Outdoor cushions and rain: what actually happens when they get wet
Everyone forgets the cushions at some point. Whether that matters depends on what the water does once it is in.
Three kinds of cushion, three outcomes
| Cushion type | In the rain | Afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| Water-repellent cover (Sunbrella®), draining filling | Most rain rolls off; some soaks in during a long downpour | Drains out of the bottom seam, dry in 2-4 hours on its side |
| Sealed "waterproof" cover (PU coated), foam inside | Nothing gets in through the fabric, but water enters through the zip and seams | Trapped inside. Days to dry, often never fully. Mildew risk |
| Printed polyester, foam filling | Soaks through within minutes | Foam holds water for days; print fades with each soaking |
That middle row surprises people. A sealed cover sounds safest, but a cushion is sewn, zipped and sat on. Water always finds the seams, and then a waterproof cover keeps it in. That is why we build cushions the other way round: a water-repellent cover, a water-permeable inner cover and hollow-fibre filling that does not absorb. Water in, water out. The reasoning is in waterproof vs water-resistant cushions.
What to do when they have got wet
- Stand each cushion on its side, zip seam down, somewhere with wind. Flat on the bench it dries from the top only.
- Squeeze the corners to push water out of the filling.
- Leave it. Sun helps but wind matters more. A breezy overcast day dries a cushion faster than a still sunny one.
- Only once it is dry to the touch inside the zip: back on the furniture or into storage.
On its side, zip down, in the wind. Never flat, never in a closed box.
Does rain damage the fabric?
Clean rain does not. What damages fabric is what rain leaves behind: dirt washed into the weave, tannin from leaves, and the long damp period that lets mildew start. Solution-dyed acrylic shrugs this off because the colour is inside the fibre and the fibre is not food for mould. Printed polyester loses a little print with every soak and dry cycle, which is why those cushions look tired after one summer. More in how long do outdoor cushions last.
Should I cover the furniture?
A furniture cover keeps leaves off and is worth it in autumn. In summer a cover that is thrown over damp cushions does more harm than good: it stops them drying. If you use one, put it on dry cushions only. Our take on cushion covers specifically: do you need waterproof cushion covers.
158 Sunbrella® colours in 45×45, filling included, shipped next working day. Browse the collection or ask about made to measure.
