3 Ways to Make Your Outdoor Cushions Look Like New Before Summer

There are plenty of ways to make your backyard feel a lot more comfortable, from including peaceful touches that can turn it into a retreat to an egg chair you can sink into. But when it comes to the ultimate in outdoor comfort, look no further than cushions for your patio furniture.

Cushions are a great way to inspire you and guests to linger a little longer outside, and they also bring decorative pops of color to the surroundings. But, unfortunately, like everything else you keep outside, they're prone to getting dirty.

"There are several things that will cause your outdoor cushions to get dirty," says Jon Riding, owner of Evergreen Cleaning Company. "From dust and pollen to bird droppings, outdoor cushions won't stay clean for long. The biggest issue, though, is often rain or humidity, because the moisture will sit in the fabric and create the perfect environment for mold and mildew."

And all that dirt can actually affect the condition of your cushions.

"Dirty cushions wear out faster," Riding says. "Mold, mildew and grime break down fabric over time." That's why he recommends keeping your cushions clean to extend their life and be more enjoyable to use. Right before summer is a perfect time to get your cushions in working order.

"Summer is when most people are going to be using their outdoor spaces, so if your cushions are already dirty coming into the season, you are likely dealing with months of buildup," Riding points out. "The longer dirt and mildew sit, the more ‘set in' it gets."

He adds that once the summer heat kicks in, it will bake the grime deeper into the fabric, making it much more difficult to remove.

"Ideally, you want to keep the cushions clean and maintained all year round or properly store them in the off season," he says.

Luckily, there are three effective ways to tackle your dirty outdoor cushions.

1. Power-Wash Outdoor Cushions

If you're dealing with heavily soiled cushions, Riding says that the best cleaning method is power-washing.

For this, he first recommends laying the cushions flat on your driveway or a flat, hard surface.

"Use the low to medium pressure setting and keep the spray nozzle 12 to 18 inches from the fabric," he advises. "Make even, sweeping passes across the fabric, avoiding staying in one spot for too long, as that can cause damage. For cushions with stubborn stains or more built-up grime, I recommend pre-treating the fabric with a cleaning solution (vinegar or dish soap mixed with warm water will usually do the trick). After cushions are clean, stand them upright so air can hit both sides to dry."

2. Use a Detergent to Clean Outdoor Cushions

Riding says that the detergent method is reliable and doesn't require any special equipment.

"If your cushions have removable, machine-washable covers, I recommend using a washing machine with regular laundry detergent," he says.

But the cushions might not have removable covers. In this case, Riding suggests mixing a small amount of dish soap or fabric-safe detergent with warm water, or for a DIY solution, you can mix vinegar with warm water, followed by scrubbing with baking soda.

He cautions, "Don't mix baking soda into the solution-it's important to do this in two separate steps."

Lastly, you'll scrub the solution into the fabric with a soft bristle brush and then thoroughly rinse the cushions. Afterwards, lay them out to dry.

3. Steam Clean Outdoor Cushions

"Steam cleaning is a great option because it can kill mold and mildew and remove grime without the use of any chemicals," Riding says. "It also reaches deeper into the fabric and the cushion material, where surface scrubbing is unable to. A handheld steam cleaner works best for this. Just work slowly across the fabric with even passes and let dry fully in the sun. A steam cleaner works especially well for cushions with mold or mildew buildup."

Preventing Cushions From Getting Dirty

While you now are armed with ways to beautify your outdoor cushions, you'll want to try and prevent them from getting dirty in the first place. Riding says that regular upkeep does go a long way.

"I suggest doing your best to keep your outdoor cushions clean and maintained all year round or keep them inside when the weather is bad," he says. "Don't wait until they are filthy to clean them. It's best to give them a quick clean every few weeks to keep the buildup from getting out of hand. A fabric protectant spray is also a solid option. It can prevent stains and make them a bit easier to clean."

And then you can take care when storing them as well. For this, Riding stresses the importance of making sure that your cushions are dry before stashing them away, since moisture can lead to mold, mildew, odors and the breakdown of cushion material.

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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 6:30 AM.