How To Remove Mould From Garden Cushions | Fresh Seat Fix

Outdoor seats face rain, shade, spills, and long storage. That mix feeds mould and mildew on fabric and foam. This guide gives fast steps, safe mixes, and prevention so your seating looks and smells good again.

Removing Mould From Outdoor Seat Cushions: Step-By-Step

Start on a dry day with gloves, a mask, soft brush, bucket, spray bottle, mild dish soap, white vinegar, clean water, and old towels. Work outside to keep spores out of the house. Test every mix on a hidden patch first.

Prep The Cushions

1. Unzip and remove covers if they are removable and washable. Bag inner pads while you treat covers.
2. Shake and brush the fabric outdoors. Knock off loose spores so the cleaner can reach the roots.
3. Vacuum seams and piping. These areas hold moisture and dirt where growth hides.

Choose A Cleaner

Pick one method at a time. Do not mix products. The table below lists dependable options and where they shine.

Method	Mix / Ratio	Best For
Soap & Water	2–3 tsp mild dish soap per 1 L warm water	Light film; routine wash on most fabrics
White Vinegar	Use neat in spray bottle; rinse after dwell	Non-bleach option on many fabrics and foams
Oxygen Bleach (Sodium Percarbonate)	Follow label; typical 1–4 tbsp per L warm water	Colour-safe lift on many dyes; long soak
Chlorine Bleach (If Fabric Allows)	Up to 1 cup bleach + 1/4 cup soap per 1 gal water	Solution-dyed acrylics like many marine/outdoor lines
Hydrogen Peroxide 3%	Apply to spots; short dwell then rinse	Targeted marks where dye is prone to fade

Apply, Dwell, Rinse

1. Wet the area with clean water. Pre-wetting helps the mix spread evenly.
2. Spray or sponge on your chosen solution. Keep the fabric uniformly damp, not dripping.
3. Give it time. Ten to fifteen minutes suits most mixes. Do not let it dry on the surface.
4. Scrub lightly with a soft brush, following the weave. Aggressive scrubbing can fuzz fibres.
5. Rinse until the water runs clear. Residue invites new growth.

Dry Fast And Fully

Press with towels to pull out water. Stand cushions on edge in sun and moving air. Heat and UV help. Cushions must be dry through the core before storage or use.

When Bleach Is Safe, And When It Is Not

Some outdoor textiles are made to handle a bleach wash, while others fade or weaken. Solution-dyed acrylics (common in marine and patio lines) often tolerate a measured bleach mix when used as directed by the maker. Many printed polyesters and dyed cottons do not.

Read the care label and the brand’s cleaning page. If the brand confirms bleach-safe care for its acrylics, use the stated ratio, gentle soap, and a short dwell, then rinse deeply. If the label is silent or warns against oxidisers, stick to soap, oxygen bleach, or vinegar, and rely on sun to finish the job.

Linked Guides From Trusted Sources

Read the EPA mold cleanup tips for safe handling and mixing rules, and see a brand’s bleach-safe recipe for acrylic outdoor cloths in the Sunbrella cleaning guide. These pages back the ratios and safety advice in this article.

Deep-Clean For Removable Covers And Inner Pads

Machine-Washable Covers

1. Brush off growth outdoors first.
2. Pre-treat marks with a paste of oxygen bleach and water or with vinegar on a cloth.
3. Wash alone on a warm cycle with mild detergent. Skip fabric softener, which can trap soil.
4. Air-dry fully. Sun helps lift lingering marks.

Non-Removable Covers

Work on the surface with your selected method. For pads that took on water, inject clean water with a squeeze bottle, then extract by pressing with towels. Repeat until runoff is clear. Air-dry in sun, flipping sides.

Foam Inserts

1. If the foam smells musty, take it out on a dry day.
2. Rinse through with a garden shower head until water runs clear.
3. Squeeze, do not wring. Set upright in sun with air flow until the core is dry.

Safe Handling While You Clean

Wear gloves and a snug mask. Keep kids and pets away. Use one product at a time. Never combine chlorine bleach with ammonia-based products or vinegar. Work with doors and windows open if you moved the task inside during rain.

Spot-By-Spot Fixes

Black Specks On Light Fabric

Try oxygen bleach. Mix fresh, soak the area for 20–30 minutes, then rinse well. Repeat once if needed.

Pink Or Orange Film

These tints often lift with soap and warm water. If they persist on acrylic fabric that allows bleach, a brief bleach wash clears the colour.

