Can I put a big cushion in the washing machine?

[TheBunyip]

I’d have to squash it in thus not leaving any space for the water as you’re meant to. But it’s a really lightweight polyester filled cushion so could compress down once wet?

worth risking it or no?

Whenever I put a polyester-filled cushion in the washing machine the filling clumps into balls and is pretty much ruined, so I wouldn't risk it for this reason.

Does it say it can go in the washing machine?

I once washed a pillow, which said not to wash in the machine, on the basis that I always washed all my pillows in the machine. It broke the drum! It compressed into a very heavy lump and I assume the drum couldn't turn because all the weight was in one place.

I still wash my other pillows but I follow the instructions to the letter. Clumping you can more or less get rid of by tumbling with some dryer/tennis balls.

Could you use one of those public washing machines you sometimes see at garages etc?

Hmm it’s the dogs cushion so clumping is less of a concern but I do worry about it turning into a heavy rock and ruining the machine

and as it’s the dogs cushion I’m loath to spend £9 on the big launderette machine

I recently threw away a pillow that nearly wrecked the machine and was rendered unusable. The machine started making odd noises, so I stopped it as quickly as possible.

Ok I’m coming around to washing it in the bath and / or chucking it out. Thanks for saving me from a big mistake