It is always important to purchase proper patio cushions. Not only are they incredibly comfortable to sit on, but they can also deal with the elements pretty well. But, what happens when you end up with wet patio cushions? Should you leave them to naturally dry, or are you going to need to put a bit of effort into ensuring that all of that water is squeezed out of them? Let’s take a look.
How To Dry Wet Patio Cushions
First things first, step away from the clothes dryer. While it may seem like an obvious solution, patio cushions tend not to fare well in the high heat in a dryer. It can ruin the cushions. You are going to need to dry them naturally.
Press Out The Water From The Cushion
The first thing that you will need to do is get rid of all the water inside of the cushion. If your outdoor cushions have a zip on them, then open them up. Take out the interior foam and give it a good, hard press. This should squeeze out the water inside of it.
If you can’t unzip the cushions, then give them a hard press anyway. There is likely a hole on the patio cushion that the water can seep out of. That being said, most of these cushions will have been designed to keep the water out anyway.
Once you have pushed out as much water as you possibly can, it is time to dry them out.
You Can Dry The Cushion Covers In The Dryer
While you should not be putting the foam in the dryer, you can put the cushion covers in the dryer.
We recommend that you dry the cushion covers at fairly low heat. They will take a little bit longer to dry, but we find that the color will fade far less quickly on them.
Once again, we cannot stress enough just how important it is that you keep that foam out of the dryer. If that foam goes in that dryer, then you will ruin the cushions.
Leave Them In The Sun
The easiest method is to leave the patio cushions out in the sun.
Most patio cushions will have been designed to dry nice and quickly, so it shouldn’t take more than a few hours.
If you have a clothesline in your yard, then we suggest that you hang them up on that.
Other Drying Methods
Of course, if the weather still isn’t brilliant, then you may need to look into other methods for drying your wet patio cushions.
If you can bring your patio cushions inside and can find somewhere to hang them, you can point a fan in their direction. It won’t dry them anywhere near as quickly as the wind outside, but it should still take no longer than a day. Remember, these are outdoor cushions. They have been designed to dry quickly.
While it is a bit of a hassle, some people will pack their wet patio cushions into some sealed bags. They will add some dehumidifying packs to these bags.
The dehumidifying packs will suck the moisture out of the cushions. It is a long-winded method, and it can get rather expensive, but there is no denying that it works.
Can You Leave Outdoor Cushions In The Rain?
You can, although it isn’t really recommended.
Outdoor cushions are designed to be outside. Rain, sleet, or shine, they are going to be perfectly fine. At least for a while.
The problem is that being outside is going to wear down the outdoor cushions eventually. The color may start to fade. The cushions will start to fall apart. They may not feel as spongy as always.
Not only this but if you are not great at drying out your cushions right away, then bacteria could start to build upon them, and that is trickier to deal with.
So, while you can leave outdoor cushions in the rain, we wouldn’t recommend it.
How Do You Clean Dirty Outdoor Cushions?
So, let’s say that your outdoor patio cushions are wet. You want to dry them off, but they are quite dirty. How do you deal with that? Well, rather easily.
Most outdoor cushions have an easy-wipe surface. Get a wet cloth and wipe those outdoor cushions down. The dirt should fall off with ease.
Of course, if that doesn’t work, then you can put them in the washing machine. Although, make sure that you pay attention to the washing instructions on the outdoor cushions. You do not want to clean them at too high of a heat. If you do, then you run the risk of ruining the interior foam.
Once you have cleaned your dirty outdoor patio cushions, then follow the same instructions as before to dry them. Do not put them in a dryer!
What Is The Best Way To Store Patio Cushions So They Don’t Get Wet?
As with most things, prevention is always better than the cure.
We know it can be a bit of a hassle, but if it looks like it is going to rain, we recommend that you bring your cushions indoors. In fact, try to get into the habit of bringing them indoors if you don’t plan on using your patio furniture for a few days.
Alternatively, you can pack them into a decent furniture box. Most quality furniture boxes on the market should be waterproof, which will help to keep your patio cushions in pristine condition.
Conclusion
Patio cushions are designed to dry quickly. This means that it shouldn’t pose too much of an issue if they get wet. In most cases, they should dry naturally. However, do remember that it is important that you never put your patio cushions in a dryer. While it may seem like a quick method to dry your patio cushions out, the dryer will likely end up ruining the cushions. Air dry, wherever possible.
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