:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-clean-slip-cover-GettyImages-533473460-b7a31fe487274b3a919dc4a74649e708.jpg)
Emily Peterson is an experienced fact-checker and editor with Bachelor's degrees in English Literature and French.
In This Article In This Article
Whether you're binge-watching your favorite show, having a snack, or enjoying a glass of wine, the average sofa gets a lot of wear and tear. Add pets or kids to the mix and it’s practically guaranteed your sofa will get dirty at some point. But having your sofa professionally cleaned can be quite costly.
One solution to this problem is choosing a sofa with a slipcover. Whether machine-washable or dry-clean-only, slip-covered sofas are far easier to maintain than standard upholstered sofas. The same goes for slip-covered dining chairs and armchairs, too.
An added bonus: any time you want to change up the look of your living room or dining room, just swap out the slipcovers instead of buying a new sofa or dining chairs. It's more economical and eco-friendly than buying new.
To keep all your covers in tip-top shape, follow these expert tips on how to clean and maintain slipcovers.
While every manufacturer will have their own suggestions, Billy Shaw, founder and CEO of 7th Avenue, a brand of modular slipcovered sofas and chairs, tells me that how often you wash your slipcovers is generally contingent upon the color. “We generally recommend customers wash their light-colored slipcovers once every three months. For dark-colored slipcovers, washing once a year is more than enough to get rid of hidden dirt in the fabrics.”
Dry-clean-only slipcovers should never be put in the washing machine. Be sure to consult the manufacturer or read the label for more specific information.
The following instructions are generally applicable to most machine-washable slipcovers.
Remove any excess dirt, lint, or crumbs from your slipcovers using a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery tool.
Place slipcovers in an empty washing machine. Load the recommended amount of gentle laundry detergent, following the washing machine manufacturer's directions.
If you have a large sofa, you may need to run multiple cycles to clean all of your slipcovers. Don't overstuff your washing machine. Alternatively, you can use an industrial-size machine at your local laundromat.
Let the slipcovers air-dry. To prevent shrinking, never put slipcovers in the dryer. Instead, lay them flat on a large table or on a drying rack. When one side dries, flip the slipcovers over to allow the other side to dry. You can also set up a fan to help speed up the drying process.
While it might be tempting to wash slipcovers frequently, most aren’t meant to be laundered regularly. They will last longer if you spot-treat stains and only put them in the washing machine or take them to the dry cleaner when absolutely necessary. Shaw tells me, “For regular dirt, spot-cleaning slipcovers with warm water and soap generally works.”
It’s also important to spot-treat stains as quickly as possible. If you take care of spills when they happen, stains will be less likely to set in.
If you have pets, Shaw suggests using a lint roller to remove excess hair. “We also generally recommend vacuuming the covers every month or so to make sure the sofa is free of dust.” Read Next: How to Clean Upholstery in 15 Minutes or Less
