Although patio covers are one of the best ways for us to keep our outdoor furniture looking fresh and clean, what about cleaning the covers that keep everything clean?
Without risking going down an inception-like rabbit hole of how to keep everything spotless, there is a skill that comes with knowing how to wash patio cushion covers and other covers.
Patio cushion cover maintenance is crucial in adding years to the cushion quality and staving off the greater levels of harm that can come from poorly maintained covers. There are several ways to wash them and today we’re going to explore some top tips for washing your patio cushion covers.
Let’s start with the basics.
Key Takeaways On Washing Patio Cushion Covers
Ensure you check the bottle of the cleaning agent you use before washing your covers.
When drying your patio cover cushions, ensure you read the label to avoid material damage via overheating.
Understand the chemical agents that are most abrasive and damaging to materials.
Don’t overclean and use too much force when scrubbing out specific stains, as this can be counterproductive and lead to further issues.
What Are Patio Cushion Covers And Why Do People Use Them?
Whether it’s chaise lounge covers or an extra large outdoor loveseat cover, patio cushion covers offer a layer of protection and help you keep your furnishings safe and out of harm's way from the worst nature has to offer. People use them for this reason—it’s about protection and maintenance.
Ensuring you have the right size patio cushion covers and that you keep them in good condition all have important knock-on effects. Ultimately, it means the underlying amenities that you’re protecting have a longer shelf life, saving you money on buying replacements. And this is the primary reason people use them.
Why Do I Need To Wash My Patio Cushion Covers?
By adequately maintaining your patio cushion covers, you’ll be able to better maintain them, keeping both the covers and the cushions in top condition. This will save you money in the long run as you will not need to replace them.
Treat patio cushion covers just like any other item in your house. If you neglect them, don’t clean them, or leave them to gather dust, dirt, or stains, they will erode over time. By design, patio cushion covers are meant to withstand the fiercest of what nature has to offer—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t clean them from time to time to keep them in great condition.
Once you clean them, you also improve their appearance and overall aesthetic. So, it’s not just from a hygiene and maintenance perspective; it also helps maintain the cosmetic look of your wider garden area.
How To Prepare Your Cushion Covers For Washing
The process is much the same as if you were washing any other types of covers in your home. First, all you need to do is shake off any debris or allow the worst of the rain, hail, or ice to subside, and then ensure there are no stains, blotting, or rips in your cushion.
If you encounter any stains, it’s best to use cleaning solutions to get rid of them before you do a wider, deeper cleaning. This is step one of how to wash patio cushion covers.
Once you have removed stains and debris or washed off any garden elements like bits of wood, ice, or food and beverage stains, you’ll be ready to give them a deep clean to leave them looking brand new.
The Best Methods Of Washing Patio Cushion Covers
There are numerous methods you can take when it comes to washing your patio covers and below we’ve shared the most effective ones: machine washing, hand washing, and tips on cleaning vinyl. Let’s take a look at each one in more detail.
Machine Washing
Let’s start with the most straightforward of all of our outdoor cushion cleaning tips: machine washing.
The first step is to check the label on your patio cushion covers and ensure that they can be washed in a machine, and if so, the right temperature and settings.
You don’t want a situation where your patio cushion covers encounter any sort of shrinkage. Their whole purpose is to fit securely and snugly around your cushions. Even if it shrinks a few centimeters, this could render them redundant, and you’d have to replace them.
Ensure you use the recommended water temperature, settings and the most suitable cleaning agents; if you pick the wrong chemical, detergents or cleaning solutions, you could end up staining or damaging your cover.
Hand Washing
In cases where machine washing isn’t appropriate or if you’d prefer to take a more hands-on approach, you can opt for hand washing.
The first step is to use warm, soapy water and a soft-edged brush give the cover a good scrubbing. For tougher stains, you could use a firmer brush or scourer, though be careful not to scrub too hard as it could cause some material damage, fraying, or weakening of the fabric.
Usually, if you’re using an abrasive or harsh agent, you should wear rubber gloves that protect your skin.
While more laborious, you can be more thorough when washing and can attack those hard-to-reach spots.
Cleaning Weatherproof and Vinyl Cushion Covers
Weatherproof cushion covers, especially those designed to repel liquid, are a little different to clean. Due to their nature, they make it more difficult to soak and scrub effectively.
You can wash weatherproof cushions by bathing them in washing agents or hand washing them. Some people use a combination of jet washing and cleaning solutions to clean both weatherproof and vinyl cushion covers, so there are several options available for these rugged materials.
How Do I Dry My Patio Cushion Covers After I’ve Washed Them?
Just like drying clothes, bed sheets, or tablecloths, drying patio covers follow a similar method—you can either air dry them or machine dry them.
If you’re thinking about machine drying, it’s important to check that you can do so, assessing the right temperature and length of time they should be in the machine for if they’re suitable.
You may well have your patio cushion covers looking spotless, but if you dry them in a machine they can’t handle, they could shrink or weaken the material, and then you’ve defeated the whole purpose.
Many people prefer to air-dry their patio covers after they have been washed. Although this takes longer, it is more cost-effective and means your covers are less susceptible to shrinkage unless you leave them out in a particularly hot environment for an extended period of time.
How Often Should I Wash My Patio Covers?
Usually, a wash every few months is enough to keep your covers in top condition. Some people will wash them even more sporadically, especially during milder seasons. Some people choose to put their patio cushion covers into storage, whether it’s inside a garage or a shed, which again helps to keep them safe from the harsher elements of the colder and wetter seasons.
Generally speaking, if there’s been a particularly heavy storm with excessive rain, sand, dust, or blustery conditions that have put the cover through its paces, it’s best to wash it as soon as you get the opportunity.
If you allow the condition to deteriorate further, you may see a weakening of the material, potentially knocking years off the shelf life.
Our Top Tips For Removing Stains
Detergent solutions and disinfectant sprays are the golden touch if you’re looking to remove specific stains. Again, we must reiterate that you must read the bottle and your patio cover label to avoid any permanent staining or material weakening.
However, for the overwhelming majority of stains, whether they’re animal droppings, food and beverage stains, or mildew and mould stains, disinfectant sprays and detergent solutions are usually the best bet.
Apple cider vinegar is another home remedy liquid used for cleaning, but some materials might be susceptible to staining if you use this solution, so be sure to do your research.
Get Help With Your Patio Covers
We hope we’ve enlightened you with some of our top tips on how to wash patio cushion covers correctly.
If you’re looking for more specific advice, you can contact our team of experts, who will be happy to provide you with more detailed information regarding outdoor cushion cleaning tips.
And if you’d like to shop now for patio covers, head here.
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Jan Craig
Writer
PatioCover.com
