How to Clean Outdoor Cushions (2 Easy Methods That Work)

Outdoor cushions get dirty fast, especially if they stay outside after every use. Nobody wants to haul them in and out all season. This guide shows you how to clean outdoor cushions by hand or with a pressure washer, so they look brand new again.

What You’ll Need

You probably have most of this at home already. Nothing fancy.

• Borax
• Dish soap
• A bucket of water
• A hard bristle brush
• A garden hose with a good spray setting
• A pressure washer with a soap tip and a rinse tip (only for the second method)

Prep Your Cushions First

Take the cushions off your furniture and check the care tag if there is one. Some covers are removable, so pull those off if you can.

Don’t clean them on mud or grass. You will just push dirt right back into the fabric. Lay them flat on your deck, driveway, or sidewalk instead.

Spray each cushion down with plain water first. This loosens surface dirt and gets the fabric wet so the cleaner spreads evenly.

How to Clean Outdoor Cushions by Hand

Hand washing is the simplest option. It costs almost nothing and works well for most cushions.

Mix the Cleaning Solution

Add about a cup of borax to a bucket of water. Squirt in a few pumps of dish soap and stir.

That is the whole recipe. It cuts through dirt and helps with light mildew.

Scrub the Cushions

Dip your hard bristle brush into the bucket and scrub the entire cushion. Work the solution in until you build a generous lather.

Heavy stains and mildewed spots need more attention. Scrub those areas longer and add more solution as needed.

Let It Sit, Then Rinse

Let the solution sit on the cushions for 5 minutes. Don’t let it dry out on the fabric.

Then hit them with your garden hose on high pressure. Rinse until every bit of soap is gone. Leftover soap attracts dirt, so this step matters more than most people think.

How to Clean Outdoor Cushions With a Pressure Washer

A pressure washer is faster, especially if you have a whole patio set to do. It also pushes dirt out of the fibers better than a hose.

Don’t own one yet? A portable pressure washer is plenty for cushions and takes up very little storage room. Our pressure washer picks for outdoor furniture cover models that are safe for fabric.

Set Up the Machine

Pour your cleaning solution into the pressure washer reservoir. If your machine uses a siphon tube, drop the tube into the bottle of solution instead.

Make sure the spray hose is attached firmly. Then connect your garden hose and turn the water on high before you start the machine.

Apply the Cleaning Solution

Attach the soap spray tip and cover each cushion fully. Spray the tops and the sides.

Keep the tip back from the fabric. Pressure washers can damage cushion material if you get too close. Start a couple of feet away and stay there.

If you want deeper cleaning, use your hard bristle brush to work the solution into the fibers. Scrub any problem areas, then let the solution sit for 3 to 5 minutes. A good pressure washer soap is worth having here, since harsh detergents can fade fabric.

Rinse Each Cushion

Switch to the rinse tip. Move it back and forth from one edge of the cushion to the other.

You can actually watch the dirt and stains lift out as you go. Flip the cushion and repeat on the back.

How to Dry Outdoor Cushions

Press the water out of each cushion with your hands. Push down firmly across the whole surface.

Then stand the cushions up vertically against a sunny wall. Standing them on edge lets water drain out instead of pooling inside the foam.

Don’t put them back on your furniture until they are fully dry. Damp cushions grow mildew quickly. Once they are dry, put them back on the porch and enjoy.

Tips for Tough Stains and Mildew

Mildew is the most common problem on outdoor cushions. Black or greenish spots usually mean it has been damp too long.

Scrub those spots with the borax solution and give them the full 5 minutes. A second round often works better than scrubbing harder. If you are wondering what heat can do, we explain it in will a steam cleaner kill mold.

For general dirt, one pass is usually enough. Don’t scrub so hard that you fray the fabric.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Skipping the full rinse is the big one. Soap left behind turns sticky and holds dirt.

Getting the pressure washer tip too close is the second. It can tear or roughen the fabric.

Putting damp cushions away is the third. Trapped moisture is how mildew comes right back.

How to Keep Outdoor Cushions Clean Longer

Store cushions in a deck box or bring them in when rain is coming. It takes two minutes and saves you a full cleaning.

Brush off leaves and dust every week or two. Stand cushions on edge after a rainstorm so they dry faster.

Already have the pressure washer out? Clean the surface under your furniture too. Our guide to the best pressure washer for patios has options for that.

Frequently Asked Questions