Talking about an outdoor patio cushion makes most people nostalgic. Just imagine all those summer nights, grilled or BBQ chicken and fish, and those happy hours with friends and families.
Priceless And Precious!
Similarly, the patio cushions are an invaluable asset to you since these are the elements you would want to seat on the next summer. To be able to use the pillows after the winter is over, they need to be in a tiptop state. And only by knowing the best way to store patio cushions properly, you will be able to use them in the next summer days. You may even use them after that summer too.
So, learn patio cushion storing only in the three most convenient and proven steps to increase their survival chance for the next few years.
The 3 Best Ways to Store Patio Cushions
If stored not correctly during the off-season, patio cushions accumulate mold, mildew, or musty, which will discolor them overtimes. And in the worst scenario, your fav cushion gets infested with pests. But you can avoid these annoying issues and costly purchases.
For this, you will need to follow these storage stages-
- Proper washing and drying
- Appropriate wrapping
- Accurate storing in a dry location.
Assuming that you are a starter, we will be discussing the three steps in detail. Lastly, we will also leave some good suggestions for you.
1. Washing and Drying Your Patio Cushions Properly
When we talk about storing any indoor or outdoor furniture, people often undermine the washing and drying parts. Naturally, they save the patio cushions, likewise other seating arrangements without proper cleaning.
The improper washing and drying make these cushions prone to rodent attacks. It will then cost you a considerable sum. So, we always suggest you give your cushions a thorough cleaning when winter advances and you need to store them.
The washing materials such as detergent type will depend on the kinds of fabric your cushions have.
The Best Washing, Drying, and Waterproofing Ideas for Patio Cushions:
- Carefully remove the patio cushion from the base. You will notice specs of dust or leaves underneath and sides of the pillow.
- Use a clean sweeper or broomstick to broom off the dust, leaves, and other grime from the cushions.
- Before you start the cleaning, read through the manufacturers’ tag. It will permit you to know the washing procedure, such as warm or cold water wash and cleaning detergent instructions.
- If you have a removable cushion cover, you can easily toss it inside the washing machine. After that, using instructed detergent and water, give the cushion a thorough clean.
- Then you can quickly air dry the cushions and proceed for the next storing steps.
- For unremovable cushions, you will require a different washing idea. Dip a clean brush in the mild detergent, and then scrub it at the exterior of your cushions. Apply the brush with softness so that it doesn’t affect the exterior fabric like discoloring it.
These steps are for the overall cleaning of the cushions. But you will require extra care to wipe out the molds, mildews, and other stains from the cushions.
- You can use either a mixture of water and mild bleach or white vinegar spray to remove the chemical stains and molds.
- Before applying the sprayer to the entire fabric, check it on a small part and see if it works.
- Once you have removed the stains, you should rinse the suds. For this use, a water hose and then air dry the fabric under the sunlight. It is necessary because sun rays are a natural disinfectant and also remove odors from the material with impeccable precision.
- Before you thinking about wrapping the cushion for storage, make sure that the fabric is dried entirely. If any portion of the cushion fabric is left dampened, it will accumulate mold and mildews. Then, slowly infested the entire cushion fabric.
You should also waterproof the patio cushion for more prolonged use. Most pillows come in the water-resistant and moisture-proof facility, but over time their resistance wore out. Purchase a quality waterproofing sprayer or chemical component from the market and apply it by following the sprayer user manual. This treatment with a waterproofing sprayer is essential for every couple of years.
2. Wrapping the Washed and Dried Patio Cushions
When we talk about storing patio pillows, our goal is to protect the pads from rodent attacks, and moisture. Merely washing them and positioning them in your drawer or other storage space won’t help you the cause.
You will have to wrap the washed and clean cushions with a proper wrapper or place it in a container for the purpose.
