Australia

How to Clean Outdoor Cushions: An Australian Stain Guide

A simple routine for cleaning outdoor cushions and covers, plus what to use on sunscreen, bird droppings, pollen, sap, salt and red dust.

By Sam KOctober 23, 20267 min read

Outdoor cushions drying on edge in dappled shade on an Australian deck after cleaning with soap, water and a soft brush

Updated October 2026 · By Sam K, Fabrica Kraft

Quick answer: To clean outdoor cushions, brush off loose dirt, then sponge the fabric with mild soap and lukewarm water. Rinse until no suds remain and let the cushions air dry standing on edge. Wash removable covers on a cold, delicate cycle with the zips closed. Treat greasy marks such as sunscreen with cornflour first.

In most Australian backyards, plain dirt isn't the main problem. Sunscreen, bird droppings, pollen, sap, salt and red dust are. Here's a routine that works on Sunbrella and Warwick outdoor fabrics, plus what to use on each stain.

How often should you clean outdoor cushions?

Brush them weekly through summer and give them a full wash at the start and end of the season. Little and often stops grime setting into the weave.

Sunbrella suggests hosing its fabric off once a month with clean water. That's a quick job on a Sunday morning, and it rinses away dust, salt and pollen before they build up. Treat fresh spills straight away: blot them with a clean cloth, and don't rub.

How do you clean outdoor cushions step by step?

Brush, wash with a mild soap solution, rinse well and air dry. Always check the care label on your cushion first, as fabrics differ.

Brush off loose dirt. Use a soft brush on dry fabric. Shake or vacuum dust out of the seams.
Mix the solution. Sunbrella's own guide uses ¼ cup of mild soap per US gallon of lukewarm water. In metric, that's about 60 mL of soap in 3.8 litres. Dishwashing liquid works.
Clean seam to seam. Work the solution over the whole panel with a sponge or very soft brush, not just the stain. This avoids water rings.
Let it soak in briefly. A few minutes is enough for everyday grime.
Rinse thoroughly. Leftover soap attracts dirt, so keep rinsing until the water runs clear.
Air dry on edge. Stand the cushion up so water drains down and out.

Warwick fabrics need a gentler touch. Warwick's published stain steps for fabrics with its OnGuard treatment are to blot the spill, mist the spot with water, add a little white household soap and dab in light circles.

It says never to scrub, and to let the area dry naturally without direct heat. Our guide to WarGuard and OnGuard fabric protection explains what those treatments do.

Can you machine wash outdoor cushion covers?

Usually, yes, if the cover is removable and the care label allows it. Never put the foam in the machine.

For Sunbrella covers, the maker's advice is to close all zips first so the teeth don't snag the fabric.

Wash in cold water on the delicate cycle with a normal amount of mild laundry detergent. Then air dry. Sunbrella says it should only ever be air dried, so skip the dryer and the steam iron.

For Warwick covers, follow the label on that specific fabric. Some Warwick care labels say not to remove covers for washing even when they have zips, so check before you unzip.

What removes sunscreen, bird droppings, pollen, sap, salt and red dust?

Most of these come out with mild soap and water. Greasy marks such as sunscreen and sap need an absorbent first.

Stain	What to use	Tip
Sunscreen	Cornflour, then dishwashing liquid and water	Cover the mark with cornflour, wait 10 minutes, scrape off with a ruler, then clean
Bird droppings	¼ cup dishwashing liquid per US gallon of water (about 60 mL in 3.8 L)	Lift off solids gently first; don't press them in
Pollen	A soft brush, then a hose rinse	Brush it off dry before you wet the fabric
Tree sap	Cornflour, then dishwashing liquid and water	Same method as sunscreen; act before it hardens
Salt	Fresh water from the hose	Rinse regularly if you live near the coast
Red dust	Vacuum or brush, then the mild soap solution	Get the dry dust out first so you don't grind it in

Sunscreen is the big one. According to Cancer Council NSW, an adult needs about 35 mL of sunscreen per application, reapplied every two hours, and much of it ends up on seat and lounger cushions.

