Outdoor benches

How do I clean an outdoor sofa?

Most garden sofas are best cleaned with sponge or cloth that has been dipped into soapy water. Simply wipe down the surface covers with the soap and water, and then wipe dry with a clean cloth. This method should work just fine whether you’re wanting to remove a stain or wipe away dust. It’s advisable to clean your sofa a few times during the sunny season to prevent the build-up of mould or mildew.

If your garden sofa has already been infected with algae or mould, it should suffice to wash it with water and vinegar. Don’t forget to wash off the vinegar. There’s usually no need to use toxic chemicals to clean your outdoor sofa.

How do I store the cushions for the garden sofa?

Cushions and textiles need to be stored somewhere dry to protect against moisture. Don’t leave them out in the rain. Outdoor sofa cushions should also be stored off the ground to prevent pests getting to them. If possible, store them in an airtight container or a fabric bag. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight when not in use, since the sunlight will make the fabric colour fade over time.

How do I clean outdoor sofa cushions?

Most of the outdoor sofa cushions from IKEA have removable covers. This means that you can just throw them in the washing machine when they get dirty!

The garden sofa cushions without removable covers are easy to handwash. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Fill up a bucket with water (max 40°C) and put a little bit of either dishwashing detergent or laundry detergent in the water.
2. Use a sponge to scrub the cushions and let the water soak in.
3. Rinse the cushions it with a garden hose until the soapy water is flushed out of the fabric.
4. Wrap a towel around the garden sofa cushions to soak up most of the water.
5. Stand the cushions on the end somewhere airy and dry and let them dry completely.
6. That’s it! You’ve got yourself some squeaky clean outdoor cushions.

It’s important that you give the cushions the time they need to air dry. If not, they could get infected with mould or mildew. It's a good idea to refrain from using the cushions until at least a day after they’ve been washed and dried.

Check the product description of your specific garden sofa cushions if you want to know whether they are machine washable.

How do I keep outdoor sofa and cushions from sliding?

It can be annoying to feel the outdoor cushions slip out from underneath you. On a glossy surface, big cushions have a tendency of moving around. Fortunately, there’s any easy fix. To keep your outdoor sofa cushions in place, put an anti-slip underlay beneath them. This should stop them from sliding from one side to another on your garden sofa.