Patio Cushion Wrapping Ideas:
- Airtight Containers: Storing the cushions in the sealed container is the best option for short to medium period of storage. Airtight containers make sure no moisture build-ups within the box. It also ensures prevention from pest or moths attack. You will only need to be sure that the pillows are thoroughly dried and free-from moistures before you put them in the containers.
- Storage Bags: Airtight containers re right, but we discourage them from using in the high-humid area. Despite being an airtight container, humidity outside will somehow get inside and trapped. Consequently, the trapped moisture indoors can cause havoc to your lovely patio pillow and left them unusable.
So, store the washed cushions in a breathable fabric storage bag. The bags with breathability ensure airflow to prevent moisture build-up. Besides, these bags are easy to find online and are cheap.
- Blankets or Tarps: If you are planning to store your cushions close to a rodent or pest visitors’ area such as the garage, we recommend you to wrap the pillow with tarps or blankets. You can also use a drop cloth for the purpose.
After that, place the wrapped cushions either in the container or in the bags. The additional wrapping adds another layer of protection for the patio pillows. However, for high-humidity areas, use a thin sheet instead of tarps since sheet permit airflow better.
Once you are done with the proper storage preparation, you need to select the storage location and place the wrapped or containerized patio cushions in that location. This successful wrapping leads us to the third and final stage of cushion storage.
3. Storing in a Dry and Convenient Location
We have already mentioned that patio cushions withstand extreme weather outside. But when you store them, they are still vulnerable to rodents or moisture attacks.
This leads us to our third stage of the storage, finding a cool, moisture-free, and dry location for the attractive patio cushions. Ideally, the best cushion storing area should be dry with less humidity and provide easy access to you. Obviously, the last thing you wouldn’t want is to learn gymnastics for the cushion storage purpose, right?
We recommend you store the wrapped cushions in a finished basement though most people prefer the garage area. Garages are good but have chances of rodent attacks. On the contrary, finished basements are less prone to pest visitors’ and are less likely to get moisturized overtimes. So, basements are safer than garages.
Some Essential Tips for Patio Cushion Storage:
- The cushion should be at least six inches height from the ground. It is essential because the basement or garage ground often holds moisture. This moisture will transfer into the cushions if you place it right on the ground.
- You should find a location where the temperature and humidity remain constant for most of the day. Storing the patio cushions in the drier place will increase its longevity.
- Although for cushion drying purposes, direct sunlight is beneficial, the same can’t be said for the storage, sadly. So, even if you want to store the cushions outside, you should find a place where sunlight doesn’t fall directly.
It is important because the direct exposure to sunlight will allow UV rays to take its toll on your favorite patio pillow.
Frequently asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Question: Can I leave my patio cushions on the outside?
Answer: Patio cushions are made with water-resistant and UV-resistant fabrics. This resistance means the cushion fabric can endure up to a certain level of rain and UV rays. But with more prolonged exposure to torrential rain and UV rays will take their toll on the cushion fabric. So, we don’t suggest people leave patio cushions outside for a more extended period.
2) Question: Can rain damage the wicker patio furniture?
Answer: Wicker is made of interwoven reeds with a certain level of rain resistance. So, splash from your water hose or slight rain won’t damage the wicker cushions. However, to ensure long-lasting service, we advise you to waterproof the patio cushions every 2-3 years.
Wrapping Up
Patio cushions are related mainly to our lifestyle and comfort. So, no wonder, we want the item to last for an extended period- and this will come only when you apply the best way to store patio cushions. Following are three easy steps, you should readily be able to save the cushions until the next summer comes.
We have also shown ways to waterproof the cushions for better performance. We aspire, you love the write-up and stay with us.
We will bring more updates on patio furniture to add liveliness to your life.
Henry Jurk is an experienced architect with over 20 years of expertise in paving. He shares his knowledge and provides solutions through his blog posts at OkPatio.com. If you have any questions about patios, gardens, and outdoor spaces, you can find the correct answers from Henry. You can contact him via email at ar.henryjurk@gmail.com or through the website’s contact page.
