It’s always a great idea to decorate your patio with some cushions. They not only bring comfort to your living space but also add beauty and unique style.
Unfortunately, they may quickly absorb water if exposed to sprinklers or rain. Thus, they get soaked, making it challenging for visitors to sit until they dry off.
What to do if patio cushions get wet? This article will recommend some of the most straightforward and helpful solutions. Let’s scroll down to discover more!
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What To Do If Patio Cushions Get Wet?
If you leave the wet cushions too long, germs and mold might begin to form in them, so it’s imperative to make them dry out as soon as possible.
Here are the simplest methods to make them dry quickly. Let’s take a look!
Let Them Dry Naturally In Sunlight And Wind
Allowing the damp cushions on the patio furniture to lie in the sunlight and receive a gentle breeze is one approach to help them dry out.
If you want to take this method, it is preferable that the weather not be exorbitantly humid, or your cushions might never be fully dry.
The cushions should be shaken or wrung out as much as possible to remove moisture before being spread out in the sunshine to dry.
You can turn the paddings after a couple of hours to hasten the drying time.
Don’t worry if your seats are still wet after spending many hours in the sunlight because the foam requires some time to dry off.
It would be best if you also didn’t leave these pieces in the sunlight for an extended period since the Ultraviolet rays may cause the fabric to deteriorate.
Use A Fan
Although you may also put up a few fans outdoors, placing your damp pillows directly in front of one or two fans in your home is advisable.
Applying this technique inside is better to perform in your bathroom because moisture may be seeping from your seats.
It would be best if you placed the seats on towels on the bathroom floor and lay a thick cloth on each other before setting up the fans.
To extract some moisture from the cushions, push down firmly against the cloth using all your strength.
To get the best result, repeat this procedure several times. This way, the cushions will dry more quickly.
Dry Them On Your Car Hood
As you can likely observe, automobiles are drawn to by the sun because they are constructed of metal.
Therefore, you may place your seats on the front of your vehicle to hasten the drying process of the sunlight.
To help the water drain from your padding more rapidly, it is also helpful to apply pressure on them repeatedly before placing them on the hood.
The best times to use this technique are obviously during the summertime on days having lots of sunlight.
Additionally, this drying method will work better if your car is in a deeper shade.
To avoid unintentionally damaging the painting or metal of your automobile, place a cloth below the cushions.
Use Gel Packs
If your seats still appear damp after utilizing the drying as mentioned earlier techniques, you may always choose to use several dehumidifying gel packets.
Put every cushion in its bag, add a few gel packets, and close each bag without making it too tight.
Put these bags with the cushions in a dry, warm place. After that, check them after a couple of days to determine whether they’re completely dry.
What To Consider When Drying Wet Patio Cushions?
Regarding the maintenance of the cushions on the patio furniture, here are some practices you should avoid doing.
Never Use A Hair Dryer.
If you’re utilizing hot air instead of cold air, you shouldn’t ever try to dry off your wet cushions with your hair dryer.
Because the air that comes out of blowers usually becomes relatively hot, using one might cause harm to your padding.
Don’t Let Them Sit For Too Long.
Avoid allowing your padding to be damp for an extended period.
Also, don’t keep these seats on the patio furniture covered in the mistaken belief that they’ll ultimately dry out.
The potential of germs and mold inside your cushions increases if you let them sit for a long time to make them dry off. Before drying them, you will eventually need to clean them thoroughly.
If your seats already have stains or dirt on them, cleaning them thoroughly will become more challenging if you leave them uncleaned for a long time.
If you put off solving the problem for too long, you could even have to throw them away.
So, it is crucial to dry your padding immediately as you notice its wetness.
It is simple to put off starting the drying, but you’ll regret it if you don’t do it promptly.
Avoid Direct Heat
Direct contact of your pillows with a heater might damage them. More significantly, it is a risky action since it may cause a fire to ignite.
Extra Tips For Preventing Patio Cushions From Getting Wet
As you can see, it’s not challenging to dry wet cushions, but the drying process takes a long time.
For this reason, it’s best to take some preventive measures to keep these items from getting wet. Let’s see!
Prevent From Future Moisture
You may take measures to prevent your seats from becoming wet if you anticipate that it will rain and do not want to waste hours drying them.
Patio furniture coverings are convenient to purchase online, are available in various dimensions, and are excellent for protecting your furniture when you don’t use it.
If your furnishings are in a highly sunny place, covers like these can protect them from Ultraviolet rays damage.
Some patio furniture coverings are rigid and won’t leak or rip throughout many thunderstorms.
These coverings might preserve your patio cushions if you reside in a region that frequently suffers summer storms.
Durable tarps may be helpful as an alternative to buying coverings to protect your seats from the weather.
To prevent your padding from moving or blowing during strong winds, fasten the tarp over it using weights or ropes.
Store Them When It Rains.
If you are in an area with lengthy winters, you need to think about where to store these items to prevent damage from snow.
If you leave your padding outside during cold months, ice and snow may damage it. Also, these items can’t dry properly because of freezing temperatures.
If you own storage space, you might want to think about putting them somewhere dry, like your basement.
Another practical option is a deck box, which makes it simple to store your seats during the winter when rain and snow won’t harm them.
These boxes are relatively attractive to blend in beautifully with any outdoor landscape.
Use Sprays For Fabric
When you purchase your garden furniture, use protective fabric sprays to maintain your padding in excellent condition.
It’s a good idea to apply the spray yearly. It can also prolong your cushions’ lifespan while assisting in water resistance.
Invest In Water Resistant Padding
Purchasing home furnishings that are better water-resistant is one way to have worry-free patio cushions.
Waterproof cushions may be readily kept outside without worrying about too much water damaging them.
You should choose items made of compressed fiber. This substance comprises blown fiber layers flattened and glued together with adhesives.
It is renowned for keeping the heat in and is excellent at keeping water out.
Therefore, the internal padding can withstand without soaking, although the seats get so wet that the rainwater seeps through the cover.
Although these items are relatively expensive, they are slightly uncomfortable to sit for a long time.
Avoid Foam Cushions
The standard foam acts as a sponge, meaning it will soak up water.
Even when you are sure of the quality of the padding coverings, try to avoid utilizing items made of this material if at all possible.
This way, the risk of mildew issues with your cushions is significantly lower.
Therefore, always check the label to determine the product’s composition, just like all outdoor furniture items.
Wrapping Up
What to do if patio cushions get wet? You can dry them in the sun and strong winds, on the hood of a car, or use a fan to speed up the process.
If you follow all our instructions, you’ll soon have cushions that are entirely dry and ready to have in your outdoor space.
If you have further questions on this topic, please comment below. We’re willing to reply to them all. Thanks for taking the time to follow this article!