Outdoor Throw Pillows: Fabric, Fill and How to Keep Them Dry

Outdoor throw pillows are made to handle sun and damp: look for a solution-dyed performance fabric that resists fading, UV, mold and mildew, and a fill that dries quickly. Most are water resistant, not waterproof, so bring them in before rain, clean them with mild soap and air dry them before winter storage.

What makes a throw pillow an outdoor pillow?

An outdoor throw pillow differs from an indoor one in its cover and its fill, not its shape. The sizes match the ones in our throw pillow size guide, so the same 18 and 20 inch squares and lumbars work on a porch swing or a patio sofa.

Outer, which makes outdoor furniture and cushions, suggests checking five kinds of performance before you buy: UV, fade, stain, water, and mold and mildew resistance. An indoor pillow is not sold on any of these, so look for them in the listing before a pillow goes out on the porch for the season.

Which fabric holds up in the sun?

For a seat in full sun, Outer recommends a solution-dyed performance fabric that is UV resistant and colorfast. Solution dyeing, also called dope dyeing, works differently from dyeing finished cloth: the pigment is added to the liquid polymer before the fiber is extruded, so the color runs all the way through. Wikipedia’s entry on dyeing notes that this gives excellent fastness, with two limits: it works only on synthetic fibers, and the color range is narrower.

So a solution-dyed outdoor cover will be a synthetic fabric, and the label shows which fiber. Outer also suggests covering pillows between uses where the sun is strongest, since even a fade-resistant fabric lasts longer out of direct light.

What fill should outdoor pillows have?

The fill matters as much as the cover, because a damp insert stays damp long after the fabric feels dry. Outer separates the two main options by where the pillow sits:

For throw pillows on a covered porch, loose fiber gives the soft, squashy feel most people want. For a pillow that sits by a pool or under open sky, quick-dry foam is the safer choice.

Are outdoor pillows waterproof?

Mostly not, and the labels can mislead. Outer says most premium outdoor cushions are more accurately described as water resistant. Whether water gets in depends on the seams, the zipper and any backing, not only the fabric. So even a pillow with a water-resistant cover can soak through at the seams if it sits out in a storm.

How do you clean outdoor throw pillows?

Sunbrella, an outdoor fabric brand, gives these steps for its upholstery fabrics, and they suit most outdoor covers whose label allows water cleaning:

1. Brush off loose dirt, and blot spills rather than rubbing them.
2. Mix 1 teaspoon (4 ml) of dishwashing liquid into 1 cup (250 ml) of lukewarm water.
3. Clean with a soft bristle brush, let the solution soak in, then rinse well.
4. Clean from seam to seam, so the cover dries without water rings.
5. Let the fabric air dry.

Sunbrella says most of its upholstery fabrics can be machine washed in cold water on a gentle cycle with a normal amount of mild detergent, with zippers closed first, so a removable cover marked washable can go in the machine. For severe mold or mildew, Sunbrella’s cleaning steps add a cup of bleach; follow its full instructions rather than adding bleach to the small soap mix above, and check your own cover’s label before you use bleach on any fabric.

How to store outdoor pillows for winter

Before the first frost, clean the pillows and let them dry completely. Outer’s advice is to store them in a dry, breathable space and never to seal damp cushions in plastic, which traps the moisture that causes mildew. A cloth storage bag in a garage or closet works better than a sealed tub for anything that might hold a little damp.

Making a porch feel cozy into fall

Outdoor pillows carry a porch into cooler evenings. Mix two sizes, as you would on a sofa: our guide to throw pillows for a couch explains how to layer a lumbar in front of larger squares and pick colors that work together. Add a washable throw blanket for chilly nights, and bring it in with the pillows. For indoor covers in warmer fabrics, see our throw pillow covers guide.