Cleaning removable sofa covers

tawnyowls

It's definitely worth giving it a go if they're really grubby. I tried out one cushion cover last week - it said 'dry clean only' and gave no indication as to what the fabric actuall was, so I washed it with some other dark stuff at 30 deg. I reasoned that because the cushions are quite squashy, and it's a middle one, then even if there was some shrinkage, the cushion would still fit inside it, and any shrinkage would be hidden by the other cushions. Took it out and it had shrunk a lot - sighed and resigned myself to having to get the rest dry-cleaned, but once it dried, it actually went back to the original size. No fading in the colour or any other nasty side-effects either.

BrandNewDay

My sofa and armchair have removable cushion covers, but the bulk of the upholstery is NOT removable. I clean it with a big Bissel carpet/upholstery shampooer. It works really well. Our furniture was NASTY, with black arm rests, etc. Now, it looks perfectly lovely and clean. It takes a lot of work (I go over and over the area, pressing down on the machine attachment to maximize suction) but it's well worth the effort!

Also, I've run out of the (very expensive) Bissell cleaner, and I now use Stardrops, which works well. I use a very diluted solution. I have an oxyclean that I would try if I thought I needed to, but I guess I've been lucky.

Peters_2

Machine wash cold water and mild detergent and a cup of white vinegar. I would hang them to dry. Be sure you don't overload washer.

Lidija

hey guys,

this forum is incredibly brilliant and you really seem to have a helpful tip or two for an aspiring upholstery washer like myself

I own IKEA's Lunna swivel easy chair. since I'm new here, I wasn't able to share the link to the photo, but you can google it, in case a photo would be helpful. I encounter the following washing problem - once I remove the cover from my armchair, what I end up with is not only the cover, but the stuffing of the armchair, too. this stuffing consists of the regular ordinary sponge, but also - and this is where my problem really comes from - of some kind of material that's seaweed-like and isn't consistent, but rather is in pieces and dissolves easily into dust-like fragments when I touch or pull it.

I have no idea what to do with it with respect to washing. it is possible to take it out of the cover, but if I do, because of its texture, I doubt that I could actually stuff this thing back into the cover once I've washed it. but it also seems completely outrageous to wash the cover together with this thing.

should I take it out and then put it back when the cover is washed? or is it meant to be disposable, and I need to have my cover re-filled at some kind of a specialized shop once I've washed it?

help!

Olliebeak

Lidija wrote: »

hey guys,

this forum is incredibly brilliant and you really seem to have a helpful tip or two for an aspiring upholstery washer like myself

I own IKEA's Lunna swivel easy chair. since I'm new here, I wasn't able to share the link to the photo, but you can google it, in case a photo would be helpful. I encounter the following washing problem - once I remove the cover from my armchair, what I end up with is not only the cover, but the stuffing of the armchair, too. this stuffing consists of the regular ordinary sponge, but also - and this is where my problem really comes from - of some kind of material that's seaweed-like and isn't consistent, but rather is in pieces and dissolves easily into dust-like fragments when I touch or pull it.

I have no idea what to do with it with respect to washing. it is possible to take it out of the cover, but if I do, because of its texture, I doubt that I could actually stuff this thing back into the cover once I've washed it. but it also seems completely outrageous to wash the cover together with this thing.

should I take it out and then put it back when the cover is washed? or is it meant to be disposable, and I need to have my cover re-filled at some kind of a specialized shop once I've washed it?

help!

Have you contacted Ikea to ask them about what to do? I've found them to be very helpful .

robertjayn

Usually once over with a vacuum cleaner and a wipe with a damp cloth will more than suffice and keep your sofa looking in top condition. A popular option is to use a throw which can be easily removed and put through the washing machine regularly.

darkrev

I would really like to wash our soofa covers but DFS said they were fire proofedso I couldn't wash em. Is there a way of home drycleaning them without an expensive specialist visit ? Thanks

tanith

Our sofas have what seem like removal covers but they came with a warning that said the covers were all zipped and removable but that was just for ease of manufacture and not for washing/cleaning they took no responsibility if they were either washed/cleaned.. now I'm not sure what to do..

maman

Take a read of the earlier posts, where people suggest washing a cushion or something as a test. I've got cream covers and I wash them regularly on a cool (30 degrees) wash and they turn out fine. As they need careful ironing to come out well, I split the job up over several days. Choose a day when they'll definitely dry well on the line. I've got 8 large cushions plus 4 arm covers. I do 4 cushions (in two loads) and then the arm rests over 3 days. That way I can turn it around in a day otherwise I get really fed up wth the ironing. The overall covers for the sofas come off too but I only wash these about once a year as they don't get very dirty as mostly covered by cushions.

short_bird

Oh 'eck. Have washed a set of beige Ektorp Tullsta covers - bought in the last few months - and they reek after washing. (This isn't the same smell as when they are new.)

The washing machine was clean, I used B0ld 2 in 1 with a bit of Van!sh to make sure the arms of the cover were properly clean. Washed at 40 degrees.

I now need to remove the smell.
Anybody had this problem and resolved it without shrinking the covers?
Anybody got any good ideas?