How Often Should One Clean Outdoor Cushions
This is an excellent question. Many people clean their outdoor cushions once or twice a year and find it satisfactory, but this depends on several factors: the amount of sun your cushions receive, the frequency of use and occupancy, and any pets in your home who may love laying on those outdoor cushions just as much as you do.
If you use your cushions regularly throughout the year, then you probably should clean them more often. You can clean them less if they are not used as frequently. Suppose you have pets that like to lay around with you, then it would be wise to clean them more often so that germs from pet dander do not accumulate on the cushions fabric surfaces.
Outdoor furniture usually sees many suns and harsh weather, which only expedites the accumulation of germs, dirt, grime, and dust, all of which can affect how inviting your patio becomes to guests.
Use What You Have Its Better For The Patio Furniture
Baking soda, bleach, borax, and Dawn Dishwashing soap are all inexpensive, and they are less abrasive than commercial brand cleaners as well.You want your patio to look fresh and inviting, but the patio furniture gets grimy just from sitting out in the wind and dust. People spill their drinks and drop their ice cream, but those outdoor furniture stains can be quickly cleaned for a brighter and more beautiful patio set.Whether you have chosen wicker, metal or resin outdoor furniture, or furniture with cloth cushions and an umbrella, it can be kept clean and new looking for a long time with the right care and patio furniture protection measures.
How To Treat Stains On Outdoor Cushions
Just like on indoor upholstery, stains can happen outdoors, too, whether from food, dirt or grease. The sooner you treat the stain, the better, Rampey says.
Most liquid stains such as milk or red wine, he says, can be treated with a simple solution of mild soap and water:
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Blot the stain with a clean, dry cloth.
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Mix mild soap and water together and spray onto the spot.
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Use a sponge or soft-bristle brush to clean the entire surface area, not just the visible stain. Rinse with a garden hose on a low-pressure setting with clean water to remove all soap residue.
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Let the fabric air dry.
For greasy stains, like those from a dropped burger from a cookout, Rampey says to pretreat the fabric with a strong degreaser for 30 minutes to an hour. Be sure to keep the fabric wet. Use a sponge or soft-bristle brush to clean the entire surface. Finish by rinsing with a garden hose on a low-pressure setting until the soap residue is gone. Let the fabric air dry.
You can also use corn starch to absorb oily spills, Rampey says. Sprinkle corn starch on the spot and let it absorb the oil from the fabric. Remove the excess corn starch with a straight edge and clean away the residue with soap and water. Rinse with clean water until all the soap is gone. Then let the cushions air dry.
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Making Food Stains Go Away
Having a snack out in the garden is a real pleasure until some of it gets on the furnitures covering. No need to worry too much! While greasy stains are very stubborn once they penetrate deeper, you can prevent soiling with a simple trick:
- As soon as you notice the stain, generously apply salt on it until its fully covered.
- Leave it there for 5-10 minutes until the crystals absorb the greasy substance.
- Brush the salt off and clean with warm water and soap.
- If you have a product specifically for stains, you can add a little bit, too.
- Wash and leave to dry.
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Mold On Outdoor Cushions
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Removing Mold And Mildew Stains From Outdoor Cushions
Before using a stain remover to rid your cushions of mold and mildew, use a nylon brush to scrape away as much of it as possible. You can follow up the brushing with a good vacuuming or shaking if desired.
- 4 cups of water
Mix the Borax and warm water to create a cleaning solution. Using a sponge or brush, apply the solution generously to each cushion with visible mold and mildew. Blot the stained area with a microfiber cloth, rinse with water, and then allow to dry.
Tough stains require you to allow the cleaning solution to soak for up to 30 minutes before you begin blotting. If Borax isnt strong enough to clean patio furniture of mold and mildew stains, try using Oxiclean or make a cleaning mixture with equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water.
One tablespoon of bleach mixed with one pint of water is another homemade cleaning product to tackle mold and mildew stains. Always spot test a small area when using bleach or hydrogen peroxide, as discoloration may occur.
