How to Clean Sunbrella Cushion Covers

To clean Sunbrella cushion covers, wipe or soak them in mild soap and lukewarm water, scrub gently with a soft brush, rinse until no soap is left and let them air dry. That is the method on Sunbrella's own upholstery care page, and everything below follows it, so you do not void the care the fabric was designed around.

The same page also covers machine washing and mildew, and Sunbrella's shade fabrics care page adds the bleach and re-treatment steps.

Spot Cleaning Sunbrella

Most cushion messes are a spill, a bird dropping or a smear of sunscreen. Handle these fast and you rarely need anything stronger than soap.

Step by Step

1. Blot, do not rub. Sunbrella says to blot liquid spills with a clean, dry cloth. Rubbing pushes the spill deeper into the weave.
2. Lift oily spills first. For oil or grease, sprinkle an absorbent such as cornstarch on the spot before you wet it.
3. Mix mild soap and lukewarm water. The brand's ratio is 1/4 cup of mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water.
4. Agitate lightly. Use a sponge or a very soft bristle brush. Skip hard brushes and heavy scrubbing.
5. Rinse thoroughly. Sunbrella wants every trace of soap rinsed out, because residue holds dirt.
6. Air dry. Sunbrella says the fabric should only be allowed to air dry.

Removing the Cover First

If the cover zips off, take it off the foam. You can lay it flat, work the whole surface evenly and rinse it with a hose without soaking the cushion insert. Wet foam is slow to dry and is where mildew starts, so keep the insert out of the water. Our guide to outdoor cushion covers covers replacements if a cover is past saving.

Why Even Coverage Matters

Cleaning one spot on an otherwise dusty cushion often leaves a pale patch with a visible edge. Wetting the whole panel and rinsing it all the way to the seams keeps the finish even once it dries. Work from the top of the panel down so rinse water does not carry dirt onto a section you have already cleaned.

Can You Machine Wash Sunbrella Covers?

Yes, with limits. The upholstery care page says to machine wash in cold water on the delicate cycle with normal amounts of mild laundry detergent, and to close all zippers first. It also tells you to check with the furniture maker before washing, because cushion construction varies.

Before You Load the Washer

• Read the tag or the maker's care note. A cover that is sewn to the cushion, or lined with a backing, should not go in the machine.
• Pull out the foam and any filling. Only the fabric cover goes in.
• Close every zipper so the teeth do not snag the cover.
• Wash one or two covers at a time so they have room to move.

The Cycle

Cold water, delicate cycle, mild detergent. Skip fabric softener and anything labeled as a stain booster unless the product itself says it is safe for outdoor acrylic fabric. Sunbrella's page does not mention a clothes dryer, only air drying.

Drying

Air dry only. Sunbrella says the fabric should only be allowed to air dry, so keep the covers out of the dryer. Put the covers back on the foam only when the fabric is completely dry. If a cover is wrinkled afterward, the brand's page allows an iron on the synthetic setting, after testing a hidden area first. It warns against steamers and steam settings.

Deep Cleaning and Mildew: Is Bleach Safe on Sunbrella?

Yes, on Sunbrella fabric, in the strength Sunbrella gives. The shade fabrics care page lists bleach for stubborn stains and mildew, and the upholstery page does the same for mold and mildew. Bleach is not the first move for ordinary dirt; use it when soap has not worked or you see mildew.

The Sunbrella Bleach Mix

1. Mix. 1 cup of bleach and 1/4 cup of mild soap per gallon of clean water. Sunbrella also offers its own Renew Mold and Mildew Stain Remover as an alternative.
2. Soak. Apply to the whole area and let it soak into the fabric for up to 15 minutes.
3. Brush. Clean with a soft bristle brush.
4. Rinse. Rinse until all soap residue is gone. Sunbrella says to rinse thoroughly to remove all the bleach.
5. Air dry, and repeat if the stain remains.

The upholstery page says that for severe growth the bleach amount may be increased, but it gives no new figure. We would repeat the standard mix instead.

Machine Washing With Bleach

For severe mold or mildew on outdoor covers, the upholstery page says to add 1 cup of bleach to the cold, delicate machine cycle. Use it only on covers you are allowed to machine wash, and never mix bleach with other cleaners, ammonia especially.

Plus Fabrics and Coated Backs

Sunbrella Plus has a coated back. The shade fabrics page says the coated side should only be sprayed and rinsed thoroughly, and that the brush step should be skipped on that side. If your cushion cover has a coated lining, treat the face and leave the lining alone.

Re-Treating the Fabric After Washing

Bleach cleans the fabric but also strips its water and stain resistance. Sunbrella's shade fabrics page says that retreatment of the fabric for water and stain resistance will be necessary after using a bleach solution.

How Sunbrella Says to Do It

1. Clean the fabric using one of the methods above.
2. Let it dry completely in the air.
3. Apply the retreatment in a well-ventilated area, following the instructions on the container.

The brand names Sunbrella Restore Fabric Protector and Repellent for the United States.

What About Scotchgard?

People ask whether a general fabric guard works. Sunbrella's care pages recommend its own product and do not mention Scotchgard. If you want the brand's recommended path, use Restore. If you choose another protector, test it on a hidden seam first and follow its label.

Sunbrella vs Other Outdoor Fabrics

The rules above are for Sunbrella. Do not apply them to every outdoor cushion. Each maker sets its own limits, so a bleach mix that is fine on Sunbrella can fade or weaken another fabric.

If your cushions are not Sunbrella, or you are choosing new ones, our guides to the best outdoor cushions and outdoor cushion covers list the fabrics. For shade and privacy next to the seating, see outdoor curtains.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

Sunbrella, How To Clean Sunbrella Upholstery Fabric, and Sunbrella, Clean Sunbrella Shade Fabrics. Quantities, times and temperatures above are taken from these two pages.

Related: Best outdoor cushions · Best outdoor cushion covers · How to clean patio furniture · Best outdoor curtains More how-to help: our guide on how to wash outdoor cushions.