Your patio is a little outdoor oasis where you can soak in the fresh air and enjoy the scenery. Whether you’re sipping morning coffee or chatting with a friend, activities on your patio are more comfy with plush outdoor cushions on your furniture. But all the pollen, dust, and grass clippings that fly around outdoors tend to settle on the cushions and make them a mess. Part of cleaning your patio like a pro is keeping your outdoor pillows clean. Depending on the type of cushions you have, you may be able to launder the covers in your washing machine.

How can you tell if you can take a shortcut and wash the cushion covers in your washing machine? First, check for a zipper along the edges of your cushions. That means the cover is removable and is likely machine-washable. Cleaning patio cushions without a zipper is still possible, but you’ll need to use other methods.

If you find a zipper, look for the care label, which should go into more details on how you can clean the fabric covers. Verify that the cushion covers are machine-washable before proceeding. You can hand-clean the cushions even if they’re machine-washable, but tossing them in the washer saves you time and effort. One load cleans all of the covers quickly without any manually scrubbing.

Remember the care label you checked to see if your cushions are machine-washable? Check that again for any specific washing recommendations, including the wash temperature and cycle type, to adjust your laundry machine settings for the covers. The care labels may be sewn into the seam or inside of the fabric. Choosing a gentle cycle with a lower water temperature setting for the covers removes the buildup with a lower risk of damaging the material.

The purpose of washing the cushion covers in the washing machine is to save time, but it’s worth it to do a little pre-wash cleaning outdoors. That can be as simple as shaking the covers to remove some of the loose dirt. Vacuuming the pillows before you remove the covers is also an effective way to extract the tiny particles that make the cushions dirty.

Place the covers in the washing machine on the recommended settings with a small amount of mild detergent. When the cycle is done, let the cushion covers air dry to avoid shrinking them. Putting them outdoors in the sun can also help air out the cushions and fade any stains that are still on the fabric. You may be able to put them in the dryer on a low heat setting if the care instructions allow for that. Either way, the fabric needs to be completely dry before you put the covers back on the cushions to prevent mold and mildew growth.

Grass stains, mud, and greasy food spills are just a few of the possible stains that you might find on your outdoor cushions. Spot cleaning the fabric before you put the covers in the washing machine is an effective way to remove those stains. Start with warm water and a little detergent or mild dish soap. Apply the mixture to the spot and let it sit for several minutes. You can scrub the area with a soft cloth or a cleaning brush with soft bristles to help ease the stain out of the fabric.

If your cushions have mold or mildew stains on them, Borax or white vinegar can help remove the marks. Add 1 cup of Borax and a little dish soap to a bucket of cold water. Scrub the cleaning solution into the cushion cover using a soft-bristled brush. Wait a few minutes before rinsing the cushion covers. Verify that the stain is gone completely once you rinse the cover and allow it to air dry.

To use white vinegar, apply it to the fabric undiluted and wait roughly 10 minutes. Then, use warm, soapy water to scrub the moldy or mildewed area. Rinse it well and check for any remnants of mold. You may need to repeat the treatment to remove the spots completely. To prevent mildew on your outdoor cushions, apply a waterproofing spray once they are completely clean and keep the cushions as dry as possible.