How to Care for Garden Cushions in Winter and Prepare Them for Spring
Garden cushions are designed for outdoor use — but winter is their main enemy. Persistent moisture, frost, condensation and poor ventilation can damage in a few weeks cushions that could have lasted several seasons. This guide explains how to care for your garden cushions in winter correctly, step by step, and how to prepare them for spring.
1. Why winter is the critical period
A quality outdoor cushion is designed to withstand normal seasonal conditions — but not 4–5 months of stagnant moisture. Poorly wintered cushions develop mould, persistent odours, degraded water-repellent treatment, deformed filling and accelerated fading.
Proper wintering takes one hour per season — the most cost-effective investment to extend cushion lifespan by 2–3 extra seasons.
2. Should cushions be brought in for winter?
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Dry garage or storage available | Bring everything in — ideal |
| Breathable garden box | Very good compromise |
| Covered, well-ventilated terrace | Acceptable if air circulates |
| No space available | Non-airtight protective covers essential |
Never store on a damp floor, in airtight plastic bags, or under a fully sealed tarpaulin. Condensation accumulates inside — exactly the conditions you're trying to avoid.
3. Cleaning before storage: the step everyone postpones
For cushions with removable covers
- Remove the cover
- Machine wash at 30°C, delicate cycle — no tumble dryer
- Air-dry completely before refitting
- Clean the bare filling with a damp sponge and mild soap, let dry
- Refit the cover only when everything is dry
For non-removable cushions
- Dry-brush to remove dust
- Clean with a damp sponge and mild soap
- Air-dry horizontally for several hours
- Verify the core is dry before storing
Absolute rule: never store a damp cushion. Even slightly damp. It won't dry in storage — it will mould.
Our removable-cover garden lounge cushions make this step much simpler.
4. Treating mould if it appears
On the cover: brush outdoors, wash at max 40°C with white vinegar or bicarbonate, expose to sunlight. On the filling: expose to sun and fresh air, clean affected areas with diluted white vinegar (50/50), dry 24h minimum. If mould has penetrated deep and odour persists, replace the filling — another advantage of removable covers.
5. Correct winter storage
- Dryness: store in a controlled humidity space
- Air circulation: no airtight bags, no tight stacking
- Position: flat or slightly raised — never directly on the floor
Best to least good: breathable non-woven storage bag → ventilated garden box → shelves in closed space → raised tarpaulin (last resort).
6. Renewing the water-repellent treatment
If water starts soaking in rather than beading off, the treatment is weakening. Wash the cover, dry completely, apply textile waterproofing spray at 20 cm distance, dry and test. Renew every 2–3 seasons.
7. Spring preparation checklist
- Air cushions 2–3 hours outdoors on a dry day
- Pat to restore filling volume
- Check seams and zips
- Test water-repellency
- Light clean if needed
- Coordinate with your sunlounger mattresses and floor cushions
8. Specifics by cushion type
Lounge and armchair cushions: largest volume — longest to dry, most storage space. Prioritise removable cover. 120x80 pallet cushions: store vertically on edge if space is limited. Our pallet cushions have HR foam that handles this well. Sunlounger mattresses: most exposed to suncream — cover wash before storing, without exception.
FAQ
Can water-repellent cushions stay outside all winter?
Water-repellent fabric handles occasional moisture. But 4–5 months of prolonged exposure will saturate and degrade the treatment. Bring them in.
At what temperature does mould develop?
From 5°C with over 70% relative humidity — exactly mild winter conditions in France. Cold alone doesn't kill mould, it slows it.
Can bleach be used on mould?
Avoid on coloured fabrics — bleach fades fibres. Use diluted white vinegar (50/50) or bicarbonate. On white covers, diluted bleach is acceptable.
How long to dry a cushion before storing?
Cover alone: 2–4 hours outdoors. Full cushion: 12–24 hours minimum. When in doubt, always wait longer.
Do Oxford fabric cushions resist winter better?
Oxford weave is denser and more moisture-resistant than standard outdoor fabrics. But no fabric is immune to prolonged damp storage. Quality determines tolerance, not immunity.
What to do if cushions smell of mould after winter?
Wash cover at 40°C with white vinegar. Sun-expose filling for 6–8 hours. If odour persists after 48h ventilation, the filling is compromised — replacement needed.
All Deco-Arts cushions — garden cushions, pallet cushions and sunlounger mattresses — feature OEKO-TEX certified 180 g/m² Oxford fabric and removable covers for easy care and maximum lifespan.