Zip-free cushions are more aesthetically pleasing and are very tempting to add to your couch or bed to give it that extra bit of colour or personality.
However, when you’re purchasing these cushions and picturing how amazing they’ll look in your living room, you’re probably not thinking about what you’re going to do when you drop a piece of pasta on your favourite one and realise that it’s not so simple to wash!
Luckily, cushions without zips are possible to clean. Your living room is saved!
The cleaning method will be slightly different depending on the type of material the cushion is made from, as well as its size.
Some cushions can be thrown into the washing machine, cover and all, but some will not survive a machine wash.
The first step here is to check whether your cushion came with any care labels that may give you guidelines on how to wash it.
It’s always a good idea to do a spot test on your cushion before you go ahead with your chosen cleaning method, just to be certain that it will be effective and not have any damaging reactions.
Machine-Washable Cushions
If the cushion is made of a material that is safe to get wet, you can add it to your washing machine and run it on a gentle cycle, depending on the guidelines on the label.
Don’t put anything else in the machine with your cushion and be sure not to run a hot water cycle. Also, use a gentle detergent and don’t add fabric conditioner.
If you want to be more in control of the washing process, you can try hand washing the cushion instead.
To properly hand wash your cushion, fill a bucket with warm water and add a gentle detergent to the bucket, shaking it up a little until you see bubbles.
Add your cushion to the bucket and let it soak up the water. Use a soft cloth to tackle any stains you may have been wanting to focus on.
Once the cushion has had time to soak up the soap, remove it from the bucket and rinse it properly with cold water until the water is running clear and with no signs of soap or dirt.
Dry-Clean Only Cushions
The best way to freshen up your cushion without actually washing it is to use bicarbonate of soda. Bicarbonate of soda is an outstanding deodoriser and will leave your cushion looking and feeling fresh.
This method will require a fair amount of bicarbonate of soda, as well as a vacuum cleaner.
Sprinkle a generous amount of bicarbonate of soda on one side of your cushion and allow it to sink into the material for at least half an hour before vacuuming it up.
You can even rub the powder into the material with your fingers if there are particular spots that need extra attention. Repeat the process with the other side of the cushion.
If there are only one or two areas of your cushion that need to be cleaned, you can try spot-cleaning just those areas.
It depends on the severity of the mark or stain and how fresh it is but you can gently dab the stain (provided the material is safe to get wet) with a damp cloth that has been dipped in warm water mixed with some washing up liquid.
If the material is not able to be exposed to water, try rubbing some corn flour (cornstarch) onto the mark, especially if it’s a stain caused by oil or grease. Allow it to soak into the stain overnight and then brush or vacuum it away.
How to Dry Cushions Without Zips
It is very important to make sure that the cushion dries fully and is not left at all damp inside.
Leaving it damp could cause mould to gather inside the cushion and could also bring about an unpleasant damp smell.
This will be harder if you’ve hand-washed your cushion as you will struggle to get the leftover water out of the inside. Make sure to wring it out as much as possible without causing it any damage.
If you are lucky enough to be able to wash your cushion on a sunny day, leave it out in the sun for as long as you can and turn it over often to ensure that both sides are equally exposed to the sunshine.
Don’t leave the cushion in direct sunlight if the material has the potential to fade in the sun.
If you don’t have access to the sun, try to hang the cushion carefully and check on it regularly to move it into different positions and ensure it is drying evenly.
An adventurous book lover with an animal obsession and a proclivity for travel and spontaneity. Used to passionately despise cleaning but has grown to enjoy it thanks to learning all the best tricks and shortcuts to guaranteeing a stress-free routine and a spotless home.
