Care Guide · Seasonal
How to Store Outdoor Cushions for Winter
So They Come Back Looking New
The teak can stay out all winter. The cushions cannot. Here is the short version of doing it right, and the two mistakes that ruin a good set.
Teak is the low-maintenance one in this relationship. It sits outside through rain, snow and freeze-thaw and asks for a wash twice a year. The cushions need a little more from you, and the week you decide to bring them in is the week that decides how they look next May.
What this guide covers
- Why the fabric is fine and the cushion still is not
- The clean before the store
- Drying, and what "dry" actually means
- Where to put them (and where not to)
- Slings, straps and new teak
- Frequently asked questions
The Fabric Is Fine. The Cushion Is the Problem.
Sunbrella fabric is solution-dyed, which means the colour runs all the way through the fibre instead of sitting on the surface. It shrugs off rain, it tolerates bleach, and it does not fade the way a printed fabric does. If cushions were only fabric, you could leave them on the sofa until March.
They are not only fabric. Underneath is foam, and around the edges are seams and zippers, and those are where a damp autumn gets in. A cushion that goes into a sealed plastic bin at 80 percent dry comes out in spring smelling like a basement. The fabric survives that. The cushion does not.
So the whole job is this: clean, dry completely, store somewhere air can move. Three steps. The middle one is where people cut corners.
Step One: Clean Them on a Dry Day
Pick a warm, dry afternoon, ideally with a second dry day behind it. Pull every cushion off the frame and give it a look. Pollen, bird marks, sunscreen from the lounger, the ring where the wine glass sat in August. All of it comes off now, not in spring, because a stain that sits for five months has had five months to make itself at home.
The routine is the one on our care and maintenance page, and it has not changed:
- Brush off loose dirt with a soft brush or a dry cloth.
- Mix 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water.
- Spray or sponge the solution onto the fabric and let it soak in for a few minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water until no soap is left.
- Air dry completely.
Clean seam to seam rather than dabbing at one spot. Spot-cleaning a solution-dyed fabric can leave a clean patch that reads as a stain in the other direction.
If you find mildew
Black or grey speckling in the folds is mildew, and it is common on cushions that stayed out through a wet week. Sunbrella is bleach-safe, so treat it: 1 cup bleach, 1/4 cup mild soap, 1 gallon of water. Let the solution sit on the fabric for about 15 minutes, scrub gently with a soft brush, rinse thoroughly, and air dry. Repeat once if the marks are stubborn.
One thing to skip
The pressure washer. It is tempting on a grimy cushion and it is a bad idea: it drives water deep into the foam and can open a seam. A garden hose and a soft brush do the job, and the cushion dries in a day instead of a week.
Step Two: Dry Means Dry
This is the step. Everything else in this guide is decoration.
Stand each cushion on its edge, not flat, so water drains out of the foam instead of sitting in it. Turn them once. Give them a full day in the sun if you can, and then check the zipper side and the seam at the bottom edge with the back of your hand. Cool to the touch usually means damp. If it is damp, it goes back out for another day.
A cushion stored slightly damp is the single most common reason a set comes out of storage smelling wrong. It is not a fabric failure and it is not a warranty issue. It is a Tuesday-afternoon-in-October issue, and it is entirely avoidable.
Step Three: Store Them Where Air Moves
Indoors, dry, and off the floor. A shelf in the garage, the top of a closet, under a bed. The care page puts it simply: store cushions indoors during winter or whenever they will not be used for an extended period.
What matters more than the room is the container. The two options that work are a breathable storage bag, or a bin or shelf with nothing sealing it shut. The one option that does not work is a plastic bag tied at the top. It traps whatever moisture is left in the foam and gives it five months to do its thing.
Lay cushions flat or stand them on edge. Do not stack the patio umbrella, the cooler and a box of holiday lights on top of them; foam that spends a winter compressed does not always spring back.
| Do this | Not this |
|---|---|
| Clean, then dry completely, zipper side included | Bring them in "mostly dry" because rain is coming |
| Breathable bag, open bin, or a shelf | Plastic bag tied shut |
| Flat or on edge, nothing heavy on top | Bottom of the garage pile |
| Somewhere dry and indoors | The deck box that leaks a little |
Slings and Straps Stay Put
If your chairs are sling or woven strap, such as the Director or Pearl sling seating, leave the seat on the frame. Rinse it with clean water, wash it with a mild natural soap if it needs it, and let it dry on the chair. Sling fabric is built to stay outdoors and does not need to come inside. Skip harsh detergents on it.
While the Cushions Are Off
With the frames bare, this is the moment to give the teak its fall wash. It takes half an hour with a garden hose and a soft brush, and it is the one winterizing step that actually matters for the wood. The full routine is in our winterizing guide, and the short version is: hose, scrub with the grain, rinse, dry. No oil, no sealant, no pressure washer.
One note if your set is new this year. In its first few months outdoors, teak's natural oil can surface after rain and leave marks on fabric. Those marks are not covered under warranty, which is one more reason the cushions should already be indoors before the autumn rains arrive rather than after.
In Spring
Pull them out, look them over, and give anything that picked up a mark over winter a quick clean with the mild soap solution. Put them back on the frames after the teak has had its spring wash and dried. That is the whole restart.
Everything the Cushions Sit On
Deep seating, sofas and loungers in solid Grade-A teak, with Sunbrella cushions made to order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can outdoor cushions stay outside in winter?
They can, but they should not. Sunbrella fabric will survive it; the foam and seams underneath will hold moisture and can mildew. Clean them, dry them completely, and store them indoors for the winter. The teak frames can stay out.
How do I clean Sunbrella cushions before storing them?
Brush off loose dirt, then wash with 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water. Let it soak in, rinse thoroughly, and air dry completely. For mildew, use 1 cup bleach, 1/4 cup mild soap and 1 gallon of water, let it sit about 15 minutes, scrub gently, rinse and air dry.
Can I store outdoor cushions in plastic bags?
Not sealed ones. A plastic bag tied shut traps any moisture left in the foam. Use a breathable storage bag, an open bin, or a shelf in a dry indoor space.
Do sling chairs need to come inside for winter?
No. Sling and woven strap seating stays on the frame. Rinse with clean water, wash with mild natural soap if needed, and let it dry on the chair.
Does teak furniture need to be covered in winter?
No. Teak stays outdoors year-round, including freezing winters. If you choose to cover it anyway, make sure the wood is clean and fully dry first so the cover is not holding moisture against the surface.
