The Best Way to Clean Olefin Outdoor Fabric—and Keep It Looking Like New All Season

Freshen up your outdoor seating and enjoy more time outside.

Outdoor sitting area with wicker chairs and a fire pit in a backyard patio setting — Credit:
2creativecrew / Getty Images

Keeping your outdoor furniture clean often ends up at the bottom of your to-do list, but staying on top of it is essential. Most outdoor furniture is upholstered in olefin fabric because of its durability, lightweight nature, and resistance to stains and mildew. Its synthetic properties make cleaning simple, but one wrong move could ruin your beautiful patio set.

To help you prepare for prime outdoor seating season, we spoke to an expert about how to clean olefin fabric. With just a few simple materials you likely have around your house, you can clean your patio furniture and start enjoying the warm weather comfortably. Ahead, we're sharing a step-by-step guide for cleaning your olefin fabric along with a couple of tips for keeping it looking brand new.

Aharon Abadi, an outdoor furniture specialist at Outdoor-USA, a patio furniture company

How Often to Clean Olefin Fabric

For outdoor furniture that has olefin fabric, routine cleaning is a good idea. It's best to clean your olefin furniture and cushions every one to two months during peak outdoor seating season. If you live in a colder climate, consider doing a deeper clean before storing them away or after harsh weather conditions.

How to Clean Olefin Fabric

Materials Needed

Mild dish soap
Lukewarm water
Soft cloth
Soft brush or vacuum
Clean towel

Instructions

Step 1: Vacuum

With a vacuum, remove the dust, dirt, and debris from the fabric using the soft brush attachment on your vacuum. This ensures that all the small particles of debris will be removed from the fabric during the cleaning process. If you don't have a vacuum with a soft brush attachment, use a soft brush to get all of the debris off the fabric.

To prevent buildup and staining, Aharon Abadi, an outdoor furniture specialist at Outdoor-USA, recommends gently brushing off loose dirt and debris with a soft brush or vacuuming regularly.

Step 2: Spot Clean

Create the spot-cleaning solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of mild liquid dish detergent with 1 cup of lukewarm water. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and gently blot the stained area without soaking it. Olefin fabric is water-resistant, but the cushion filling inside is not. Avoid rubbing the area too hard, as it can damage the fabric. Let the soap sit for a few minutes to penetrate the stains, then use a clean, damp cloth to blot away the soap residue.

For tougher stains, Abadi recommends mixing 50 milliliters of bleach, 15 milliliters of mild dish detergent, and 1 liter of lukewarm water. This solution can be used safely on most olefin fabrics to spot clean tough stains effectively, but it's best to check with the manufacturer first.

Step 3: Air Dry

After spot cleaning and blotting away the soap residue, let the fabric air dry completely. Olefin fabric dries quickly and is mold and mildew-resistant.

When cleaning your olefin fabric furniture, avoid using hot water and use only lukewarm or cool water. Do not use heat to dry the fabric, as olefin can melt at high temperatures.

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Tips for Taking Care of Olefin Fabric

Waterproofing

To maintain the water-resistant properties of olefin fabric, Abadi recommends reapplying a fabric-safe waterproofing spray every 6 to 12 months. To effectively reapply the waterproofing spray, it must be done after deep cleaning the fabric.

Pilling

Unlike natural fibers, olefin is susceptible to pilling. To get rid of the pilling, there are a few options. "Use a fabric shaver, lint roller, or wide adhesive tape to gently remove pills. Avoid using stiff brushes, which may damage the fabric," says Abadi.