
Step : Use A Fabric Protector On Your Patio Cushions
Once your cushions are dry, spray them with a fabric protector such as Scotchgard Water & Sun Shield to help them resist dirt and stains from such summer events as spilled fruit punch and dripping popsicles. Taking care this step now will make it much easier to keep those cushions clean the rest of the year.
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A Step By Step Guide To Cleaning Outdoor Cushions
The best way to clean your outdoor cushions depends on the type of cushions you have, the recommended cleaning method, and the materials you have available. As mentioned above, some outdoor cushion covers, like ours at Fig Leaf, can be conveniently removed and washed in a washing machine on warm with a mild detergent. However, its important to note that many outdoor cushion covers are not machine-safe. With other types of outdoor cushions, you may have to put in a little more effort to get them sparkling clean. Before you do anything else, always read the care instructions printed on the tag.
If you determine you need to wash your cushions by hand, youll need the following supplies: a hose, an adjustable hose sprayer, a hard-bristle brush, a bucket, dish detergent, and borax. Once you have everything ready to go, follow these basic steps:
How To Prevent Mould Growth On Couch Fabric
Mould is naturally drawn to moisture, so the key to its prevention is to avoid damp areas and high levels of moisture. You may want to try the following:
- Keep furniture in well-ventilated areas with regular airflow and natural sunlight
- If the couch is placed against the wall, always leave a small gap between the back of the couch and the wall to allow for adequate airflow
- If spills occur on upholstery or fabric, wash and dry the area promptly, if not immediately
- Use dehumidifiers regularly in above-average humidity regions
- If subject to severe water damage, remove any furnishings from the property for collection
Always make sure your couch is kept dry and in a well-ventilated area. If humidity levels are above 50-60%, ensure that you regularly use a dehumidifier or set your air-conditioner to dry mode.
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