Green Film On Seams

Use a toothbrush and vinegar or soap mix. Rinse and dry seam-first, since seams hold water.

Storage And Weather Habits That Keep Cushions Clear

Success is mostly about moisture control. The mix below keeps spores from getting a foothold.

Fast Wins Week To Week

• Flip and air the set on sunny days.
• Stand pads on edge after showers.
• Brush off leaves and pollen before they break down on the cloth.
• Bring sets in during long wet spells.

Smart Storage

• Store clean and bone-dry only.
• Use a vented deck box. Add dry packs in humid seasons.
• Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture.

Care Mixes And Ratios At A Glance

Keep this cheat-sheet near your kit. Always test first on a hidden seam.

Solution	Ratio	Notes
Dish Soap Wash	2–3 tsp per 1 L warm water	Base step for most fabrics
White Vinegar	Undiluted spray; 10–15 min dwell	Good when bleach is off-limits
Oxygen Bleach Soak	1–4 tbsp per L; follow label	Colour-safe on many dyes
Chlorine Bleach Wash*	Up to 1 cup bleach + 1/4 cup soap per 1 gal water	*Only for bleach-safe acrylics per maker
Hydrogen Peroxide	3% on spots; brief dwell	Patch test for fade risk

When To Call The Brand Or A Pro

If your set came from a marine or premium outdoor line, the maker may publish a precise recipe for their yarns and dyes. Follow that sheet over general tips. For large areas of growth inside foam, or if a musty odour returns after a sunny dry-down, a pro cleaning shop with extraction gear saves time and keeps the fill intact. If anyone in the home has asthma or mould allergies, avoid DIY on heavy growth.

Prevention Plan That Works

Weekly

• Brush and air the set after rain.
• Wipe arms and tables so the fabric stays clean when it touches frames.

Monthly

• Wash with soap and water on a sunny day. Rinse and dry fully.
• Check seams, zips, and any piping for damp spots.

Seasonal

• Deep clean before storage.
• Inspect storage bins for leaks and add fresh desiccant.
• Re-proof fabric with a maker-approved spray if the water no longer beads.

Answers To Common Snags

The Label Says “Acrylic” And Mentions A Brand Page

That often means the cloth is solution-dyed and accepts a measured bleach wash. Use the maker’s ratio and rinse until no suds remain.

The Label Lists “Polyester” And No Brand Site

Skip chlorine bleach. Use oxygen bleach or vinegar methods and bright sun for the final lift.

There Is A Muddy Smell Even After Drying

The core may still be damp. Dry again in direct sun with strong airflow. If the smell lingers, the foam likely needs a deep flush or replacement.

Why Work Outside And Wear A Mask

Agitation sends spores into the air. Outdoor work keeps them from settling on soft furnishings indoors. A mask keeps you from breathing spores or strong fumes during mixing and scrubbing. Ventilation also matters if rain pushes the task into a garage.

Fabric Types And What That Means For Cleaning

Outdoor fabrics fall into a few buckets. Solution-dyed acrylic yarns carry pigment all the way through, so colour stays stable during a brief bleach wash. Printed polyester gets its shade on the surface, so strong oxidisers lift dye. Cotton blends can shrink and hold moisture, which invites fresh growth after a wet week.

If you do not know the cloth type, study the weave and the label. A coarse, canvas-like weave on a premium set often points to acrylic. A smoother, satiny hand often points to polyester. When unsure, skip chlorine bleach and run with soap, oxygen bleach, and sun.

Mistakes To Avoid

• Skipping the dry test day. Damp weather slows the process and leaves moisture in the core.
• Scrubbing hard with a stiff brush. That frays fibres, making grime stick faster next time.
• Letting cleaner dry on the cloth. Dry film can set stains and fade patches.
• Mixing products. Many household cleaners react and release fumes. Use one method, rinse, and stop.
• Storing when slightly damp. Even a hint of moisture inside a foam block produces odour in days.

Care Label Decoded

• Bleach-Safe: Short bleach wash is allowed. Follow the maker’s ratio and rinse to neutral.
• Do Not Bleach: Use soap, oxygen bleach, or vinegar. Expect a little more brush work and repeat sessions in shade-heavy yards.
• Machine Wash Cold: Covers can go in the washer. Close zips, turn inside out, and skip softener.
• Line Dry Only: No tumble dry. Hang in sun and wind.