Having a beautiful patio with luxurious furniture and comfy cushions is all outdoor living is about. While many cushions are hardwearing, they aren’t indestructible. And regardless of how careful you are with them, some damage is just unavoidable. But fortunately, there are quite a few things you can do to keep them in excellent condition for seasons to come. Keep reading to learn how to care for your outdoor furniture cushions.

Protection from sun

The UV rays of the sun are not just harmful to your skin; they are bad for the cushions of your outdoor chair and other furniture too. While many cushions today are made to resist UV rays, sun exposure for long periods can gradually fade the cushion fabric. And if your outdoor furniture is made of wood or plastic, sun rays can weaken it too. The easiest way to protect the outdoor furniture and chair cushions from the sun is by moving the furniture to a covered area when no one is using it. To increase the UV-ray resistance and avoid fading, you can also use a spray-on fabric guard.

Protection from rain and snow

Many cushion fabrics are designed to be water-resistant and not waterproof. This means that they can only keep most of the moisture at bay. If your outdoor chair cushions are drenched most of the time and not dried thoroughly, moisture can enter the fabric and damage it. You must always have rain covers available when you’re expecting a heavy downpour or when you’re away from home for a couple of days. But if your cushions are already wet or covered in snow, shake or wipe off the excess water immediately, and leave them to dry out.

Keeping the cushions clean

Regularly cleaning the cushions of your outdoor chairs and other furniture is probably the best caring tip. However, it would help if you kept in mind that not all fabrics are equal, so different fabric needs to be cleaned in different ways. It’s best that you refer to the care instructions provided by the manufacturer to know how to clean your cushion fabric. Most cushions can be cleaned easily with only mild soap and water. All you need to do is scrub the fabric with a brush or sponge. And always ensure that the cushions dry thoroughly after washing. Use a towel or a hairdryer if you want to dry them out quickly.