Cleaning cushion covers

[Ken Perry]

The aft cabin cushions have begun to smell "boaty" due to an overhead leak through the starboard stanchion base. The leak is fixed; now how is the best way to clean (laundry) the covers. The top is fabric and the sides and bottoms are vinyl. Catalina says not to wash or dry clean! Anybody had this problem?

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina]

Wash 'em!

Ok, so these sound like factory installed cushions & mine weren't but if polyester upholstery was used, what could washing them hurt? I think the part that gets "scary" is drying. Mine were reupholstered a few years ago, before I bought the boat, & they needed a cleaning. I schlepped those mothers home, yanked off the covers & hauled 'em down to the laundromat. BUT I didn't dry them in a dryer. I allowed them to air dry to prevent any possibility of shrinkage.My guess is that Catalina doesn't want to suggest any particular method of cleaning cuz they don't know what kind of fabric is used in any particular model. If they said dry clean only & the contractor used a wash only fabric, they'd get stuck with an upholstery bill from an owner (or two). I'd say, if it's polyester/nylon type fabric, go for it. But watch out for restuffing - that's a bear!LaDonna

 

[Craig Cody]

Fabric Deodorizers

I don't know about washing, but when I had to get a bit of musty odor and diesel smell out of my cushions, I got some Febreze. (Clorox also makes a similar product). IT WORKS!! There is a slight "perfume" smell at first, but after it is gone, they just smell nice and fresh. This stuff kills musty odors, diesel, cigar smoke, just about anything. Give it a try, spry it on, lay the cushions in the sun for a couple of hours, then vacuum them well. You will be amazed.