It seems like the logical thing to do: your outdoor cushions need cleaning, the covers have zippers, so why not remove the covers and bring those in by themselves?
There’s one problem. Once a cushion cover is removed, cleaned, and dried separately, even a small amount of shrinkage can make it difficult or impossible to fit properly over the insert again.
That’s why, when customers ask about our outdoor cushion cleaning service, we generally recommend bringing us the whole cushion, not just the cover. It allows us to evaluate the fabric, construction, and condition of the cushion together and choose an appropriate cleaning method.
If you’re searching for outdoor cushion cleaning in Greater Seattle and the Eastside because your patio furniture has seen one too many Seattle seasons, here’s what to know before you unzip those covers.
Why We Ask You to Bring the Whole Cushion
A removable cover may look like an ordinary piece of washable fabric. Outdoor textiles, however, are made and treated differently from the fabric in your everyday laundry.
Sunbrella and other acrylics, cotton canvas, and synthetic outdoor fabrics each respond differently to water, cleaning products, temperature, and drying. Even durable performance fabrics need to be cleaned according to their specific construction and condition.
Shrinkage is particularly important. A cushion cover is designed to fit closely around its insert. If its dimensions change during cleaning or drying, getting it back into place can become a wrestling match. In some cases, it simply will not fit the way it did before.
Heat is one concern. Many synthetic outdoor fabrics are heat sensitive, and hot water or accelerated heat drying can cause shrinking or other changes to the material.
So, can you just bring in the cover for cushion cover cleaning?
Our recommendation is simple: bring the whole cushion. That gives our team the opportunity to inspect what you actually use as a complete piece rather than cleaning one component in isolation.
How Outdoor Cushion Cleaning Actually Works
There are plenty of ways to clean outdoor cushions at home, and routine care between professional cleanings can absolutely help your patio furniture last longer.
Professional outdoor cushion cleaning serves a different purpose. Instead of applying one cleaning method to every cushion, we start by determining what the material and condition call for.
At D.A. Burns, the process begins with inspection. We identify the fabric, evaluate the construction and level of soiling, and select a cleaning method appropriate for that particular textile.
If cushions arrive wet or damp, they are thoroughly dried before cleaning or storage. That step is important because moisture left inside or around a cushion can contribute to mold and mildew.
Next, the cushions are cleaned using a method suited to the material. Where appropriate, we can also reapply a fabric protectant to help restore water and stain resistance that naturally diminishes with exposure and use.
For customers using our seasonal storage service, cleaned cushions are wrapped in vented plastic while they are with us. The ventilation helps prevent moisture from becoming trapped during storage.
Cleaning-only drop-off service typically takes about one to two weeks. Customers who combine cleaning with outdoor cushion storage leave their cushions with us for the season and pick them up by Memorial Day.
Fall is an especially good time to think about professional cleaning. As Seattle weather turns and outdoor furniture starts coming in for the season, cleaning cushions before storage removes the soil, pollen, organic matter, and other buildup that would otherwise spend the winter sitting in the fabric.
And if you’re looking for the basic maintenance you can do between professional cleanings, our guide to Outdoor Cushion Care and Winter Storage covers routine at-home care in more detail.
What If It’s Just One Stained Cushion?
You do not need an entire patio set waiting for winter storage to call us.
Sometimes the problem is one seat cushion that caught a glass of wine. Or the cushion the dog claimed all summer. Or the one piece that sat under the edge of an umbrella and collected more moisture than the rest.
We clean individual outdoor cushions as well as larger sets.
Bringing in the complete stained cushion allows us to evaluate both the textile and the way the cushion is constructed before deciding how best to treat it.
If you also have an indoor area or Oriental rug that has been waiting for professional attention, you can take care of both projects at once. Customers who combine outdoor cushion cleaning and storage with area rug cleaning can save 10% on the rug cleaning cost.
Mold, Mildew, and Why More Water Isn’t Always the Answer
Seattle weather gives outdoor furniture plenty of opportunities to get wet.
