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Old 06-10-2012, 12:34   #16
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

Some random thoughts. (1) One secret to washing and replacing covers is to fill them while they are still damp. Once they dry it's all over. (2) Be sure to re-treat with stainproofer while covers are newly clean or they'll soil faster. (3) If you must clean cushion covers without removing them, try a brush in a carpeting cleaning solution. I had a badly mildewed, untreated, cotton shade that came clean after a brushing with this solution and a little bleach.
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Old 06-10-2012, 19:33   #17
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

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.
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Old 06-10-2012, 19:52   #18
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jetexas View Post
My cushions had sat in a wet boat a long time before we bought it. The covers were a loss. The zippers had rusted shut, so I had to cut the seams to get the foam out. The foam smelled strongly of mold and had some black discoloration in areas.

Before calling it a loss and throwing it all out, I decided to see what would happen if I bathed them in a bleach solution. Miraculously, it worked although they take a very long time to dry after getting soaked in the bleachwater. It didn't completely erase the stains, but the smell is completely gone.

I'm currently making new covers from the upholstery of an old couch until we can afford to get professional covers made.

Agree on the diluted bleach solution. Our boat came from extended dis-use and neglect form south Florida. We washed all lines, foam cushions and the cushine covers for the on-deck stuff in a pretty stiff bleach solution. Used 100% straight bleach in a garden sprayer for interior surfaces of all lockers and the bilge. Even the backs of the headliners were fuzzy. Black mold in the lazerette was an inch thick. All black fuzz disappeared. We rinsed the lines in the pool. Soft upolstery fabrics will most likely need hand washing. I would start mild like Wollite or some of the others mentioned. We had some greasey stains on some of ours that required dry cleaning but it was expensive.
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Old 06-10-2012, 22:13   #19
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

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Originally Posted by speedoo View Post
Are your covers a sunbrella-like fabric or something else? And are the bottoms the same fabric, or vinyl?

One thing I'd like to do with my cushions is treat the zippers so they stay functional. Anyone have a tip on how to do that?
Use a high quality silicone spray. It doesn't dry out.

If the ziper is corroded, use an old toothbrush and vinegar to get rid of the muck. Then rub the teeth with something like lip balm. A little patience and everything will soon work again.
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Old 07-10-2012, 02:52   #20
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

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Originally Posted by sarafina View Post
[U]

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.

<snip>

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.
Great advice Sara!

Unfortunately I was the one in a million and had banana shaped salon cushions.

$350 later we had all new cushions... in Sunbrella - LOL...
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Old 07-10-2012, 10:36   #21
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Auzzee View Post
Use a high quality silicone spray. It doesn't dry out.

If the ziper is corroded, use an old toothbrush and vinegar to get rid of the muck. Then rub the teeth with something like lip balm. A little patience and everything will soon work again.
Any new cushions on our boat will have large plastic zippers. If you can't make the metal zippers work I suggest replacing with plastic.
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Old 08-10-2012, 07:35   #22
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

Do NOT machine wash sumbrella. And definetly do NOT put it in a dryer!!!!! Sumbrella will shrink in warm temperatures (and shrink a lot in hot temperatures). I still have memories of a neighbour at our marina in Canada who put all her lovely sail covers, foredeck sail bags and cockpit cushion covers in the washing machine. Everything was sunbrella and everything shrunk. She had to replace it all at quite a cost. Her husband wasn't too impressed either.

Sara's advice for interior cushions is spot on. I wash our cushions once a year. So far they've stood up to 10 years but we'll have to replace them soon. Next time I'm going to go for a sturdy, easy to wash fabric. What we have is okay but it is begining to fray at the seams.

The hardest part of washing the cushions is getting the covers back over the foam. Our little boat has 15 cushions!

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Old 08-10-2012, 09:49   #23
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

You can machine wash Sunbrella, Done it plenty of times. You can not wash it in hot water or (as your neighbour discovered the hard way) DRY it.

This is a case where putting the covers on the cushions while still damp is a good tactic.

Per the sunbrella site;

Quote:
When it’s time for a thorough cleaning, Sunbrella fabrics can be cleaned while still on a boat or, size permitting, they can be removed for cleaning in a washing machine or dockside. When cleaning Sunbrella fabrics, it is important to observe the following:
  1. Always use a mild detergent such as Woolite or Dawn dishwashing liquid.
  2. Water should be cold to lukewarm.
  3. Rinse thoroughly to remove all detergent residue.
  4. Air dry only. Never apply heat to Sunbrella fabrics.
Often it is heat that is the damaging element, not the water or the machine.
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Old 08-10-2012, 11:45   #24
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

I agree with you that its the heat that must damage sumbrella, but I for one still wouldn't machine wash it.
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Old 09-10-2012, 05:56   #25
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

I called a carpet upholstery cleaner and they cleaned and deodorized all my cushions. I was very happy with the results.
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Old 27-09-2016, 16:37   #26
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

Whenever washing any kind of cushion cover on a boat or slip cover on furniture the trick is to put the cover BACK on the foam insert/cushion when the cover is still WET. Its a little labor intensive but ensures no shrinkage and the cover will still fit.
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Old 27-09-2016, 16:52   #27
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

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Originally Posted by Spqblodgett View Post
Whenever washing any kind of cushion cover on a boat or slip cover on furniture the trick is to put the cover BACK on the foam insert/cushion when the cover is still WET. Its a little labor intensive but ensures no shrinkage and the cover will still fit.
I have not tried the wet method. I wrap the cushion in thin trash bags or old dry cleaner bags. The cushions slip on as easily as socks on feet. Slip the plastic out before zipping up. Easy peasy.
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Old 27-09-2016, 16:54   #28
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

Oh, and though the question is old, you can maintain your zippers by using silicone lubricant. Redo every year or so. Protects against rust and dirt won't adhere.
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Old 27-09-2016, 17:34   #29
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Re: How to Clean Interior Cushions

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Originally Posted by SailingChance View Post
Does anyone have a recommendation for sunbrella like covers? I'm want to just put them in a front loading washer on delicate but don't want to ruin them either.
I washed my sunbrella bimini in the washer on cold water. Then air dried. No shrinkage.
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