With the summer months fast approaching, many of us will be looking forward to a reunion with our garden furniture, however, this can often bring a dark cloud when it turns out that our garden cushions have been damaged or stained.
In this article we’re sharing tips and tricks on how to store garden cushions.
Sitting pretty – or not
Most garden cushions are made from polypropylene, making them hard wearing and washable and, more importantly, allows them to dry super fast if you get them wet, however, when stored incorrectly, the elements can still have their wicked way with them.
In some extreme cases, this can make them rot or leave them so badly stained that they need to be thrown out.
How to store garden cushions
Dishing the dirt on cushion storage
When our outdoor cushions are taking pride of place in our outdoor space, they pick up all kinds of debris including dust, dirt, pollen insects and even insect eggs and poop.
All of this can rot our cushions over time as well as making them smell bad.
For this reason, before retiring your cushions for the winter, you need to first wash them.
First, brush off any visible debris and then wash your cushions in the washing machine according to the instructions on the label.
Always make sure that your cushions are completely dry before storing.
Options for storing your outdoor cushions
Proper storage is key to keeping your outdoor cushions looking and feeling great and, in this section, we’re sharing tips on how to do just that:
How to store garden cushions in a shed
If you have a shed or outhouse, this is often a good option for storing your outdoor furniture and cushions.
Having said that, a shed will not always be weatherproof or damp proof.
For this reason, the first thing you’ll want to do is to protect your cushions from moisture.
Wrap cushions individually in plastic – you can use plastic bags or even clingfilm – and make sure that they are wrapped and sealed securely.
Place your wrapped cushions in a storage box – preferably a plastic one (these can be picked up fairly cheaply online).
Place sodium packets in the storage box as double protection against dampness.
How to store garden cushions indoors
There are a few options for storing your garden cushions indoors and we’ll look at some of these here:
How to store garden cushions in an attic or basement
Tucking your cushions away in an attic or basement is a good way of keeping them tidy but indoors doesn’t always mean danger-free.
Attics can be subject to damp just like a shed if not insulated properly.
Attics and basements can also attract insects and rodents which can cause damage to your garden cushions.
When storing cushions in an attic or basement, you should always first wrap them in protective plastic as you would when storing in a shed.
Once wrapped, store your garden cushions in a plastic or wooden box or trunk to protect them from insect or rodent damage.
How to store garden cushions outdoors
If you don’t have a shed, attic or basement you may be forced to store your garden cushions outdoors.
While this is not ideal, it doesn’t have to spell disaster for your garden soft furnishings.
As before, wrap your cushions securely in plastic.
Invest in a water-tight garden box (you can find these quite cheaply online) to store your cushions in.
Line the box with plastic or bubble wrap for extra protection before placing your cushions inside.
Cleaning mouldy garden cushions
If your cushions do unfortunately fall victim to mould while in storage, don’t despair – all may not be lost.
Grab a bowl and fill it with warm soapy water and then add an egg cup full of white distilled vinegar.
Place this solution directly onto the affected area and then leave for a couple of hours.
Rinse the solution off thoroughly and then place in the washing machine as normal.
Cushioning the blow of the elements
Wherever you decide to store your garden cushions, keeping them clean and protected from damp and insects will help you to ensure that you will get to enjoy them for many years to come.