Outdoor textiles are designed to stand up to far more moisture than most indoor upholstery, but “outdoor” does not mean mildew-proof. Soil and environmental contaminants can remain on the fabric, and moisture that stays trapped long enough creates the conditions mildew needs to develop.
This is one reason to be cautious with aggressive DIY cleaning.
Putting removable covers through a washing machine may expose them to temperatures or agitation that aren’t appropriate for the material. Saturating an entire cushion without a plan for thoroughly drying the interior can create a different problem. Even a fabric that feels dry on the surface may still contain moisture deeper in the cushion. Pressure-washing an entire cushion can create a similar issue by driving water deep into the foam, where it may take much longer to fully dry.
Professional cleaning starts with identifying the textile and condition first. If a cushion comes to D.A. Burns wet or damp, drying happens before it moves through the rest of the cleaning and storage process.
Trying to clean an outdoor cushion should never create a moisture problem you didn’t have before.
The Same Concern Applies to Indoor Upholstery
The instinct to unzip a cover and wash it separately doesn’t stop at the patio door.
Removable sofa and chair cushions can present similar risks. A zipper does not automatically mean a cover was designed to be removed and machine washed. Depending on the fabric, construction, dyes, and cleaning code, an incorrect method can cause shrinkage, distortion, color changes, or other damage.
That’s why professional upholstery cleaning begins with the fabric rather than a universal cleaning method.
D.A. Burns offers both in-home and in-plant upholstery cleaning services. In-home cleaning can be appropriate for furniture that is not heavily soiled or care-sensitive, allowing your furniture to remain in your home and return to service within hours. More delicate or heavily soiled upholstery can be cleaned at our plant, where our team has greater control over the process.
Fabric protectant is also available after cleaning to help upholstery resist future soil, stains, and spills.
If you’re deciding whether professional cleaning is worthwhile for a sofa, chair, or other upholstered piece, you can also read Why Professional Upholstery Cleaning Extends the Life of Your Furniture.
Outdoor Cushion Cleaning FAQs
Who cleans outdoor cushions?
Professional textile and upholstery cleaners such as D.A. Burns can clean outdoor furniture cushions using methods chosen for the specific fabric and condition. We clean outdoor seat cushions, back cushions, Sunbrella and other outdoor upholstery, as well as other specialty outdoor textiles.
Can outdoor cushions be dry cleaned?
Many outdoor performance fabrics should not be dry cleaned. Because care requirements vary by textile, check the manufacturer’s instructions or have the cushion professionally evaluated before choosing a cleaning method.
What’s the best way to clean outdoor cushion covers without shrinking them?
Start with the manufacturer’s care instructions, and avoid assuming that a removable cover is machine washable. Hot water and heat drying can be especially risky for some outdoor fabrics. If the cushion needs professional cleaning, we recommend bringing in the entire cushion rather than removing the cover first.
Can you use carpet cleaner on outdoor cushions?
We don’t recommend treating every outdoor cushion as though it were carpet. Outdoor fabrics vary in fiber, finish, backing, construction, and drying requirements. Using too much cleaning solution or moisture can also make thorough drying more difficult. When in doubt, have the fabric evaluated before using a household or rental cleaning machine.
Do I need to bring my whole cushion in, or just the cover?
Bring the whole cushion. Cleaning a cover separately creates a risk that it may shrink or become difficult to fit back over its insert. Keeping the cushion together also lets us evaluate the complete piece before selecting a cleaning method.
Ready to Bring Your Outdoor Cushions In?
If your outdoor furniture has made it through another season of sun, rain, pollen, backyard dinners, and everyday use, this is a good time to give those cushions some attention.
And when you bring them to D.A. Burns, leave the covers right where they are.
Our team can assess and professionally clean individual cushions, complete outdoor furniture sets, and specialty outdoor textiles. Seasonal winter storage is also available if you would rather reclaim that garage or basement space until spring.
D.A. Burns serves customers throughout Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Redmond, and the Eastside. Contact us to schedule outdoor cushion cleaning, cleaning and winter storage, or year-round upholstery cleaning for the furniture inside your home.