Care & cleaning
How to clean, dry, store and rescue outdoor cushions. Mould, stains, rain and winter.
Can Sunbrella cushions really stay outside? Here is how it works.
Water-repellent is not waterproof. What that means for your cushions, and what we advise for rain, winter and a week away.
How to clean outdoor cushions: step by step, for any fabric
Hose, brush, 30° wash or bleach? How to clean outdoor cushions depends on the fabric. A practical routine for Sunbrella, polyester and olefin.
Mould on garden cushions: how to remove it and stop it coming back
Black spots or green film on your garden cushions? How to remove mould and mildew safely, which fabrics can take bleach, and why the cushions went mouldy in the first place.
How to store garden cushions: winter, rain and the box question
Storing garden cushions properly is the difference between cushions that last two summers and cushions that last ten. Dry, clean, ventilated: here is how, and what to use.
Outdoor cushions and rain: what actually happens when they get wet
Can outdoor cushions get wet? Yes, but what happens next depends on the fabric and the filling. Water-repellent, waterproof and plain polyester compared, and how to dry them.
Getting stains out of outdoor cushions: sunscreen, bird droppings, red wine and more
A stain guide by type: sunscreen, bird droppings, red wine, tree sap, grease, grass and rust. What works on Sunbrella and what to use on other fabrics.
Can you use bleach on outdoor cushions? Yes, on one condition
Bleach is the best mould and stain remover for outdoor cushions, but only on solution-dyed acrylic. How to tell which fabric you have, the right dilution and what to use instead.
How to dry outdoor cushions fast (and why some stay damp for days)
Wet garden cushions? Stand them on their side, zip down, in the wind. Why that works, how long each filling takes, and what never to do.
Garden cushions in winter: leave them out, cover them or store them?
Do outdoor cushions survive a British winter? Frost is not the problem; four months of algae and leaf stains are. What to do with each type of cushion from November to March.
How long do outdoor cushions last? Fabric by fabric, honestly
One summer or ten? How long outdoor cushions last depends on the fabric, the filling and whether they are stored dry. Realistic lifespans and the signs it is time to replace.