One of the main things you must consider is the material the cushions are made out of, and whether it can handle the elements of nature. Is your furniture exposed to the sun all day, will it get rained on, does the wind tend to blow hard enough to knock lighter things around? These are just some of the forces that must be taken into account before choosing your cushion material.

Other things that you must consider are kids, pets, beverage spills, swimming pool water, and so on.

Most Common Cushion Fabrics

Acrylic

Acrylic fabrics are by far the best choice for patio cushion material. Acrylic material has a soft canvas feeling to it. It is the most durable of the common cushion materials and it resists molds and fading caused by exposure to sunshine all day. It is very easy to clean with mild soap and water and resists stains quite well. Acrylic materials are the most expensive but also the longest lasting, making acrylic cushions a good investment.

Poly/Olefin

Poly/Olefin is a synthetic made fiber that is dyed before it is spun into the fiber form which makes it fade resistant. Poly/Olefin has a canvas-like feel to it and is mold and mildew resistant. It is easy to clean with mild soap and water. Any spills should be wiped up as quickly as possible. This material is not good with lotions and oils.

PVC/Vinyl Coated Fabrics

Polyester cored materials that have been coated with PVC or Vinyl are very good in the elements but they are less comfortable than other materials because of the stiffness the plastic coating gives it. Oils and lotions can stain this material very easily as well as making hard spots on the cushions. This material is very good around water because of its smoothness and is easy to clean with soap and water.

Spun Polyester

This material has a very soft, slick feel to it. It has a more open weave allowing air to circulate within the cushion and the person sitting on will stay cooler. Without some kind of UV coating this material will fade relatively quickly, resulting in a dull color. It is easy to clean with mild soap and water but requires some kind of stain resistant coating.

On The Inside of the Cushion

What is on the inside is also very important. It needs to be waterproof foam or something that seals out moisture. If your cushions get wet and stay wet on the inside it will promote the growth of mold and bacteria resulting in a bad looking, soggy, and possibly smelly cushion that nobody really wants to sit on. Worse yet, the inferior manufacturing will result in you spending time and money replacing them. When purchasing patio furniture cushions don’t be afraid to ask the sales person helping you if they would mind pouring a small amount of water on a cushion. Make sure that the water does not soak into the inside of the cushion.

Tags: cushions, maintenance, patio furniture materials, polyester, problems