Say goodbye to dusty, dirty, and sometimes mildewy cushions.
With a few household items and an hour of your afternoon, thoseoutdoor cushions will look brand-new.
Pick a sunny day (to ensure each cushion dries quickly!)
Muriel Silva for Dillard’s.
and get to scrubbing.
Frequent vacuuming helps, but suctioning away dirt won’t remove mold, mildew, and stains.
Keep your porch or patio inviting for guests by cleaning cushions anytime conditions cause your fabric to become grimy.
Credit:Muriel Silva for Dillard’s
Here’s how to do it.
Other styles are designed with a durable fabric like polyester for indoor-outdoor use and are recommended for spot-cleaning.
Check the manufacturers' recommendations before applying a fabric protectant spray.
Credit:Muriel Silva for Dillard’s
It’s a good idea to check recommendations for cleaning products, too.
Dampen each cushion thoroughly with the spray nozzle on your garden hose.
This lets the detergent and Borax do their job.
check that all suds and cleaning mixture are gone.
Stand cushions up on their sides in the sunlight to dry thoroughly to ensure no mildew begins to form.
This ensures that stains and mildew are kept at bay all season long.
We love Scotchgard’s Outdoor Sun and Water Shield for outdoor-specific protection.
Use a lower pressure and stand at a safe distance to loosen stains and dirt.
Too close and you’ll risk damaging the fabric.
Step 1: Place on a Hard Surface
Lay the cushions on a hard surface outdoors.
Step 4: Scrub Away Dirt
Scrub with a hard-bristle brush for good measure.
Step 5: Rinse the Cushions
Rinse cushions with water from either the hose or pressure washer.
Step 7: Protect
Spray with a fabric protectant.
Food, sunscreen, grass, and mildew stains are common.
Treat stains as soon as they appear for best results.
Heres how to get rid of them.
Grass Stains
Outdoors, grass stains are common mishaps.
Cushions may be used for sitting on the ground or stains can be transferred from dirty feet or clothes.
Use baking soda or cornstarch to soak up oils left behind.
Vinegar acts as an odor neutralizer.
Let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse and air-dry completely.
Just like that, your outdoor furniture is ready for all the popsicle-licking, porch cocktail-sipping, sunset-watching fun.
An afternoonspring-cleaning chorehas never been more satisfying.
