How To Clean Your Cushions And Chair Pads

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Introduction

Cushions and chair pads need to be cleaned every now and then especially if they endure heavy usage from sitting. Before embarking on any serious cleaning, do your basics first by dusting off and vacuuming the cushion to remove surface dirt. Failing to do so makes the problem worse by causing the accumulated dirt to work into the fabric.

After this first step, the problem is that there are many types of cushions so no single cleaning method works well on all cushions. In fact, cleaning agents and methods good for one material will shred or cause mold in another. One way out of this impasse is to start by dividing your pads and cushions into two major classes, refining the classification for your particular product. The two major types we think are 1) cushions with removable covers (usually zippered), 2) sealed cushions without removable covers.

Cushions With Removable Covers And Fill

These cushions are the easiest for cleaning. One problem of getting the interior fill or stuffing wet is that it is difficult to dry which leads to mold and mildew problems. By removing the cover and washing it separately one obviates the problem of getting the stuffing wet.

1. Prepare a water-detergent solution of 1 tsp detergent mixed in 1 quart of water.
2. Unzip the cushion along the side and carefully lift out the stuffing without destroying its structure. Another option is to cut a slit to get the stuffing to take it out.
3. Soak the cover in the detergent mix, press out water and repeat several times.
4. Hang up the cover to dry.

Useful tips and hints:

• Use a regular detergent like Woolite (very gentle), Tide, or Gain.
• Some people recommend adding 1 tsp bleach to the water for a deeper cleaning. This is ok ONLY IF the material is not one of the following fibers:
  • silk
  • olefin
  • spun polyester with print
• Any of the following are ok to undergo a mild bleach treatment:
  • PVC polyester yarn
  • acrylic
  • cotton
• If you feel that soaking the cushion cover in detergent is insufficiently vigorous treatment for removing deeper stains, use a soft-bristled brush to remove as much of the stain as possible. A dish washing sponge might also work although it is slightly more abrasive.

Sealed Cushions With Nonremovable Covers And Fill

These cushions unfortunately are much more difficult to wash properly than their cousins with removable fill. The product owner has roughly two choices.

The first one is to scrub it down with detergent on the surface alone and then rinsing off with a nozzle and water. This entails some risk of getting water deep into the fill and causing mold to develop - which leads to odors and general health hazards. To limit risk of overapplication of detergent, put it in a spray bottle and spray generously on the surface. Use our formula of 1 tsp detergent mixed in 1 quart of water; scale up as appropriate to your needs. Finally, it's best to wait for a hot day and let it air dry for several days.

The second choice is to use a surface cleaners only, these are also known as upholstery cleaners. Some examples:

• Woolite Fabric And Upholstery Shampoo With Scrub Brush
• Bissell Oxy Deep Pod Carpet And Upholstery Cleaner
• Reckitt Benckiser Multi Fabric Cleaner
• Scotchgard Pet Care Fabric And Upholstery Cleaner

These cleaners are usually medium-sized bottles with a bristle or scrub brush at the top where the cleaning fluid opening. The scrub brush helps removes stains.

If you don't want to spend money buying expensive cleaning solutions that are good only for small surfaces, how about a bar of Fels-Naptha soap? It's a brand of bar laundry soap that's used to pre-treat stains. People use it for removing stains caused by make-up, perspiration, etc. Use it on your cushions too.

Warning: Do not soak your cushion in water because it will never dry! And within as quickly as 24 hrs mold and mildew forms in moist, warm conditions.

Getting Rid Of Odors

Odors - Pet Urine, etc

Pets and small children sometimes inadvertently leave urine stains on cushions or upholstery. The treatments described above might get the stain out in time but leave the smell as it has already penetrated into the interior fill. One option is to replace the fill and give the cover a deep cleaning. But if that isn't possible, consider a number of alternatives.

A large number of branded products exist to deal specifically with urine smells on home fabrics.

• Nature's Miracle for pet odors
• Out!
• Urine Off
• Kids & Pets

Apply these as directed in combination with cleaning techniques to remove odors.

But there are also some home remedies and solutions.

• Tea tree oil (mix 2 tsp into 2 cups; fill spray bottle); it's a germicide as well as an odor removing agent.
• Undiluted vinegar
• Borax powder (will absorb moisture from urine and remove odors if applied directly to surface)

Some people have said that combining two of the treatments is even better. Try this: use Kids & Pets or another surface cleaner to get rid of immediate stains. Add borax and let sit for more than 12 hours. Pour off borax, apply again and let sit for another day. This long-term treatment gets at tiny molecules left over in the fibers.

General Maintenance And Tips

• Cover your cushions with another material if you expect them to be exposed to spill dangers. Some people suggest denim fabric for its toughness.
• Take your upholstery to the car wash where they have a foaming carpet cleaner to thoroughly clean the surface and subsurface. This is an especially handy tip for pieces with large surface areas and non-removable covers which are unfeasible for treatment by bottled upholstery cleansers.
• If you prefer, rent out a steam cleaner from stores like Home Depot or even some supermarkets. Steam cleaners are used for carpet cleaning but also have handle nozzle attachments to work on upholstery.
• Cushions and other furniture should undergo light, weekly cleaning to forestall major cleaning problems. Brush or pat down cushions every week. Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of dust completely.
• Turn over chair pads, couch cushions etc if they are reversible to keep the fill evenly distributed under use.
• Treat stains early before they have time to get deeply into the fiber of the fabric or the fill. A quick method is to use one of the bottled upholstery cleaners with applicator tip brushes.