Sunbrella's method for oily marks is to cover them with an absorbent (cornflour in Australian kitchens, called corn starch in the US), leave it for 10 minutes, scrape it off, then clean as normal.

Pollen peaks in spring. Melbourne Pollen counts grass pollen from 1 October to the end of December, with levels usually peaking around mid-October in Melbourne. Yellow dusting on cushions in October is normal.

Red dust gets its colour from iron. A CQUniversity weather expert explains that the Pilbara's deep red soils are rich in iron oxides, and strong winds can carry that dust a long way. Vacuum it out dry before any water touches the fabric.

How do you dry outdoor cushions in strong Australian sun?

Dry them on edge, in open air with a breeze, and turn them now and then. Bright shade is kinder than baking them flat on hot paving.

ARPANSA and Cancer Council say January UV levels average 11 or more across most of the country on clear days. That dries a cover fast, but heat is a different matter. Warwick's guidance is to avoid direct heat when drying its fabrics.

The cover is rarely the slow part. Foam holds water deep inside, so squeeze a corner before you put the cushion back. Quick-drain open-cell foam has an open, net-like structure that lets water run straight through, so it dries far faster than standard foam.

What about mould on outdoor cushions?

Mould needs moisture and something to feed on, so regular cleaning and proper drying prevent most of it. If it does appear, act early.

Sunbrella allows a diluted bleach-and-soap solution on its own fabric, but for Warwick and other fabrics, follow the care label. Never mix bleach with other cleaners, including vinegar. Our step-by-step guide on how to remove mould from outdoor cushions covers the full method.

When is it time for new covers or cushions?

When stains have set, the fabric is faded or thin, or the foam stays soggy for days. Cleaning can't fix wear.

If the foam is still springy, new Sunbrella cushion covers made to your sizes are the simple fix. If both are worn, choose complete Sunbrella cushions or browse custom outdoor cushions in Sunbrella and Warwick fabrics. Foam for Australian orders is Australian-made, and shipping is free within Australia.

Not sure which fabric suits your alfresco area? Read Sunbrella or Warwick first.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pressure wash outdoor cushions?

It's better not to. Sunbrella warns against scrubbing, hard bristles and abrasive methods, and a pressure washer is harsher than all three. A soft brush and a garden hose do the job without stressing the stitching.

How do I get sunscreen out of outdoor cushions?

Cover the mark with cornflour, leave it for 10 minutes and scrape it off with a ruler. Then clean the area with dishwashing liquid and water, and rinse well.

How do I clean Warwick outdoor fabric?

Blot spills, mist the spot with water and dab gently with a little white household soap. Don't scrub or soak the fabric, and let it dry naturally without direct heat. Check the care label on your fabric before machine washing.

Can I use vinegar on outdoor cushions?

Sunbrella's stain charts use white vinegar for a few stains. Never use it with bleach or straight after a bleach treatment without rinsing. The mix can release harmful gas.

Can I put outdoor cushion foam in the washing machine?

No. Wash the cover only. Rinse foam with a hose if needed, squeeze out the water gently and let it dry fully before the cover goes back on.

How do you clean olefin fabric?

Olefin (polypropylene) outdoor fabric cleans like other outdoor fabrics: brush off dirt, sponge with mild soap and lukewarm water, rinse well and air dry. Olefin is sensitive to heat, so never iron it or put it in a hot dryer.

How do you clean waterproof outdoor cushions?

Wipe waterproof and vinyl-covered cushions with a soft cloth and mild soap and water, rinse with clean water and dry them with a towel. Avoid harsh solvents, which can damage coatings. Waterproof fabrics don't let water through, so dry the outside fully before storing them.

How do you spot clean outdoor cushions?

Blot the spill, sponge the area with mild soap and water from seam to seam, rinse, and let it air dry. Cleaning the whole panel rather than just the spot avoids water rings.