I think, but am going down today to double check, that my upholstery covers all zip off. How big a risk am I taking in popping them through a delicates wash? Does anyone have horror stories to disuade me from doing it ....?
not in the van - but we had some settee covers dry cleaned - as per instructions form Manufacturer and they shrank to an extent that they wouldn't go back on at all!!
Quote: Originally posted by jaiash on 08/6/2011
not in the van - but we had some settee covers dry cleaned - as per instructions form Manufacturer and they shrank to an extent that they wouldn't go back on at all!!
See, this is my fear that our first weekend away will be spent in a van with no covers!! Hmm, decisions ....!
What about a gentle handwash in a washing powder for wool or delicates, then when they are drying you can reshape them ( like you do a wooly sweater ) to stop them shrinking.Havnt done it myself but I think you should be safe, and don't use to hot water.
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
What are they made of ? Any idications on labels (if there are any) of the materials used ?
I've washed lots of things that weren't supposed to be washed & aprt from one or two tradgedies (mainly back in the 80s with clothes made of viscose from Wallis ) usually they come up just fine. If it's something quite new or that I like very much & am dubious about the material shrinking I tend to hand wash - then normally farther down the line machine wash on the most delicate programme.
I think a hand wash is the way to go first, and see how they go, if you let them dry slow and keep stretching and shaping I think you would be ok.
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
Ah ... you see, whilst rationally I know both of you are right with the idea of handwashing, it's one of those things (like dry cleaning) that I never seem to quite bring myself to do ... hence the reduction of a couple of my daughter's jumpers to dolls clothes in recent months
On this occasion, though, I suspect you are probably right
The benefit with viscose & 80s was that most of the clothes were so darned baggy, you could still fit into them once they'd shrunk!
I know it's the crappiest way of washing anything, Im a shove it the machine and take yer chance type girl!! But I think if it was for the van I would actually hand wash, or you might have cushion covers that would fit in my sindy caravan from my youth
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
Can you use the carpet/ upholstery shampoo. I can't remember its name but its like a foam, gently rub and then you vac off. I used it on my suite a few years ago.
If your uphostery is the same as ours it will be sprung and buttoned. No zips!
We brought the lot home, gave it a thorough going over with the Dyson (we have a hypoallergenic one as Mel has asthma) then went over the lot with car antibac. uphostery cleaning wipes. Probably a bit OTT but does look very good now and (Hopefully) only has our own bugs on!
I work in a laundry and can confirm that most shrinkage occurs at high temperature and during drying. I would suspect a low temperature machine wash would be fine but do not tumble dry and refitted the covers whilst damp to keep the tension in the fibres.
Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 08/6/2011
The car upholstery foam cleaner you can get in palces like Halfords is good. Try on inconspicuos part first! Autoglym is a good make.
I second that. Have used car upholstery cleaner on the caravan seats before & it did a really good job.
I have a dralon suite with matching arm covers. When I had the suite steam cleaned, the contractor told me it was fine to put the arm covers in the machine on a silk/wool wash. I have now done this a couple of times with no ill effects.
Quote: Originally posted by murano on 08/6/2011
Mmmm nice!!! Viscose and 80's
I think a hand wash is the way to go first, and see how they go, if you let them dry slow and keep stretching and shaping I think you would be ok.
Don't diss my viscose !
I vividly remember the horror of seeing my new black silky catsuit sort of thing with white overtunic (I know I know ) which had cost me a whole weeks wages, come out of the handbasin in dolls clothing size God it was horrible, but I loved it back then
It ironed back to normal size eventually but never did look quite the same again
Quote: Originally posted by White Rose on 08/6/2011
Ah ... you see, whilst rationally I know both of you are right with the idea of handwashing, it's one of those things (like dry cleaning) that I never seem to quite bring myself to do ... hence the reduction of a couple of my daughter's jumpers to dolls clothes in recent months
On this occasion, though, I suspect you are probably right
The benefit with viscose & 80s was that most of the clothes were so darned baggy, you could still fit into them once they'd shrunk!
I seem to permanently have a bag of stuff for handwashing at the bottom of my laundry basket too . Pales into insignificance compared to the ironing bag though Who can be bothered ?!
Yep the shrinking viscose of the 80s wasn't such a bad thing back then .... I loved Wallis clothes but at the time I think they were making them for giraffes & I was tiny - but I just hand washed them to fit ! Oh the 80s
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Topic: Upholstery washing - risky or not?
) usually they come up just fine. If it's something quite new or that I like very much & am dubious about the material shrinking I tend to hand wash - then normally farther down the line machine wash on the most delicate programme. 
) which had cost me a whole weeks wages, come out of the handbasin in dolls clothing size 
God it was horrible, but I loved it back then 
