On The Subject of Washing Boat Cushion Covers
Most
boat cushion covers are made of some form of plastic.
It may look like velvet, it may look like suede. It could remind you of the old plaid sofa from your childhood. It might resemble
canvas. Doesn't matter. Polyester, herculon,
acrylic, nylon; something that melts when you burn it.
But not when you wash it. In most cases synthetic fabrics are pretty much
water proof. Do one as a test, a small one. Not the V-Berth cover.
Spot the really soiled spots.
Run the load on a gentle or delicate cycle.
The warmer the
water the better the detergent activates and cleans. The cooler the water the less chance of any shrinkage. Life is all about
trade offs, isn't? I walk the fence and wash in warm, rinse in cold.
Sometimes the seams shrink a little when they get wet. Stretch them by hand when you pull them out of the wash.
Hang them to dry. Putting them back on, while the foam is slightly damp, is a good idea, there will still be a bit of give in the
fabric. Be prepared to wrestle them back into the cases.
Caveats;
1. There is no guarantee that your covers won't be the one in a million example and shrink up to the size of postage stamps with the lightest of rinses.
2. If you can not find the
fabric tag with the material list sewn to the seam of the
cushions then you can find out the old fashioned way. Burn it.
Really. Get into the inside of the cushion. Find a place where the seam allowance is wide enough to trim a snippet off with out compromising the material around the seam.
Over a flame proof container, light a match, and hold it up to the edge of the fabric. Synthetics will melt and bead up, drip even. Natural fibers will burn and leave a bit of char, or ash. If it melts you are almost guaranteed a happy out come if you wash those dirty covers.
3. For you sunbrella users;
Sunbrella: Marine interiors
4. If your fabric has a backing on it, the backing, especially if it's old, may not survive intact. If that backing cracking or peeling off bothers you, rethink your plan.
Advice on the
internet is, of course, worth what ya pay, but I did
work as a
cleaning specialist for vintage and specialty fabrics for a number of years. You would be AMAZED at how few items of
clothing actually NEED dry cleaning.