Although outdoor cushions are excellent additions to your terrace or garden, making them look more cozy and appealing, they also get dirt, mildew, and stains with time. You can easily clean the outdoor cushions and help them retain their color. Here is a step by step guide on how How to Easily Clean Outdoor Cushions without much struggle.
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Gather Your Supplies
Upon starting, ensure that you have the following items that are essential in the process of cleaning the cushions.
Check Care Labels
Clean them, but read the care labels attached to the cushions before you do that. Each material has its own set of cleaning procedures that need to be followed. Other outdoor fabrics are polyesters, acrylic, and canvas; the average maintenance is composite. Having this knowledge will aid you in trimming the fabric while cleaning it.
Remove Loose dirt and Debris.
First, clean the cushions to remove loose dirt, dust, leaves, or other debris. A vacuum with a brush or just shaking them outdoors can help. This stage is important as it prevents stains from being embedded quite deep into the fabric during regular washing.
Pre-Treat Stains
If your cushions are stained in some places not all is lost; you are advised to pre-treat them. For this preparation work, you will need a bucket or a spray bottle and a dilute detergent in water. A water detergent mix usually ensures the success of stains in concentration for about 10-15 minutes. In tough cases, baking soda is available in most homes and can also work miracles in the form of a paste with water. For this purpose, use a soft brush or sponge not to harm the fabric’s fibers.
Clean Up Cushions
When the pre-treatment is over, the next step is to clean the whole cushion set. Most outdoor fabrics can be treated with warm water and mild detergent, which will certainly work. Soak a sponge or a brush in the mixture and gently scrub the cushions, emphasizing the heavily soiled spots. If you like, you can also include one cup of vinegar in the cleaning solution so that more mildew and foul scents may be conquered.
Rinse Thoroughly
Scrubbing is necessary. Once scrubbing is done, it is essential to ensure that all soap is rinsed. Use a hose and rinse each cushion well to remove all soap and dirt. Lift the cushions to clean the areas below them. However, if a cleaning bottle has been used, it will suffice to wet the cushions and wipe them off with a clean cloth.
Dry the Cushions
Proper drying is essential to avoid mold or mildew growth when dealing with wet cushions. Place the cushions either in the sun or on a flat area to allow enough air circulation. If the sun is out, they should dry within a few hours. While drying the cushions, always try to ensure the water runs off the sides to avoid the filling soaking.
Apply Fabric Protectant
After using the cover cushions and after completely allowing them to dry, a spray protectant for fabric used for outdoor applications may be used. This will be helpful as dirt, water’s, and stains will not adhere onto the fabric, hence making subsequent cleaning much simpler.
Store In Off-Season
In you live in a region where outdoor furniture is rarely used during the off-seasons, you can keep your cushions during the off-seasons. Try keeping them in ventilated storage bags, to avoid dust and moisture, making it possible to use them for an extended period without cleaning.