How to Clean Outdoor Cushions With Borax

August 11, 2022 0

Introduction

Outdoor cushions are made from various types of fabrics and come in different styles and designs. Outdoor cushions come in many colors and may be used as decorative items on your patio or porch. Unfortunately, these cushions always get dirty due to outdoor exposure. For this reason, I will discuss how to clean outdoor cushions with borax. So let us get started.

Stepwise Guide on How to Clean Outdoor Cushions With Borax

Step 1

After cleaning them with borax, you will need some old newspapers, fresh borax powder, a stiff brush or broom, and some water to rinse your cushions.

Step 2

Spray the cover of your outdoor cushion with soapy water mixed in water, according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the label of your particular product. Rinse the cushion with clean water and leave it to dry in a sunny spot.

Step 3

Lay an old newspaper down on top of a flat surface like the floor or workbench table, then place your cushion upside down on top of it; this way, you will not get any dirt on the floor when brushing off excess dust from inside of cushion covers. Turn the cushion cover inside out and remove any loose materials.

You can use a vacuum cleaner with an attachment to vacuum up the loose pieces or manually brush them away. Avoid using vacuum attachments with bristles because this could tear the fabric.

Step 4

Sprinkle enough borax powder throughout both sides of the cushion to cover all loose dirt, dead insects, and other debris completely. Place the cushion on top of a large plastic bag or in a container, seal tightly, and then shake it vigorously to distribute the borax powder throughout the cushion completely.

Step 5

Use your brush or broom to gently work out as much of the dust, dirt, and debris that you can from the top side of the cushion without tearing it apart or damaging its fabric or foam fillings. Once you have thoroughly cleaned the top of the cushion, flip it over and begin cleaning the bottom side.

Use a brush or broom to gently work out as much of the dust, dirt, and debris that you can from the bottom side of the cushion without tearing it apart or damaging its fabric or foam fillings.

Step 6

Turn your cushion over again so that it is right-side up on top of another old newspaper; this way, you are not placing any dirty borax residue on your flat surface, which could be accidentally transferred onto other items if placed there later on after cleaning cushions with borax powder.

Stepwise Guide to Clean Outdoor Cushions

Step 7

If there is dirt on your broom or brush, you can put it inside the cushion opening and use it to sweep along both sides to remove the dirt. You can also use a cleaning rag to remove any remaining dirt and stains. Finally, you can replace the filler cushion and re-insert the foam cushion and Velcro straps.

Step 8

Rinse the cushions thoroughly, then either wipe them down with a damp rag or towel or place them in your washing machine to clean them extra without using any borax powder. If you’re placing them in the washing machine, you can use a cleaning liquid as long as it doesn’t have any bleach or brighteners in it.

Step 9

Allow cushions to dry completely before putting them back onto outdoor furniture for use; you can help speed up the process by placing cushions out in direct sunlight for an hour or so, which will also kill off any remaining dust mites other allergens left inside of cushion covers.

Step 10

Fold up old newspapers and dispose of them in proper receptacles once all cushions have been cleaned and allowed to air dry, as will make great fire starters if you are having trouble getting your outdoor fire pit or fireplace started on cold, windy days.

You Can Check It Out to Fix Sagging Couch Back Cushions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Borax?

Borax is a mineral that occurs naturally in the earth. It has many uses but is most often used as a household cleaning agent. Look for Borax at your local home improvement store. Borax is very useful for killing germs, and perfect for removing bacteria from fabric surfaces like cushions on outdoor furniture.

How Often Should One Clean Outdoor Cushions?

This is an excellent question. Many people clean their outdoor cushions once or twice a year and find it satisfactory, but this depends on several factors: the amount of sun your cushions receive, the frequency of use and occupancy, and any pets in your home who may love laying on those outdoor cushions just as much as you do.

If you use your cushions regularly throughout the year, you should probably clean them more often. You can clean them less if they are not used as frequently. Suppose you have pets that like to lay around with you, then it would be wise to clean them more often so that germs from pet dander do not accumulate on the cushions’ fabric surfaces.

Outdoor furniture usually sees many suns and harsh weather, which only expedites the accumulation of germs, dirt, grime, and dust, all of which can affect how inviting your patio becomes to guests.

What Is the Best Material for Outdoor Cushions?

Some people like cushions made out of cotton or other materials that can be easily washed in a washing machine with extra detergent to kill any bacteria accumulated during use. Other people prefer outdoor fabrics that are stain-resistant and waterproof so liquid spills will not soak through onto an under-layer cushion fabric.

The downside to these fabrics is that they don’t allow air circulation between layers, so moisture doesn’t get pulled away from the skin. This humidity without airflow makes it harder to keep down the accumulation of germs.

Precautions While Using Borax to Clean Cushions

Please don’t get the cushion cover wet while using Borax to clean it.
Never soak the cushion in the borax solution. Instead, just apply a small amount of it on a damp sponge and rub the fabric into a paste before wiping it off with a damp sponge or cloth.
Beware that Borax is poisonous, so keep it away from children and pets. P re vent direct contact between borax and your skin by wearing gloves when cleaning cushions with it. You can also add some essential oils to make your cleaning ointment more effective and fragrant.