To ask a question (well, 2, actually) about Ikea's Ektorp sofas ...

[LakieLady]

Do the washable covers wash ok?

I had Sofa Workshop sofas that had "washable" covers, and they shrunk like mad and were never the same again.

Also, if any of you lovely people have the 2-seater one, I'd be forever in your debt if you were kind enough to measure the length of the sofa between the arms. The stupid website only gives overall dimensions, and I'm trying to work out if they're long enough to stretch out on.

The nearest Ikea is 50 miles away, and a 100-mile trip to measure a sofa seems a bit disproportionate ...

the covers shrink slightly, but ironing fresh out of washer only time I use the iron and pulling on slightly damp help.
don't wash too warm and don't use the super sonic spin cycle (instructions on the label)

Can’t answer the second question, but , honestly, yes, they’ve shrunk & never been the same again. I don’t care very much, they stretch over the frame again. Also I’m a shit laundress, so might have washed them too hot or something.
I got a second (fake) set cheaply online.

I have a 2 and 3 seater for 10 years! The space between the arms on my 2 seater is about 132cm. I've had a fair few sets of new covers, mostly from ebay. I don't think the early ones washed particularly well but the heavier weight, newer ones have been great. You need a large capacity washer. Get them out of the machine promptly so they don't crease.

Mine didn’t shrink at all, and they came out looking brand new. It was a hell of a job getting them on and off though so I wash them very very infrequently!

Wow, that was quick! Thanks ever so much.

Have some and . Cheers!

Mine haven’t shrunk and one of my sets is dry clean only and I still wash in my machine on a delicates wash. I’ve not got a tape measure to hand but my IPhone measuring tool says it’s 1m26.

Don't tumble them, and don't wash too hot, and they should be OK.

I've got two two-seaters and the covers have washed tumble dried really well over the years. Top tip, buy a second set of covers!