How to Waterproof Outdoor Cushions

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Last week, I turned some thrift store couch cushions into beautiful outdoor cushions for my newly built DIY Outdoor Sofa. But... indoor cushions don't just magically become outdoor cushions without a bit of extra work to make them weather-proof.

Thus begun the hunt to to find the perfect method for waterproofing my outdoor cushions. I started with this Rustoleum waterproofing spray. It waterproofed the fabric, but the single 11 ounce package only covered one cushion/pillow set (I had three sets to waterproof.) Since I didn't feel like paying $45 to waterproof the cushions, I went looking for a cheaper product for the other two cushion sets. 

I tried this Scotchguard product next. Spoiler alert: it was great. One can easily covered the other two cushion/pillow sets. I had enough left over that I actually suspect one can would have covered all three sets.

How to Waterproof Outdoor Cushions

Materials

• Scotchguard Waterproofing Spray
• Cushions

Step 1: Prep the Area

I laid a moving blanket down on the ground to catch the overspray from the waterproofer. A tarp or something similar would have worked as well!

Step 2: Spray the Waterproofer

Holding the waterproof spray 8-ish inches away from the cushion, spray the cushion. I sprayed until the fabric was clearly covered by the spray, but not soaked or saturated by it.

Step 3: Wait 24 Hours

I let the waterproofer dry for 24 hours before testing it. And then:

Perfect! I might have to reapply next summer, but given this project took a whole 10 minutes, that's not really a big deal to me. And the fabric isn't crunchy or stiff at all; it feels exactly the same as it did before I applied the waterproof spray!

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