You may have found yourself Googling “how to wash my throw pillow” or “how to wash my decorative cushion” only to discover that there are almost a dozen ways to do so for every type of throw pillow. Rather than sifting through countless articles, we’ve gathered all the information for you.

Here are 5 tips on how to clean your throw pillows and cushions properly, including washing instructions, maintenance, and a fabric guide.

 

1. Wash Your Throw Cushion

The first step to keeping your throw pillows clean is a proper wash. Follow these instructions closely to achieve the ideal cleanliness for your cushion.

Step 1: Take the cover off the cushion. You’ll need to wash these two items separately.

Step 2: Check the washing instructions for your specific throw pillow’s material. (Read section four for more information)

Step 3: Using a sponge and warm water, soak the soiled parts of your cushion cover with a pre-treatment solution to remove any stains.

Step 4: Machine wash your throw pillow insert (if applicable) with warm water on a delicate wash cycle. Be sure to use a mild laundry detergent to avoid any lingering odors.

Step 5: Follow the recommended drying instructions until the cushions insert and cover is completely dry. See the next section for more details.

 

2. Dry Your Cushion Thoroughly

In addition to washing your cushions properly, drying them is equally as important. It is crucial that your pillow inserts are fully dried before returning them to their decorative covers. Otherwise, you risk mildew growth and a musty smell that will leave your pillow worse than before.

The first step to drying any decorative cushion properly is to hang it until it has mostly dried. The cushion insert can be slightly damp, but should not be wet in any specific area. This process can take time, so be patient. Once the throw pillow is mostly dry, you can follow any additional drying instructions.

Most throw cushion inserts can go in the dryer, using no-heat or low-heat. Essentially, you are using this step to fluff the cushion, not dry it. Once this process is done, you can remove the cushion insert and put it back into its decorative cover.

 

 

3. Reshape Your Cushion

During the washing and drying process, you may notice that your throw pillow has lost some of its shape. Maybe it’s not as fluffy as it was before. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to solve this!

If you’ve just washed your cushion, you can add this step to the regular drying process.

Step 1: Take your cushion out of its cover and place in the dryer with either dryer balls or clean tennis balls in a pillow case.

Step 2: Set a timer for 10 minutes and start the dryer on a no-heat mode.

Step 3: Check on the cushion insert after 10 minutes and repeat the process if necessary.

This should make your throw pillow fresh and fluffy again. Here are some more pillow fluffing tips!

 

4. Throw Pillow & Cushion Fabric Guide

A simple but important step is to always check your throw pillow fabric. Much like laundering your clothing, it is vital that you know what material your cushion is made of and how to clean it. Without this step, you risk causing irreparable damage to your throw pillow.

Here is a simple fabric guide for washing cushions and cushion covers:

• Spot clean: leather
• Hand or machine wash: cotton, polyester, linen
• Dry clean: silk, velvet, wool, upholstery
• Special: suede (Use a suede brush to spot clean)

Do not wash suede, leather-trimmed, silk, or wool-covered cushion covers with water.

 

5. Maintain and Protect Your Cushion

Once your throw pillows and cushions are properly cleaned, you can work on maintaining their freshness. Here are some easy ways to keep your throw pillows looking brand new.

• Vacuum them regularly to avoid dust buildup.
• Store decorative cushions above the ground, away from children, pets, and feet.
• Use throw pillows for decoration, not everyday use.
• Spot clean your cushions when possible to avoid the wear and tear of putting them in the washing machine.
• Consider using throw pillows of similar colours and fabrics to make washing easier.

 

Decorative Cushions and Throw Pillows by Westex

At Westex, we offer a variety of decorative throw pillows and cushions that can make your house look like a show home. No matter what style you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered. If you’re interested in larger, bed pillows, see our product line, including high-quality, hypoallergenic options.