The beauty of futon covers is that it takes an ordinary futon and turns it into a beautiful piece of furniture. This piece of cloth can be customized according to your color and design preference, which makes the futon all the more appealing.

Over time, futon covers can get quite dirty and they are the only cloth covering protecting the mattress. Most of the futon covers have a label sewn in that lists down how the cover should be washed. Stains from that dinner you enjoyed last week or a dead bug are just some of the worries. These can quickly escalate, if the dirt is left in its place for days.

For those futon covers that don’t come with any label, they can be easily washed at home. Following are 2 step by step processes on how to remove spots from the futon cover and wash it in the washing machine:

Spot Cleaning

If your futon cover cannot be dry cleaned, then a non-bleach, mild detergent will do the trick of removing the spots.

Here’s what you will need:

• Non-Bleach Detergent
• Sponge
• Water
• Large Bowl
• Clean White Cloths

Cleaning Process

• Fill a large bowl with water and add two tablespoons of detergent in it (stir the water until the detergent dissolves)
• Dip the sponge in the detergent water and squeeze out the excess water
• Rub the dirty spot on the futon cover gently (don’t saturate the entire area or the mattress will absorb the water, which will cause problems if the water doesn’t dry properly)
• Wipe off the detergent and soak up the surface water with a clean white towel
• Run the sponge under tap water and squeeze it multiple times to remove any traces of detergent water
• Remoisten the sponge with fresh water and remove any detergent residue from the futon cover (this step is very important because if any traces of the detergent is left behind, white streaks will appear on the futon cover once it dries)
• Use paper towels to soak up any excess water and position the futon near a window, under direct sunlight

Machine Wash

If the futon cover hasn’t been washed in over a year, better use a washing machine for the job.

Here’s what you will need:

• Detergent
• Washer/Dryer

Cleaning Process

• Wearing gloves, remove any food crumbs or dead bugs visible on the futon cover
• Remove the futon cover and spread it on a plain surface
• Using a stain remover and remove any oil stains that you think won’t wash away in the washing machine
• Place the futon cover in the machine and make sure it doesn’t fold over too many times
• Add detergent in the washing machine slot (make sure the detergent doesn’t contain bleach)
• Let the cover wash in cold water on two cycles
• Place the cover in the dryer and give it a good spin
• Place the cover on a table and allow it to air dry
• Your futon cover is now spotless and clean. You can place it back on the futon mattress

So, there you go… two simple and easy tricks to keep your futon cover clean and maintain the fabric’s quality.