Chenille sofa cushion covers: Can I just chuck them in the washing machine?

[ilovespinach]

The label says 'dry clean only' but ds2 has just had an accident all over them and they have got also got lovely snot stains all over due to the dcs both having colds this week....

So what do you think? Can I risk it? I've wiped the bottom cushions over with a damp sponge but I think this will look patchy when it dries (sofa is a golden brown colour - think labridor retriever). Why oh why didn't I buy the cotton covers???

Thanks

Hope this helps

Seems to be ok to wash as long as you don't agitate it, and the material sheds load of fibres. However if it was me, I'd either handwash it in the bath very gently without wringing it out (could totally distort the fibres)....

or....I'd take them down to the dry cleaners and get a quote for them to clean them. Shouldn't be too expensive. Plus, at least if you get the dry cleaners to do it, they will be responsible should anything go wrong.

I have a sofa with chenille covers and I have always just put them in the washing machine. The label says 'use professional cleaners'. They have been fine.

agree with pp.
I put my (non-chenille) dry-clean only sofa covers in the machine - BUT they were very old and I want new ones, so if it went wrong it wouldn't have mattered.

mmmm thanks....will wait to see how the sponging looks when they have dried....

I'd handwash them. DD has a pair of chenille trousers (nicer than they sound, I promise) and after a few washes they've gone quite stiff. I just chuck them in on the general cycle, though - life is too short to wash toddler clothes on the delicates cycle.

decided to chuck them in after all - didn't want to be sitting on snot anymore

They turned out ok - put them in at 30 on a quick easy care wash - just got to iron them tomorrow

thanks to everyone