Cleaning cabin cushions

[dlewis812]

Previously took the cabin cushion covers and had professionally cleaned. However putting the cushions/foam back together is a bit of a chore. Suggestions to clean w/o taking off the covers? Get steam cleaner? (not so old sunbrella). Sorry for the assuming simple question

 

[Wayne Dengel]

The cushions on my 40.5 were very dirty, and smelly. I filled a pump sprayer with OxyClean and some clothing detergent. I lightly sprayed cushions with hose, then sprayed with cleaner. I scrubbed with brush, then hosed off with hose sprayer. I then used my wet-vac to suck all the water out. I layed cushions out in sun to dry, turning every few hours. (took 2 days to get good and dry).

Results: Worked GREAT!!. All the dirt came out, and they smell much better now.

Too bad we just listed her for sail. (another bad pun)

Grace/Peace,
Wayne

 

[rardiH36]

I filled a pump sprayer with OxyClean and some clothing detergent. I lightly sprayed cushions with hose, then sprayed with cleaner. I scrubbed with brush, then hosed off with hose sprayer. I then used my wet-vac to suck all the water out. I layed cushions out in sun to dry, turning every few hours. (took 2 days to get good and dry).

Results: Worked GREAT!!. All the dirt came out, and they smell much better now.

Too bad we just listed her for sail. (another bad pun)

Grace/Peace,
Wayne

I've done something similar to Wayne. Main thing that I can add is wait for a forecast of warm/hot days with low humidity. If you have closed foam cushions, maybe they won't absorb much water. But mine are normal foam just like on the living room sofa. Even with a wet-vac, normal foam cushions still retain a lot of water. Mine still had evidence of dampness after a week in the sun with days with 80+.

Also consider that dirt and mildew isn't only on the fabric. The foam is a major trap. I have a swimming pool in the back yard. What I did was make a solution of water and swimming pool chlorine in a plastic garbage can. Then dipped the foam cushions (sans the fabric covers which I washed separately -- and yes they were very difficult to get back on neatly) in the chlorine solution. This effectively killed the the mold. My boat has been free of the musty smell ever since.

 

[ebsail]

I was told that to make it easy to replace the fabric over foam for cushions, put the foam (dry) in a commercial freezer for a day or so, and it will shrink the foam and make it easy to put the foam back inside the fabric. That way you can wash the fabric seperately. I have'nt ever done this personally, so no guarntee. Ernie

 

[capejt]

I used the hand attachment from my household carpet cleaner. Worked pretty well. Not too wet, and looked and smell great.

 

[Les]

I guess I'm the lazy one in the crowd. I called a couple of the chartering companies in my port and found out where they get their cushions cleaned commercially. I called that company and they came and took ALL the cushions off, cleaned them and then put them back on the boat. The best part was that it was not expensive, just over a hundred dollars for a Hunter 380.

 

[Monty Miller]

Here is a simple trick to getting the cushions back into the covers. Put the cushion in a plastic trash bag and the cushion will slip back into the cover very easily with no friction. Then pull the trash bag out. Quick and dirty!

 

[rardiH36]

I guess I'm the lazy one in the crowd. I called a couple of the chartering companies in my port and found out where they get their cushions cleaned commercially. I called that company and they came and took ALL the cushions off, cleaned them and then put them back on the boat. The best part was that it was not expensive, just over a hundred dollars for a Hunter 380.

Les:

Never occurred to me that cushion cleaning could be done so reasonably. Even to my frugal mindset, spending approximately $100 is a no-brainer compared to the many hours and drudgery of the DIY route. Cleaning cushions/fabric by one's self definitely doesn't give the same satisfaction as (for examples) a successful DIY diagnosis and repair of a diesel engine problem or a DIY improvement to the running rigging arrangement.

I'll check around next time. Thanks for the head's up

 

[Joe Diver]

I did all my cushions myself...laundered the covers in warm with just a little bleach to kill the mildew...not as much bleach as in a white load, about half that....hang the covers to dry, DO NOT machine dry! I then ironed out all the wrinkles...and the foam slipped right back in, no issues.