Keeping your couch clean is very important. It will improve the longevity of the furniture while also making sure that your living room smells fresh.
When cleaning your couch, one of the most thorough ways to freshen it up is to take off your couch cushion covers. You can throw them into the washing machine to really make sure that all of the dirt and grime is eliminated.
Drying the cushion covers is the next step and you need to make sure that this is done properly. If you put them back on the couch right away, this can lead to mold and a mildew stench.
In this article, you will learn all of the different ways to properly dry your couch cushion covers. This will help you create a cleaning routine to keep all of your furniture in great condition.
Drying Methods
There are several ways you can dry your couch cushions once you have cleaned them. This does depend on the material they are made of and if you are drying the cushions after spot treatment or the cushion covers after a wash.
The following are some of the best drying methods to use if you want to make sure the cushions are fully dry before you put them back on your couch.
- Dryer: If the material will not shrink, you should be able to put the cushion covers in the dryer on a low heat setting. This is going to be the fastest way to get them dry and back onto your couch.
- Air Dry: You have the option of air-drying your cushion covers. Just hang them up in your laundry room, and they should be dry within a few hours.
This option is great if you cannot throw them in the dryer because of shrinkage.
- Clothesline: If you live in an area that allows for a clothesline, this is a great way to get your cushion covers dry naturally. When you put them outside on a warm day, they will dry faster than they would inside.
- Fan: For even faster drying time, you can set up a portable fan in your laundry room. This is a good alternative if you cannot use a clothesline or the dryer.
Set up the fan in front of the cushion covers and rotate them every 30 minutes. This will help speed up the drying time.
- Hair Dryer: If you need the cushions to be dry quickly but want to use heat, you can opt to dry them with a hair dryer. This method does take a longer time, but it will help if you are in a rush.
Why to Keep Them Dry
If you clean your couch cushions but do not take the extra step to dry them, this can lead to lots of problems that will actually make you work even harder. You want convenience, not more work.
One reason you want to fully dry your couch cushions before you sit on them is because they will naturally get you wet. The water will absorb into the actual cushion if the cushion covers are not fully dry.
This might give you the illusion that they are dry to the touch, but when you put weight on them by sitting down, you will find that your pants get wet too. This is annoying because you will need to remove the cushion covers again and change your clothes.
The reason why you washed your couch cushions in the first place is to freshen them up and eliminate any lingering odors. If you put wet cushions on your couch, even if they are just slightly damp, this can lead to an unpleasant mildew smell.
It is musty and long-lasting. You will end up having to re-wash everything and properly dry them again.
Mold is another concern that you need to worry about when you are dealing with moisture. Food is not the only thing that can grow mold.
Fabrics are also at risk if they are left wet or damp and are exposed to certain levels of humidity. That moisture gets trapped inside and turns into mold.
While mold might not smell as bad as mildew, it is very damaging to your lungs and impacts your ability to breathe. Skipping the simple step of making sure that your cushions are dry can actually lead to even bigger problems.
A final reason why you should always dry your couch cushions after cleaning them is to preserve the longevity of your couch. When you make sure that you are cleaning everything properly, your couch is going to seem newer for longer.
Once everything is fully dry, you can use Febreeze or another similar fabric refresher spray to create a lasting scent. This is a nice final touch to your couch cleaning routine.
They make a wide variety of scents, and there are also fabric refresher sprays designed for those who have pets. You will be able to find one that you like without any problems.
Fastest Drying Materials
It is important to understand a bit more about the material of your couch because certain materials dry more quickly than others. This has to do with texture and thread count.
If your couch is newer, there is a chance that the material is designed to be quick-drying. This type of material is usually made up of a blend of fabrics and is often moisture-resistant.
This is great for cleaning up spills or simple spot cleaning that you might need to do. It also makes the drying process faster when you need to wash the cushions.
Another great thing about these couches is that they are usually more stain-resistant. If you have children or pets, this is important because messes are inevitable.
Understandably, your couch might not be the newest and you might not be able to go out and get new furniture. In this case, figuring out the type of material you have is going to be helpful.
Many couches are made of cotton fabric. These are relatively easy to dry, but it depends on how thick the material is.
Linen is another common couch fabric. This one might take longer to dry because it tends to be thicker and less breathable than cotton.
Couches made with polyester are great options because they dry fairly quickly and tend to be more resistant to stains. Polyester is comfortable and less likely to rip if you are accommodating the entire family and pets.
Microfiber tends to be a blend that includes polyester and some additional fibers for added softness. It is durable, comfortable, and relatively easy to clean.
If you have the option to get a new couch or are buying one for the first time, microfiber could be a great middle ground. You get a lot of benefits at a lower price point.
Final Thoughts
You have now learned a lot more about your couch cushions than you ever thought you would. Knowing how to properly dry them, you are going to be able to easily maintain all of your furniture.
While there are many different ways to dry your couch cushions, it is important that you allow them to dry fully. Making sure that they are clean and dry means that you are not putting them at risk of becoming smelly due to mildew or even mold.
Any additional moisture trapped inside of the fabric needs to be removed before you put the cushion covers back on. Double-check that they are truly dry all the way through because even a bit of dampness can cause problems later on.
There are differences in drying times depending on the method you choose. The fastest one is using the dryer.
This is great if your fabric will not shrink or become damaged, but it is not always going to be an option. In this case, you have the air drying and fan or hair dryer methods.
While they might not be as fast as using a conventional dryer, you will make sure that your cushion covers do not get damaged while still drying all the way through. Patience is necessary if you really want to take care of your couch.
Material matters! You need to make sure that you know what your couch is made of so you can pick the best options when it comes to drying the cushions.
Some materials are easier to dry than others, so you just need to make sure that you are aware of what you are working with. This is going to make your life easier because you will be able to further research the material on your own.
Take a look at what is specifically recommended for drying that material and if it is safe to put in the dryer. This will help take away any guesswork and unanswered questions for you.
This might not be an easy chore to tackle, but regular maintenance is going to allow you to keep your couch for a long time. Furniture can be a big investment, so it makes sense to take care of it now instead of having to repurchase it frequently.
A thorough wash and dry is going to make all the difference, and you will be glad you did it. Once you get the hang of it, this is going to become a regular part of your cleaning routine.
I have two Associate’s degrees, one in Medical Assisting and the other in Computer Technician, and I am roughly five classes from a bachelor’s degree. Though I never ended up working in the medical field, I have five and a half years of experience in IT. I recently became a stay-at-home mom to my two young boys, and I’m so excited to start this adventure with them! In my spare time, I love to bake and read pretty much anything I can get my hands on.