How to clean covers for the outdoor furniture cushions

A porch swing or an outdoor bed are great additions to any home, and stylish coverings ramp up the attractiveness of your setup, but how do you clean the covers for outdoor furniture cushions?

If you’re like most people, your outdoor furniture gets a lot of use in the summer, with likely lots of food, wine, drinks, dirt, pets, and kids being around.

Add here the elements, and no wonder that cushions and covers on your patio or backyard furniture can get dirty quickly.

In this blog post, we’ll give you tried-and-true tips on how to clean the covers for your outdoor furniture cushions so that they’ll last longer and stay looking great.

How often should I clean my outdoor furniture covers?

You can wipe most fresh mud or liquid stains from our covers with a damp cloth. Act fast for the best results.

Sometimes, if the covers have been improperly stored or exposed to too much moisture, they can start to mildew – yuck. Not something that you want in your lounge. In this case, you must immediately give them a deep, thorough cleaning.

Some other beautiful messes can happen in the backyard, too. Do not worry, as you can almost always fix the consequences. Look below to find out how to remove:

• Mildew stains
• Wine stains
• Grease stains
• Grass stains
• Bird poop

If there are no emergencies or heavy staining, the best frequency for cleaning your covers is once a year. A regular wash will help avoid the buildup of grim and shabby looks. The good idea is to habitually clean your furniture covers when putting them away at the end of the season.

For more advice and know-how, read on.

Can you wash water-resistant cushion covers?

The short answer is “yes.” Keeping your outdoor furniture clean and in good condition is not rocket science, including the cushions and covers. You can keep them neat for years with some diligence and little effort.

Let’s look at some rules for cleaning water-resistant cushion covers first.

• Use mild soap and a soft brush.
• You don’t want to use a harsh detergent or scrub too vigorously, which can damage the fabric.
• Avoid using bleach detergents for the colored covers, as they can leave white marks.

How to wash covers for the outdoor furniture cushions

1. Remove the covers from the cushions.
2. Fill a sink or a tub with lukewarm water and add a small amount of mild soap.
3. Submerge the cover in soapy water and gently toss it to loosen any dirt.
4. Scrub away any stubborn stains with a soft brush.
5. Rinse with clean water till you remove all traces of soap.
6. Allow air-drying entirely before returning it to the cushion.

With these simple steps, you can keep your water-resistant cushion covers looking like new ones for longer.

How to machine-wash outdoor cushion covers

Our outdoor furniture cushion covers can be machine-washed and dried.

To wash your cushion covers in a washing machine:

1. Remove covers from the cushions.
2. If your light-colored cushion covers are heavily soiled or mildewed, you may want to soak them in a solution of 1/4 cup bleach per gallon of water for 30 minutes before washing.
3. If they’re only lightly soiled, you can spot-clean them with one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid per cup of warm water.
4. Wash them in cold or warm water for heavily soiled covers on the delicate cycle.
5. Now air dry or tumble dry on low heat.

Once they’re dry, put your covers back on the cushions and enjoy your clean outdoor furniture!

How to clean porch swing and daybed covers quickly

Porch swings are a great addition to any home but can get dirty quickly. The usual suspects are the pets who jump on the porch swing with their muddy paws or the wind that blows dead leaves or any other debris onto your favorite spot.

If you are looking just for a quick brush-up on your covers that doesn’t require washing with soap or detergents, follow these steps:

1. Remove loose dirt from the cover with a brush or vacuum attachment.
2. Give any fresh stains a good wipe with a damp cloth.
3. Rinse the cover thoroughly with clean water.
4. Allow the cover to air dry completely before using it again.

How to remove stains from your outdoor cushion covers

How to remove mildew stains:

Mildew stains can be easily avoided by keeping cushions dry and clean while storing.
If any mildew stains have appeared on your cushions, clean them as soon as you see them.

1. Dilute 1 cup of bleach and 1/4 cup of mild soap in 5 liters (2 gallons) of water.
2. Apply the solution to the spot using a spray bottle and let it soak for 15 minutes.
3. Using a soft brush, remove the mildew from the cushion.
4. After that, wash your covers as described above.

How to remove wine stains:

Luckily for you, wine rolls off our water-resistant covers. If you spill some on your cushions, wipe them off with a wet rag, and they’ll be fine.

How to remove grass stains:

Grass stains are much easier to get out of fabric if you act quickly; these will be harder to remove after they dry out.

1. Apply a generous amount of liquid laundry detergent to the stain.
2. Scrub in a side-to-side motion with a soft-bristle brush. Do not scrub in circles to avoid wear marks.
3. Rinse the detergent away with warm water and ensure no soap residue remains.
4. Mix a solution of one part oxygen bleach to three parts warm water and soak the stained fabric for up to an hour.
5. After the allotted time, run the material under warm water again and let it dry completely.

How to remove greasy stains:

The hardest stains to remove are grease and oils. Two common culprits for this are greasy meals and sunscreen.

1. Scrape off any dried grease or wipe any excess with a paper towel if the stain is fresh.
2. Cover the stain with baking soda.
3. Let 15 to 20 minutes for the baking soda to absorb.
4. Remove the baking soda from the affected area using a vacuum.
5. With a damp cloth, apply liquid detergent to the afflicted area.
6. Finish by thoroughly rinsing with water to remove any remaining oil or grease.

How to remove bird poop:

Good luck to you, less so to your furniture. Don’t worry, you can fix it.

1. Scrape off what you can and spray the area with warm water and soap.
2. Let it sit for five minutes.
3. Lift the filth using a soft brush or an old toothbrush.
4. Rinse it away with warm water.
5. Wash the whole item in one of the above ways.

Tips for keeping outdoor furniture covers looking their best

Another way to keep your outdoor furniture covers looking their best is to protect them from the elements when not used. If you know a storm is coming, take the cushions and covers inside so they don’t get damaged. Likewise, if it’s exceptionally sunny or hot outside, you should store the cushions in a cool, dry place, so they don’t fade in the sun.

Act quickly if any mess happens to your covers, take care of them regularly, and your outdoor area will look its best and bring you plenty of unforgettable moments. And if you are looking to freshen up your outdoor furniture or give a makeover to your patio with new cushion covers, message us today! We can sew any custom order and will be happy to help you!