If an outdoor cushion is an outdoor cushion, why pay more for Sunbrella or other high-end outdoor fabrics?
I hear variations of this question quite often.
Someone will see outdoor cushions at a big-box store for considerably less money than cushions made with Sunbrella or another premium outdoor fabric and understandably wonder:
“They’re all outdoor cushions. Why pay more?”
After cleaning thousands of outdoor cushions over the years, I can tell you that they are not all the same.
Two cushions may look very similar when they are sitting on a patio, but the fabrics covering them can be manufactured from different fibers, dyed by different processes, and treated with different protective finishes. Those differences can become especially important when the cushions eventually need to be professionally cleaned.
What Is the Outdoor Cushion Covered With?
Outdoor cushion fabrics can be made from a variety of fibers, including acrylic, polyester, nylon and other synthetic materials.
But knowing the fiber alone isn’t always enough.
You also need to know how the fiber was dyed and how the fabric was manufactured and finished.
That can make a significant difference in how the fabric responds to cleaning.
Sunbrella and Solution-Dyed Acrylic
Sunbrella is probably the best-known example of a solution-dyed acrylic outdoor fabric.
With solution dyeing, the pigment is incorporated into the acrylic solution before the fiber is formed and spun into yarn.
I sometimes explain the difference to customers with a simple analogy:
Think of a solution-dyed fiber more like a carrot than a radish.
If you cut a carrot in half, the color extends through the inside. With a solution-dyed fiber, the color is incorporated throughout the fiber rather than simply being applied to the surface after the fiber has been formed.
That is one of the characteristics that makes solution-dyed acrylic particularly well suited for demanding outdoor applications.
However, not every outdoor fabric is solution-dyed acrylic.
Some fabrics are made from other fibers or use different dyeing processes. The way the color is held in the fiber can therefore be very different.
And that matters when you start talking about cleaning.
Even Polyester Can Be Different
Here’s another point that sometimes surprises people.
Polyester can also be solution dyed.
So simply saying, “It’s polyester,” doesn’t tell me everything I need to know about how that particular fabric should be cleaned.
And even though some polyester fabrics can be very durable and colorfast, that does not mean that every polyester outdoor fabric should automatically be treated the same way as a bleach-safe solution-dyed acrylic such as Sunbrella.
The fabric’s construction, dye system, finish, age and condition all have to be considered.
Why Can’t You Just Use Bleach on Everything?
This is where things get interesting.
Chlorine bleach can be an extremely useful cleaning tool for certain outdoor fabrics. But it is not automatically the right choice for every outdoor cushion.
Some outdoor fabrics are manufactured with water-resistant or other protective finishes. A strong cleaning treatment can affect those finishes.
And there is another consideration that is sometimes overlooked:
A fabric can be colorfast to a particular cleaning chemical and still potentially be affected by that chemical in other ways.
In other words, keeping the color from changing is not the only thing we have to consider.
Depending on the fabric and the concentration and exposure time, a chemical treatment can potentially affect the strength or condition of the fibers.
That’s why I don’t believe in simply assuming that because something is an outdoor cushion, it should automatically be cleaned with a diluted chlorine bleach solution.
If you are interested in the problems that can occur when homeowners reach for a garden hose, pressure washer or bleach without first considering the fabric, I wrote about that in Ask Alec: Before You Grab the Garden Hose, Pressure Washer or Bleach.
There Are Other Ways to Clean Outdoor Cushions
Chlorine bleach is only one of the tools that may be appropriate for cleaning outdoor fabrics.
Depending on the fabric and what we are trying to remove, other approaches can include:
- Appropriate upholstery cleaning solutions
- Oxygen-based cleaning products
- Other specialty cleaning agents
- Carefully selected acidic or neutralizing solutions when appropriate
- Professional hot-water extraction
The important word here is appropriate.
The right cleaning method depends on the particular fabric and the particular problem.
I don’t believe in having one cleaning formula and using it on every outdoor cushion that comes through the door.
What About Mildew?
Mildew is one of the most common reasons homeowners decide their outdoor cushions need cleaning.
But even here, there is more to the story than simply seeing mildew and reaching for bleach.
Outdoor cushions can collect moisture, dirt, pollen, leaves, bird droppings, sunscreen, body oils and other organic material. These contaminants can contribute to mold, mildew and algae problems.
I’ve written more about this in Ask Alec: Is an Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure When It Comes to Outdoor Cushions?.
The important point is that not every outdoor cushion should be treated the same way simply because mildew is present.
What About the Protective Finish?
Some outdoor fabrics have been treated with water-resistant or other protective finishes.
Those finishes are another reason I don’t believe in automatically applying the strongest cleaning product available.
The purpose of a protective treatment is to help make it more difficult for liquids and soils to penetrate the fabric. Different fabrics can respond differently to cleaning and protective treatments.
I’ve written more about how fabric protection works in All About Fabric Protection.
The important thing is to understand what you’re working with before deciding how aggressively to clean it.
This Is Why We Test Every Cushion
At Alec’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, we clean our outdoor cushions in our plant, rather than simply showing up at a customer’s home and treating every cushion the same way.
Before we begin cleaning, we examine and test the fabric.
We want to determine what type of material we are working with and, just as importantly, how that particular fabric responds to the cleaning process we are considering.
We look at things such as:
- The type of fiber and fabric
- Color stability
- The condition and age of the fabric
- Existing stains and soiling
- Water resistance and other finishes
- How the fabric responds to the proposed cleaning solution
This testing helps us determine the safest and most effective cleaning method for that particular cushion.
And Rinsing Is Just as Important
Cleaning the fabric is only part of the process.
After we clean the cushions, we thoroughly rinse them using professional upholstery-cleaning equipment.
We do not simply spray the cushions with a garden hose or use a pressure washer to blast the cleaning solution through them.
Professional upholstery extraction equipment allows us to flush and extract the cleaning solution and loosened soil from the fabric and cushion much more carefully.
The goal is not simply to make the cushion look clean.
We want to remove the cleaning solution and the soil that we have loosened from the fabric.
So, Are All Outdoor Cushions the Same?
No.
And that’s really the point.
An outdoor cushion from a big-box store may look very similar to a premium outdoor cushion sitting beside it. But the fabrics, fibers, dyes, finishes and construction may be quite different.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that an inexpensive outdoor cushion is a bad cushion.
It means that you shouldn’t assume that every outdoor cushion can be cleaned the same way.
After cleaning thousands of outdoor cushions, I’ve learned that one of the most important parts of the job happens before the cleaning even begins.
You have to know what you’re working with.
Identify the fabric. Test the fabric. Choose the appropriate cleaning method. Then clean and rinse it properly.
That’s why we don’t have a single “outdoor cushion cleaning formula” that we use on everything.
Every cushion gets evaluated on its own.
Learn more about our Outdoor Cushion Cleaning & Winter Storage Services or call us directly at 781-871-1415 to discuss your outdoor cushions with Alec!
Have a Question for Alec?
If you have a question about carpet, upholstery, area rugs or outdoor cushions, Ask Alec.
I’ve been in the professional cleaning business since 1970, and after 56 years in the business, I’ve learned that sometimes the best answer starts with a simple question:
“What exactly are we working with?”
For information about our professional outdoor cushion cleaning service, visit our Outdoor Cushion Cleaning page.