How to Clean Outdoor Cushions, and When to Call a Pro

Most outdoor cushions can be cleaned at home if you catch spills early and use the right method for the fabric. Others are better left to a professional: large sectionals, mildew that has spread, or sunscreen and body-oil stains that keep coming back. Here’s how to tell, and how to do it without ruining the foam.

Start with the fabric

Look for a tag on the cushion or the furniture maker’s care instructions. Most outdoor cushions in Southern California are one of these:

• Solution-dyed acrylic (Sunbrella and similar): colorfast and made for sun and water; tolerates more cleaning.
• Olefin (polypropylene): stain-resistant and quick-drying, but sensitive to heat.
• Polyester: common on budget sets; can fade and pill, and colors may run.

If there is no label, test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.

Routine cleaning at home

1. Brush off dry dirt, leaves and dust with a soft brush.
2. Blot fresh spills with a clean, dry cloth. Don’t rub.
3. Wash with a mild soap and lukewarm water, working the whole panel from seam to seam with a sponge or soft brush, so you don’t leave a water ring.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Soap left in the fabric attracts dirt.
5. Air dry with the cushion standing on its edge so water drains out of the foam. Drying time depends on the foam, the sun and the breeze.

Sunbrella’s own guidance for removable covers is a delicate cycle in cold water with mild detergent, zippers closed, then air dry only. Check with your furniture maker first, because cushion construction varies.

Common problems

• Sunscreen and body oils: these leave yellowish or dark areas where people lean and sit, especially around pools. They often need a pre-treatment that breaks down oil, not just soap.
• Bird droppings: let them dry, scrape gently, then clean the whole panel.
• Mildew spots: surface spots often clean up well. Mildew that has grown into the foam or left dark staining for a long time may lighten without disappearing completely. Sunbrella publishes a diluted bleach solution for its own fabric only. Don’t use bleach on other fabrics without checking the label.
• Pollen and fine dust: a regular rinse and brush in spring keeps it from building up.

What not to do

• Don’t pressure-wash. It drives dirt deeper into the foam, can fray seams, and leaves cushions soaked for days.
• Don’t machine-dry covers unless the label says you can. Heat can shrink covers so they never fit again.
• Don’t use high heat on outdoor acrylics or olefin; follow the care label.
• Don’t store cushions damp. That’s how mildew starts.

When to call a professional

• A large sectional or a full patio set: hours of work and a lot of water at home.
• Covers that can’t come off, or zippers you don’t want to risk.
• Mildew across several cushions, or stains that came back after you cleaned them.
• Getting the set ready to sell, before guests arrive, or before storing for winter.

Can a dry cleaner do it? Some will take removable covers, but most can’t handle the foam. Outdoor fabric usually does better with water-based cleaning and air drying.

How we clean outdoor cushions

We clean outdoor cushions, pillows and sectionals on site, usually with the covers on. We check the fabric and care label, pre-treat spots such as sunscreen and oils, clean and rinse without forcing dirt into the foam, and leave the cushions to dry in the open air. Suitability is confirmed at inspection, and we tell you before we start which stains we expect to come out and which may only lighten. More on our outdoor furniture and cushion cleaning page.

Good times to book in Los Angeles: spring, before summer use, and fall, before storing for winter.

Get a free estimate

Tell us roughly how many cushions and pieces you have. Call 818-808-0123 or send us a message. The price is confirmed before any work begins. Indoor pieces need attention too? See sofa and upholstery cleaning.

Source for Sunbrella care steps: Sunbrella, “Clean Sunbrella Upholstery” (sunbrella.com). Always follow your cushion maker’s care label.