Just read about sprinkling BS on couch cushions to clean/freshen them. Suggests leaving it on for 20 min and then vacuuming up. Has anyone tried this? I have thought of a way to do the loose cushions and would like opinions: Put them in commercial dryer with dryer sheet and really damp (wet) bath towel for X min on low heat. Thoughts?
Baking Soda on sofa
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vacerator
Well-known member
be careful!
Most upholstery says spot clean only. baking soda shouldn't hurt. You can also mix water and white vinegar 50/50 in a spray bottle on fine mist to freshen it.
If you remove the cushion covers and they shrink in the dryer, they may not go back onto the foam substrate. Some fabrics have a memory to temperature.
You can also dust it with a damp clean cloth. I read once it's better than vacuuming. The fabric wears with each back and forth motion. My new sofa is 82% polyester/18% rayon chenile, and rated for 20,000 back and forth rubs for durability. Says to spot clean or professional clean only.
I may do the damp dusting method and only vacuum once monthly. $2,000.00 sofa. I want it to last.
Most upholstery says spot clean only. baking soda shouldn't hurt. You can also mix water and white vinegar 50/50 in a spray bottle on fine mist to freshen it.
If you remove the cushion covers and they shrink in the dryer, they may not go back onto the foam substrate. Some fabrics have a memory to temperature.
You can also dust it with a damp clean cloth. I read once it's better than vacuuming. The fabric wears with each back and forth motion. My new sofa is 82% polyester/18% rayon chenile, and rated for 20,000 back and forth rubs for durability. Says to spot clean or professional clean only.
I may do the damp dusting method and only vacuum once monthly. $2,000.00 sofa. I want it to last.
Sounds like the same procedure as the various "Carpet Fresh" types of products recommend.
There's also the "Febreze" option. With loose cushions you could maybe spray them with that and then send through the dryer (assuming it would cause no ill effects on the dryer). Otherwise, the damp towel method sounds like a good plan, but if you plan to use low heat, I'd lean towards damp as opposed to wet, and make sure the dryer sheets will activate on the low heat setting.
There's also the "Febreze" option. With loose cushions you could maybe spray them with that and then send through the dryer (assuming it would cause no ill effects on the dryer). Otherwise, the damp towel method sounds like a good plan, but if you plan to use low heat, I'd lean towards damp as opposed to wet, and make sure the dryer sheets will activate on the low heat setting.
Tony fell asleep one night and spilled a bowl of French toast bites with syrup on himself and on the NEW sofa cushion. I took the whole cushion and crammed it into a laundromat washer. Worked perfectly and didn't hurt it. Dried it on low heat in one of their big drum dryers.
vacerator
Well-known member
No Febrize for me,
I don't know whats in it, but I'm allergic like heck to it. Makes me gag and wheeze.
Greg, I'm curious wether your sofa cushion is foam or all poly fiber fill. I can't fathom an entire form foam cushion surviving a commercial washer.
Mine are high domed in the center. I think they are partial down. The lumbar pillows are down filled. The sales lady assuerd me I wouldn't be bothered by the down because it is encapsulated in the best quality ticking. No problem so far.
I don't know whats in it, but I'm allergic like heck to it. Makes me gag and wheeze.
Greg, I'm curious wether your sofa cushion is foam or all poly fiber fill. I can't fathom an entire form foam cushion surviving a commercial washer.
Mine are high domed in the center. I think they are partial down. The lumbar pillows are down filled. The sales lady assuerd me I wouldn't be bothered by the down because it is encapsulated in the best quality ticking. No problem so far.
our cushions are combination of foam with fiberfill on top of that. It did just fine though!
Unless..
EXPRESSLY stated, the zips that allow the cushions to be “removable” is NOT to allow the covers to be laundered, but rather to allow the foam/filling to be replaced should it become worn or “flat”.
Bitter experience taught me this. I washed in cool water, colour care detergent and NO dryer and then ironed;
- My covers looked sparkly clean, but they HAD shrunk and were a nightmare to put back on and while they have eventually gone back to near what it was like before laundering, they are/will never be quite the same pre launder.
I would recommend professionally cleaning in situ.
EXPRESSLY stated, the zips that allow the cushions to be “removable” is NOT to allow the covers to be laundered, but rather to allow the foam/filling to be replaced should it become worn or “flat”.
Bitter experience taught me this. I washed in cool water, colour care detergent and NO dryer and then ironed;
- My covers looked sparkly clean, but they HAD shrunk and were a nightmare to put back on and while they have eventually gone back to near what it was like before laundering, they are/will never be quite the same pre launder.
I would recommend professionally cleaning in situ.
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