A gentle wash at 30°C and air drying preserve the colour, the stretch and the drape of your cover. The routine comes down to four simple habits, and only one fabric in our range is an exception to the general rule — faux leather, which doesn’t go in the washing machine.
The general rule, for almost everything
- Machine wash at 30°C, delicate cycle
- No fabric conditioner: it wears out the stretch in the knit
- No bleach: it fades colour for good
- Dry in the open air, never in a tumble dryer or on a radiator
One tip when loading the machine: wash covers together, not with jeans or anything with a zip. A zip rubbing for an hour leaves marks on a fine knit.
Day to day, between washes
Vacuum or brush dry to remove dust and hair. A fresh stain can be sponged where it is, with lukewarm water, without rubbing — no need to take the cover off for a one-off spill. What to do in a hurry, stain by stain, is in our guide everyday stains.
Drying: the step everyone rushes
This is where a cover keeps or loses its shape. Hang it up without wringing it, flat or on a wide clothes airer, out of direct sunlight, which fades colours.
Then the step that makes all the difference: put the cover back on while it’s still slightly damp. It finishes drying on the sofa and tightens back up by itself as it dries. It works better than any ironing, and it avoids sharp creases.
Fabric by fabric
Stretch
The most forgiving. 30°C, delicate cycle, air dry, put back on slightly damp. If you wash it often, above all avoid fabric conditioner: that’s what wears out the stretch in the knit.
Water-repellent jacquard
Same programme. The water-repellent treatment is in the fibre, not a coating on the surface. What weakens it is high temperatures and fabric conditioner, which leaves a film on the fabric. Air drying is a must.
Velvet
30°C, delicate cycle, and above all dry it flat so the pile isn’t crushed. Once dry, run your hand along the pile to lift it and make seat marks disappear. Never iron velvet directly.
Faux leather: the exception
Never in the washing machine. A damp sponge, a little mild soap if needed, then a dry cloth. No solvents, no alcohol, no household cleaners: they attack the surface and leave a dull ring that won’t come off. A biro mark can sometimes be removed with a cloth lightly dampened with 70% isopropyl alcohol, but test on a hidden corner first.
Fleece
30°C, delicate cycle. It may shed a little fluff in the first few washes: that’s loose fibre coming away, and it settles down. Air dry, and allow longer than for a fine knit — fleece holds water.
EasyCover™: chenille, herringbone, faux fur
These fabrics are thick, and heavy when wet. Wash the pieces one or two at a time, not the full set in one go: an overloaded machine doesn’t rinse properly and the spin cycle pulls them out of shape. 30°C, dry flat, and let them dry completely before putting them back — unlike stretch covers, there’s no stretch to pull them back into shape.
The non-slip underside can be cleaned with a damp sponge if it picks up dust. Don’t brush it dry.
Throws
The woven and chenille throws wash at 30°C. So does the fleece throw, allowing for a long drying time. The faux leather throw is cleaned with a damp sponge: it doesn’t go in the washing machine.
How often to wash
Every four to six weeks suits a family living room. Without children or pets, every two months is enough. With a pet that sleeps on the sofa, allow every three weeks — and above all, treat stains the same day: that matters most, well ahead of how often you wash.
Does frequent washing damage the cover?
It’s a common worry. What wears a cover out is mainly high temperatures, a fierce spin, the tumble dryer and fabric conditioner. A 30°C wash without fabric conditioner, followed by air drying, is gentle on the knit: it’s better to wash often like this than rarely at 60°C.
Looking after your cover day to day
- Turn the seat cushions from time to time: the wear is spread more evenly
- Tuck the fabric into the gaps after every wash, as you did the first time
- A throw on the most-used corner takes the wear instead of the cover
- Keep your spare cover somewhere dry, folded without sharp creases
A second cover to swap over makes life easier: one on the sofa, the other in the wash. It’s also a way to change the look with the seasons — that’s covered in our guide how to refresh your living room without a new sofa.
After washing, putting it back on
Putting the cover back on follows exactly the same steps as the first fitting: arms first, then the back, and finally tucking the fabric into the gaps. The detailed method is in our guide how to fit your sofa cover in two minutes. And if you’re looking for a brush or another care accessory, you’ll find them in care and accessories.
