Brush all debris from the seat cushions and vacuum to remove any leaves, twigs, soil or loose organic debris. If debris is stuck to the cushions, use a hard-bristled broom or cleaning brush to loosen the material before vacuuming.
Fill the bucket with warm water and a squirt of mild cleaning detergent. Soak the sponge in the mixture and wipe down all surfaces of the cushions, paying particular attention to the creases, crevices and seam lines.
Add 1 cup of bleach to the mixture. Spot check the color fastness of the fabric on an underside of the cushion. Wait for 10 to 15 minutes. If no color change is detected, wipe down all cushions with the bleach mixture. Use a small cleaning brush or tooth brush to get into the cracks, crevices and along the seam lines.
Rinse cushions with a water hose on medium intensity nozzle setting.
Check the cushions to see if all mildew has been removed. Spot clean any areas where mildew remains.
Air dry the cushions and recheck for mildew stains. If particularly tough stains remain, scrub the spot with a strong bleach and detergent mixture. Soak stains for five to 10 minutes before scrubbing.