Garden swing cushions: they should not be the first thing to fade.

A swing's body may last twenty years while its cushions fade in two summers. This guide compares cushion fabrics and explains why the filling matters. It also sets out the rules for washing, drying and winter storage. On Mihenk models, cushions are standard and included in the price.

For outdoor cushions, what matters is where the colour is: in Solution-Dyed Olefin, the colour is in the yarn itself (light fastness 7-8, ISO 105-B02). It is water-repellent and breathes. In common "Oxford" polyester fabric, the colour is in the surface coating and fades in 1-2 seasons. The filling should be silicone fibre, which does not sag or hold moisture. Covers are washed on a 30°C delicate cycle, and cushions are brought inside in winter.

Cushions are the hardest-working part of a swing

Sun, rain, dew and sweat take their toll on outdoor cushions every day. Even if the body is solid Iroko, weak cushions make the swing look worn within two summers. This is why cushion fabric is not a detail but part of the purchase decision.

Cushions also carry much of the comfort. On a 5-position back, the same cushions are used in the sitting, reading, reclining and bed positions. If the filling sags, the difference between positions can no longer be felt.

This guide covers fabric, filling, colour and care in turn. It explains why the cushions on Mihenk models are Solution-Dyed Olefin with silicone fibre filling.

Oxford polyester, acrylic and olefin

The most common cushion fabric on the market is piece-dyed polyester known as "Oxford". The fabric is dyed after weaving, and a PU or PVC coating is applied on top. The colour is on the surface. In the sun it fades in one or two seasons, and the coating cracks, turns sticky and peels. Because it does not breathe, it makes you sweat in the heat.

In solution-dyed fabrics, the colour is added while the fibre is produced, so there is no surface layer to peel. Solution-dyed acrylic is a fade-resistant fabric with a long history of outdoor use. Solution-Dyed Olefin is made on the same principle. Its light fastness is 7-8 according to ISO 105-B02, the highest class of resistance to fading in direct sun.

Olefin has two more qualities. It is water-repellent, holding droplets on the surface and drying in the morning sun. Its porous weave breathes and does not develop mould or odour in humidity; it is antibacterial and passes the ember contact test. Mihenk, Lavinya and Almila cushions are 100% Solution-Dyed Olefin.

Silicone fibre or foam?

The filling determines how the cushion looks a few years on. Foam filling is soft on the first day, but it holds moisture, hardens in the sun and sags where you sit. After a while, the centre of the cushion hollows out.

Silicone fibre filling works with air: it compresses when you sit and recovers when you stand. It does not hold moisture, dries quickly and has little tendency to sag. Quilted stitching keeps the filling from bunching in one place.

On Mihenk cushions, the filling is silicone fibre and the cover is quilted. If the cushions are brought inside in heavy rain, the filling stays dry. The fabric is water-repellent, but keeping the filling dry extends the life of the cushions.

Mustard or anthracite?

We offer two colours. Mustard continues the golden-brown tone of Iroko and adds warmth to gardens dominated by stone, greenery and wood. Anthracite provides contrast and creates a quiet harmony with modern façades, concrete terraces and poolsides.

In solution-dyed fabric, both colours have the same fastness. The darker colour holds more heat, and the lighter one shows stains sooner. The choice depends less on climate than on the colours of the landscape.

The seat and back cushions are separate pieces, and the back cushion is in two parts. On the 5-position back, the cushions stay in place in every position, and the cover is attached to the body.

Washing, drying, storage

Cushion covers are machine-washed at no more than 30°C on a delicate cycle, with liquid detergent and without fabric softener. They are dried laid flat, without wringing. A further wash in midsummer, when UV exposure is most intense, does them good.

Daily care is simple. Dust and pollen are brushed off, and bird droppings are wiped away promptly with lukewarm water. If the cushions get wet, leave them to dry for 24 hours before putting them back.

In winter, the cushions are stored in a closed, dry place; the body can stay outdoors. Take a photo of the cushions at the end of the first summer and keep it. In the years that follow, you can compare their colour fastness with your own eyes.

Three cushion fabrics side by side

The decisive column is where the colour is: in the surface coating or within the fibre.

• How to Maintain a Garden Swing: 12-Month Calendar
• Garden Swing Covers: Fabric, Size and Winter Use
• Garden Swing Prices 2026: The Four Items Behind the Price
• Garden Swing Assembly: 3 Cartons, 2 People, 1-2 Hours

Solid Iroko, in the garden and in the studio.

Mihenk 2400 — a selection of garden and studio frames with mustard and anthracite cushions; the product page has every frame and the colour selector.

Frequently asked questions about swing cushions

Let the maker choose the cushions too.

Write your question about colour choice, spare covers or care on WhatsApp, and speak directly with the maker.