Life Hack: How to clean your outdoor cushions just in time for summer

From bird poo to mildue, here’s how to get your outdoor cushions summer-ready

Despite our best intentions, outdoor furniture and cushions in particular are often exposed to the elements and gather dirt.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about cleaning a patio area and today I’m back with another common cleaning concern many of us have in our gardens: outdoor cushions.

Despite our best intentions, outdoor furniture and cushions in particular are often exposed to the elements and gather dirt. My own spent more than a few days (even weeks) last summer sitting on my garden furniture while rain poured down on them. 

I’m feeling optimistic, however, after a few weeks of spring sunshine, that this summer I’ll get to spend more than the occasional day sitting outside. 

After a winter in storage, I pulled out my cushions again and, thankfully, they were in decent condition due to the steps I’d taken to restore them before putting them away a few months ago.

From common stains like bird poo to mildue, here’s how to spruce up your outdoor cushions for summer.

Deep cleaning 

If your cushions have been a bit neglected, it’s time to give them some TLC. Before washing them, give your cushions a quick vacuuming. Use your vacuum’s brush attachment to remove dirt, pollen, and other items that would otherwise be rubbed in deeper during the cleaning process.

For removable covers, check the labels inside them for washing instructions. My own can be popped into the washing machine on a gentle cycle but if you are unsure, you can handwash them with warm, soapy water.

For cushion covers that cannot be removed, you can use a homemade washing mix. Fill a spray bottle with warm water and add a squirt of washing-up liquid. Spray it generously all over the cushions and let it sit for 15 minutes. 

Next, use a soft brush to gently scrub the fabric to loosen tougher stains like bird poo before hosing off the cushions. Let them dry completely, either standing upright or hanging on a washing line if possible. 

If you are lying them out in the sun, you can place them on a black bin bag; this will attract more heat and help them to dry faster.

You can prevent more dirt and grime from building up by using a damp microfibre cloth to wipe down your cushions regularly.

If any parts of your cushions are affected by mildew, mix together an equal combination of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray this on the affected area and let it sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing.

Some smells might linger on your cushions, so to freshen them up, sprinkle some sodium bicarbonate/baking soda on the cushions. Leave this for one hour or overnight for stronger odours before vacuuming it off the cushions. Finally, you can spray some water-repellent fabric protector on your dry and clean cushions to stop future stains from sinking in deeply.

Quick clean-ups 

Now that your cushions are ready for the summer, it’s good to know a few quick ways to spot clean them over the next few months.

Dirt, pollen, leaves and multiple other small items can get into the crevices of your furniture, but a lint roller is useful for removing these with a quick swipe. 

These can be picked up in many places, including discount shops, so they are very affordable — as a pet owner, I always have one in my car to give my clothes a last-minute once-over before going anywhere (fellow dog owners will know those hairs are everywhere).

You can prevent more dirt and grime from building up by using a damp microfibre cloth to wipe down your cushions regularly. Similarly, a spray-on spot cleaner (the mix of warm water and washing-up liquid mentioned above for deep cleaning) can also be used. 

Spray it on the cushions and wipe it away with a clean cloth to keep everything fresh.

The best hack for lazy cleaners like myself, however, is to stand the cushions up in direct sunlight every few weeks. The UV in the sun’s rays helps to kill bacteria and it will also ensure your cushions are fully dried, preventing mildew.

Storage 

Possibly the most important step in protecting your cushions is how you store them. I like to remove the cushion covers and wash them at the end of the summer. I then store the covers inside my home. I ensure the cushions are clean and fully dry before vacuum-packing them and placing them in a waterproof storage box in the garden, ready for the next summer.