How To Clean Outdoor Furniture Cushions By Washing Machine
For some outdoor cushions and patio cushion covers, machine washing is an option, but its important to read all of the care instructions listed on the attached tags. Before placing them into the washing machine, shake the cushions and the covers to remove any loose debris and pre-treat any stains. Allow the items to air dry after machine washing. Alternatively, you can place the cushions and covers in the dryer, but be sure to remove them before they are completely dry.
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Cleaning And Care Tips For Outdoor Furniture
You want your patio to look fresh and inviting, but the patio furniture gets grimy just from sitting out in the wind and dust. People spill their drinks and drop their ice cream, but those outdoor furniture stains can be quickly cleaned for a brighter and more beautiful patio set.
Whether you have chosen wicker, metal or resin outdoor furniture, or furniture with cloth cushions and an umbrella, it can be kept clean and new looking for a long time with the right care and patio furniture protection measures. Here are a few cleaning and care tips for outdoor furniture.
Signs That Your Cushions Have Mold Or Mildew
Mold and mildew can grow anywhere, but it thrives in moist areas.
So if you live in a rainy or humid location, then its almost inevitable that your outdoor cushions will be subject to mold and mildew at some point.
If you neglect mold and mildew, it can spread to other areas through spores.
Below are some ways to identify mold and mildew:
- Mold usually appears as black or darker spots on your cushionsbut it can also look like yellow, blue, or green stains/discoloration.
- If theres something fuzzy or velvety growing on the cushions, its likely mold.
- If its fluffy or powdery and either white, gray, or yellow, its likely mildew.
- Mold usually has a musty, dirty smell.
- If youve ever forgotten to wash your bath towels for a week or two, you know how mildew smells.
Bottom lineif you suspect something funky is growing on your outdoor cushions, it doesnt matter if its mold, mildew, or just dirt, the following methods will get the job done.
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How Do You Deep Clean Outdoor Cushions
To deep clean outdoor cushions, use a pressure washer. A pressure washer helps remove dirt from the outside of your furniture easily like never before! It removes tough dirt and stains under the cushions surface.
Before you begin, move over an area outside with a drain or away from your house so you dont end up with a big puddle of water after cleaning your outdoor cushions.
Here are five steps to pressure wash your outdoor cushions.
How To Clean Outdoor Fabric The Easy Way
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Since it is summertime, we are sharing some commonly asked questions over the next month for you. All things relating to outdoor spaces! Today, we are sharing with you how to clean outdoor fabric the easy way!
You probably see my little outdoor space all the time on . Amelia and I are ALWAYS outside swinging I have various types of outdoor fabric.
Outdoor fabric can be anything from patio cushions to outdoor pillows. Whatever you have on your patio that needs to be cleaned, these how to methods will help you.
We want to give you the best information possible, so this is going to show you a few different methods depending on what you have going on.
Lets get started.
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How Outdoor Cushions Get Dirty
Melting ice cream, muddy paws, and red wine: Some of the best things about summertime are also the messiest. Also, its the outdoors. Anything can happen in nature. Youre probably expecting rain, sun, snow, grime, dirt, and dust to mess with your furniture, but things like debris from your neighbors tree, mold and mildew, and bird droppings can cause just as many problems when it comes to keeping your cushions clean. While you cant control Mother Nature, to keep cushions looking as new as the day you bought them, you can get to know your fabric, learn how to treat stains as they happen, and have a cleaning kit ready. No matter where you live, you can keep your in good shape year-round. The best outdoor cushions are water-resistant and machine-washable, but tough stains require more specific cleaning methods and products.
How Often Should You Clean Outdoor Cushions
Most outdoor furniture fabrics are made from stain- and water-resistant materials that are designed to stand up to the elements better than materials like cotton. But, that doesn’t mean you can just throw the pillows out and forget about them forever. Some regular maintenance goes a long way for keeping them looking good for summers to come.
“Rain and humidity can leave fabrics damp and lead to mold and mildew developing, so its important to make sure normal cleaning is part of your routine,” Feldman explains. He recommends cleaning your cushions twice a year: once in the spring when you take them out of storage, and once in the fall before putting them away.
You should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but in lieu of instructions, Feldman recommends the following for basic cleaning.
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Mixing The Cleaning Solution
If youve read through the cleaning section of this blog, then you probably recognize the power of Qxygen Bleach. It really works to scrub tough stains and to get rid of nasty moldy smells.
