I have removable/zipper cushions on my couch that are in desperate need of washing. The tag says dry clean only, which we've done before. But after lots of animal and kid accidents and tons of spot washing -- dousing with water and soap for stains, soaking with vinegar and alcohol to remove blueberries, saturating with enzyme cleaners for pet stains, etc. - I'm thinking maybe I can unzip and wash in cold water on gentle cycle and air dry. Clearly the material stands up to lots of liquids. Any thoughts? I'd hate to have the covers shrivel up and not fit anymore, but I can't imagine them doing that since they've done fine with all the heavy, very wet spot cleaning. I've heard that most fabrics that say "dry clean" can be washed on gentle just fine. Some will shrink up but I think I'd know that by now. Still nervous, though. Any thoughts?
A lot of stuff that says dry clean only, isn't. Just to be on the safe side I would wash one first.
I am having problems posting the link but you can go to
She blogged about how she successfully washes dry clean only items.
Silk will not wash. A wool or wool blend can be hand washed with woolite and laid flat to dry. Not sure about cotton. I have microfiber and toss it in the washer on gentle in an emergency then lay flat to dry. But - that wears them out faster. Usually I call a professional carpet cleaner to come clean them. I would try washing them and if it doesn't work buy new covers. Sounds like you could use an extra set!
Is there a label that tells you what kind of fabric it is?
Quite often when clothing, that should be washable, is marked 'dry clean only' it is because they did not pre-shrink the fabric before cutting. Putting it in the dryer will shrink it. You can try to wash the cushion covers and hang to dry, then replace back on the cushions befor they are completely dry. This way they can't shrink as much.
If you have a carpet cleaner with an upholestry attachment that might work better.
I have done it, wash it inside out though!! Good Luck!!
Yep. I've done it.
Take them off and zip them back up to they don't get turned inside out or twisted.
Wash in COLD water. If you have a front-loading washer like I do, you can put in on a regular cycle. Gentle for top-loaders. If you have the ability to do an extra spin cycle, I suggest it.
Be sure you pre-treat any stains.
Hang to air dry.
Best of luck!
My uniform shirts and pants say "dry clean only". A few of my fellow officers said they could be washed and so I tried it. No problem at all. I ended up sending them to the cleaners to launder and for the pressing and heavy starch. I wore them for over 5 years before I had to replace them.
I would suggest you wash them in warm water on a gentle cycle first. If you don't have any problem, then I'd use hot/cold cycle and not worry about it.
Good luck to you and yours.
It takes my husband's man strength to restuff the cushions in the covers but we wash them at home. I pretreat any stains. Then I turn them inside out and zip them closed. Without making too large of a load, I wash the covers on the delicate cycle in cold/cold (wash/rinse). I put them in the dryer on the delicate cycle (low heat, almost dry, barely damp to the touch). I remove them immediately and restuff the cushions promptly (eliminates wrinkles and the heat from the dryer helps with the restuffing process/cover pliability). We place our uncovered cushions outside in the sun after spraying with Febreeze while the covers are washing/drying. We also spray the couch/chair bases with Febreeze during the cover washing/drying process. That seems to help with the smells trapped in the foam/cushions themselves. Good luck.
I have always washed my dry clean only's in my washer on the normal cycle. I also almost always dry them in the dryer. Even silk. Never had a problem. They also used to sell a kit that allowed you to do the dry cleaning method using your dryer. Not sure if they still do.
But yep, couch cushions, totally wash and dry in your own machines, it will be fine.
I normally do wash them at home, for tough stains I pre-soak them in warm to hot water and pine-sol, this help remove just about any stain. Then I air dry them.
Good Luck!
Hi N.,
Even though it says dry clean, it may be a washable fabric. The issue usually is that the fabric was not pre-shrunk and will shrink like crazy. I had a 100% cotton knit dress that went to my knees (dry clean only), I washed and dried (my mistake) and the thing barely covered my bum.
Good luck,
S.
I'd be nervouse too. I would do it on your delicate cycle or just hand wash it (literally wash it by hand in cold water. Then I might put them on the cushions while still wet, and dry ourdoors in the sun. Maybe they won't shrink as much then??
Depends on what they're made of. If they have cording and the fabric is different for the cording it make shrink. Some fabrics will not hold up to the washing machines agitation. And even if they wash without shrinking or shredding they will look like they've been washed. Gone with be the smooth even fit.
Cotton, especially will shrink because they may have not preshrunk the fabric.
They may be standing up to all the cleaning you're doing because you're not changing the basic shape. There is still the dry parts to hold the piece smooth.
I suggest you take them to a by the lb. cleaners. The cost will be minimal. The cleaners will charge by weight. Or we have a cleaner who charges by the piece. Something like $2. They may charge more for large items.
That said, I've washed and dried slip covers successfully. The fabric is very sturdy and a synthetic blend. Synthetics rarely shrink.
Put plastic on your cushions and after washing the fabric, slip it back over the cushion's plastic and zip up. That way they will dry in place and hopefully won't shrink. When they dry, take them off, take the plastic off, and replace.
I'd be nervous if I were you, too. That's why I have leather sofas, to be honest.
I will tell you that I washed a pair of pants a few weeks ago that were supposed to be dry cleaned. I forgot all about it. Yep, they shrank. They were expensive pants too. Bummer...
Dawn
For clothing? No.
But for couch cushions - YES!! That's the ONLY way I do it. We have a Lazy-Boy sectional and I take the covers off about every six months and wash them - I wash them in delicate and dry on delicate. Haven't had a problem with shrinkage, etc.
It's the CUSHIONS that need to be cleaned as well - that for me has been the problem...that foam holds in a lot of smells!!
The cushions ... give it a try, but I would also be prepared to get a couch cover. If you get one, and put a metal pipe down the back, between the cushions and the back, it will stay in place. I even had one fit where it had conectors that went thru the middle of the cushions and the sides (deep cushions, ugly pattern, first apartment hand me down) and I never felt them :)
