With all this beautiful weather lately, ML and I have been itching to work outside before the heat becomes too much to bear.
Just because I have lived in the South my whole life doesn’t mean my body has adapted to this sweltering Summer oven. I’ve been spoiled by the AC!
(Last year’s picture)
Instead of the typical back yard concept that comes with most homes we have a back deck. It has been perfect for us as first time home owners because it is so low maintenance. No mowing, weeding, or fertilizing. We did have to do a little Spring cleaning though. First, we tag-teamed to sweep and clear our back deck of all the leaves, pollen, and other fallen debris.
Then, we got our cushions for the chairs out of storage. This will be our third year for this patio set, and I have been meaning to clean them every year.
So I decided this was the year. I did a little research to find out how to clean patio cushions and discovered a recipe to make my own cleaning solution. I thought I would give it a try since I had all the ingredients.
DIY Patio Cleaning Solution
1 tsp. liquid dish soap
1 tsp. borax
1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients together in spray bottle. Spray onto fabric, scrub with sponge, wait 15 minutes, then rinse cushions.
Seemed easy enough. Well, let’s just say it didn’t work as well as I thought it would. My first problem was that the original recipe I found called for dish washing detergent instead of dish soap. After spraying and scrubbing all the cushions on one side with the original mixture, I couldn’t notice any difference. It didn’t even suds up when I scrubbed it. So I got to thinking that dish soap might work better.
I remotivated myself, prepared another batch with dish soap, and began the whole process over again.
The first sign of progress was the suds when I scrubbed the fabric with my sponge. I was so excited! I was going to have “like new” cushions again. I waited my fifteen minutes not-so patiently and then rinsed them off.
The results weren’t as dramatic as I had hoped for, but they were a little cleaner. Unfortunately, there are a few areas that didn’t come clean. Thankfully, ML thinks they look better… and at least you know your clothes won’t get dirty from sitting on them anymore.
So while this isn’t an amazingly successful DIY post, I wanted to share in case anyone else had any other formulas that work great to clean patio cushions. Do you use a store bought solution or a DIY formula?
In the meantime I am going to be sitting back in my (semi-clean) chairs, possibly enjoying a good book!
Semi-clean works for me!! We have fabric cushions that I leave in a bin in the garage and just bring them out when the weather is nice (or when I don’t want my butt to get numb)!
Looks great – love the black deck too!
Kelly
We try to keep them in our storage room when we aren’t using them. I have a bad habit of forgetting to put them up though. Maybe its because it makes me so happy to so much color when I look out the back windows.
They certainly look better and they look amazingly comfy. I have a new book I’ve yet to crack … and your semi-clean cushions are beckoning me to your patio!
I probably use the chairs for reading more than anything else. They are so comfortable and reading is one of my favorite pastimes… but I don’t seem to find as much time for it now that I have a little one. I’m not complaining though.
I love your back patio/deck. The colors in your cushions are pretty, not to mention look super comfy!! I don’t have any patio furniture with cushions yet, but thanks for the cleaning how-to! 🙂
These look really good! I need to invest in some patio furniture!
Thanks! I think we got them at Home Depot a few years ago. It’s the Martha Stewart collection and has held up really well.
We need some patio furniture! Every time Thomas plays in the backyard, I end up sitting in the grass! The list never ends when you own your own home!
Semi-clean works for me!! We have fabric cushions that I leave in a bin in the garage and just bring them out when the weather is nice (or when I don’t want my butt to get numb)!
Looks great – love the black deck too!
Kelly
We try to keep them in our storage room when we aren’t using them. I have a bad habit of forgetting to put them up though. Maybe its because it makes me so happy to so much color when I look out the back windows.
They certainly look better and they look amazingly comfy. I have a new book I’ve yet to crack … and your semi-clean cushions are beckoning me to your patio!
🙂
Linda
I probably use the chairs for reading more than anything else. They are so comfortable and reading is one of my favorite pastimes… but I don’t seem to find as much time for it now that I have a little one. I’m not complaining though.
I love your back patio/deck. The colors in your cushions are pretty, not to mention look super comfy!! I don’t have any patio furniture with cushions yet, but thanks for the cleaning how-to! 🙂
Thank you! The cushions are really comfy. Perfect for Summer reading or a good nap. I hope someday you will have some patio furniture to relax in.
A-ha! My poor cushions sat out allllll year last year and they’ve seen better days. This is probably exactly what they need!