This solution uses the power of oxygen bleach along with stain boosting laundry detergent. I mix those together with dish soap in some warm water and then used elbow grease to just scrub down the cushions.
If you want to try using a hose, you could, but that could damage the foam in the cushions and it will take a lot longer to dry. Its the best way to clean outdoor patio cushions.
If you want to check out some other uses for oxygen bleach, have a look at how I use it to deep clean my stainless steel sink! There are so many other incredible ways to use oxygen bleach to clean your whole house. Have a look here.
You might also want to see our DIY Chevron privacy wall tutorial. We had to take it down after a hurricane but we are plotting to add it back into space at some point soon.
How To Remove Mildew From Lawn Furniture: Materials
Most outdoor furniture comes with cleaning instructions, but if youâve lost those instructions or your furniture was purchased secondhand, then the following cleaning solutions can help to restore and maintain your outdoor furniture. Before getting started you need to grab:
Breakfast on the patio is the best way to start the day. You dont want to look at stains and dirt in the early morning, do you?
To prevent this from happening, patio furniture should be cleaned occasionally. Its not a favorite activity for anyone, but with our tips, cleaning will become fun.
Outdoor furniture gets soiled easily due to adverse weather conditions. Dirt can affect the look and durability of your furniture. Therefore it is necessary to know how to clean and maintain it in the right way.
Lets start with prevention.
In case of prolonged absences from home or when it is raining or snowing outside, it is best to use furniture covers. This will protect the furniture from moisture that could damage the soft parts of the chairs, cushions, and other sensitive materials. Nobody likes molded cushions.
Furniture can be made of different materials.
If you have furniture made of wood or wicker, it is best to opt for a nourishing, oil-based soap.
You can clean plastic and metal furniture with mild dishwashing soap.
Things you will need for cleaning:
- Gardening hose or bucket full of water
- Bucket for mixing water and soap
- Cleaning spray
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Best Way To Clean Heavily Soiled Cushions
Before winter, give your cushions a thorough cleaning, as it makes it easier to pull them out in spring. Before cleaning any pillows or cushions, look for cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer as some covers feature fabric fasteners or zippers for easy removal, while others do not.
- 1 teaspoon mild dishwashing detergent
- 4 cups warm water
Mix dishwashing detergent, Borax, and water to create a general cleaning solution. Use a scrub brush to apply the solution to the cushions directly and gently scrub. Leave the cushion alone for 15 minutes, but dont let the pillow completely dry.
If stains are still present, reapply the solution and rub again. Rinse the cushions in cold water to remove all cleaning residue. Use a clean towel to blot up all excess water. Set the cushion on its edge to dry.
If its too cold to allow the cushions to air dry, use a hairdryer to speed up the process. Do not place pillows in a commercial dryer utilizing any heat setting as it causes the cushions to shrink.
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 easyand highly effectiveway 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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Optional: Use Pressure Washer To Clean Outdoor Cushions
Instead of using your garden hose, dampen cushions with pressure washer from safe distance to loosen stains and dirt. Too close and youll risk damaging the fabric. Put cleaning solution into pressure washer before spraying onto cushions . Scrub with hard-bristle brush for good measure. Rinse cushions with water from either hose or pressure washer. Let dry and spray with fabric protectant.
Just like that, your outdoor furniture is ready for all the popsicle-licking, porch cocktail-sipping, sunset-watching fun. An afternoon spring-cleaning chore has never been more satisfying.
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Removing Oily Stains From Outdoor Upholstery
Oil from food, bug spray, sunscreen, and other things often find their way onto your outdoor cushions. If left untreated, these oils attract even more dirt and grime, leaving unsightly marks on your outdoor furniture. For stubborn oil-based stains, rub Fels-Naptha soap directly onto the remaining stain and then rinse.
The best DIY oil stain remover is a dry absorbent powder, such as corn starch or baking soda. Before using the dry powder, blot up as much excess oil as possible with a clean cloth. Sprinkle the powder across the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes.
Use a straight edge to scrape the dust away and reapply powder if needed. Spritz the area with a natural cleaning solution and blot with a towel until stain is gone. Rinse using a damp, microfiber cloth.
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