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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have only just realised the sofa has removable covers?

26 replies

FannyPriceless · 29/04/2012 13:34

That's right, after four years of painstakinly vacuuming the sofa, sponging off yoghurty hand marks, etc, I now realise that the entire cover, not just the cushions, is removable and washable! Has just gone through the washing machine and now looks brand new!!Grin

How thick am I? Confused

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 29/04/2012 13:36

Have you actually got the covers back on now though? That is usually the problem as they tend to shrink quite a lot when washed.

PurpleRomanesco · 29/04/2012 13:36

:o! How did you discover this?

Original poster
FannyPriceless · 29/04/2012 14:26

Squeaky - yes, that thought just crossed my mind when I was hanging them up to dry. Don't frighten me! I guess we'll find out in about 48 hours.

Purple - I just started lifting up the covers to see how I could clean it, then I started pulling and realised it was only attached to the sofa bed part with velcro, then found a zip around the back corner... and the penny dropped.

Don't tell anyone in Good Housekeeping about this. They would all fall about laughing, and then call me a slattern while hoisting their super-clean judgeypants.

OP posts:
savoycabbage · 29/04/2012 14:31

It's a good idea to put them back on wet in case they shrink. Then you can put the cushions outside in the sun and shove the sofa in front of the window to dry.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 29/04/2012 14:52

sun??? Grin its still droughting it down here and blowing a hooli!

CreamolaFoamless · 29/04/2012 15:02

dont remove them......they shrink on removal

channels the spirits FanyPriceless will be buyig a new sofa in May

PurpleRomanesco · 29/04/2012 15:05

Shhh! Don't scud her sofa!

Original poster
FannyPriceless · 29/04/2012 15:09

Thanks everyone.HmmAngry I am now shitting myself that I have ruined the sofa.

I am contemplating putting the cover back on right now while still wet. Votes for / against?

Yes, that's right. Mumsnet, you hold the future of my sofa in your hands. Vote wisely, my little elves.

OP posts:
JamieOliveOil · 29/04/2012 15:34

I washed my my sofa covers a couple of weeks ago and it hasn't come that clean - its kind of cleaned in lines where it was scrunched in the machine If you see what I mean. Also, it is unbelievably creased. I keep meaning to iron the skirt of the sofa now it's back on as it looks awful. Finally, it did seem to shrink but that was probably my faut for drying it in the tumble drier. Good luck!

FrancesHouseman · 29/04/2012 15:36

What a bunch of bastards! Well done for discovering the washability of the covers - I sometimes do mine too (and have never put the covers back on wet or had a shrinkage issue.)

Rock on!

wonkylegs · 29/04/2012 15:41

If you get lines from being scrunched up in the machine it may just need another wash through (ours did) I was worried I was going to be left with a cream/ grey striped sofa forever but one more run through and it was pristine cream again.
You shouldn't get too much shrinkage as long as it's a pretty cool wash and you hand to dry. Ours comes with a tool to stretch it back on again... Like a shoehorn for sofas.

Original poster
FannyPriceless · 29/04/2012 15:45

Yes, definitely avoiding the tumble drier. I am taking my chances with leaving to to dry. Maybe will attempt to re-fit when it is half dry.

OP posts:
MousyMouse · 29/04/2012 15:47

fanny if you put the on again if still slightly damp you can pull the fabric in place easier. also if the coveres have a webbed pattern if you the iron inside out they come up really nicely.

bishboschone · 29/04/2012 15:47

Don't put it on too wet because the wet will get in the cushions and it will smell damp forever . Put it on tacky damp and wack the heating on .. It will need to be ironed , they do crease horribly but you. An take it off to tomorrow and do that when it's dry .

bishboschone · 29/04/2012 15:48

Ideally these covers need to be washed in an industrial size washing machine to avoid massive creasing and not washing very well and being dried on the line in a dry ish very windy day ( no help now but just saying)

CreamolaFoamless · 29/04/2012 16:05

Oh My God ......do Not tumble dry them .......

your sofa's goosed to be honest

Original poster
FannyPriceless · 29/04/2012 20:26

Creamola, you are the prophetess of doom!Wink

I am putting my fingers in my ears and shouting La la la! So there.

OP posts:
RubyGates · 29/04/2012 20:57

Can you order new covers? Or get Plumbs to make you some

PatronSaintOfDucks · 29/04/2012 21:02

I've got a giant sofa with washable fabric covers. I put them once through the washing machine on cold cycle. Then dried them outside in the sun (there was sun in those days). The instructions said to put them back onto the sofa while still damp, but I left them for too long and they were totally dessicated. However - THEY WERE FINE! Stuffing the cushions into them was a bit tough, but it looked great. No problems at all. FannyPriceless, I would put yours on while still slightly damp, just to be on the safe side.

Original poster
FannyPriceless · 30/04/2012 14:29

I checked the website. It's a Sofa Workshop one. It has no specific instructions, but a very prominent washable symbol. I'll have a go at putting them back on tonight. It will be FINE!

OP posts:
boschy · 30/04/2012 15:05

it will be FINE!
(fwiw, and not knowing about stuff you have - we've had our car since 2003. In March 2012 I mentioned to DH how annoying it is that the intermittent windscreeny wipey thing is always either too fast or too slow. apparently there is a little slidey button on top which changes the speed?!!!)

Original poster
FannyPriceless · 30/04/2012 15:21

boschy - that's much worse! Grin

OP posts:
boschy · 30/04/2012 15:31

I know - and it gives him and the DDs so much ammo against me!!

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 30/04/2012 15:37

It will be fine - stop listening to cream, she's just in a grumpy mood after seeing Fern on the tele Grin

Leave them to dry and put them on then. IF you have any problem you can either spray them damp or put them through a rinse cycle, but give them a go 'dry' first. They can be really tight when you first put them back on, but they 'ease' after a few days of being sat on :)

MrsPlugThePlumber · 30/04/2012 15:40

Good grief, I wash ours all the time... not because we're super-clean (in fact, the total opposite...)

I like the fact they are a bit tight to put on, because when they do go on, they look really smart and not slouchy!

I dry totally before putting them on, fwiw. Not saying you should, but surely otherwise your sofa would get (and smell) damp all-over?