How can I clean or wash polyester batting or fiberfill?
Question:I'm re-upholstering my patio chair cushions. I want to reuse the "stuffing"( fiberfill or polyester batting) but after years of use even when I discarded the original fabric cover, they are full of dirt and dust. They're too big to put in a pillow cover (aproximately 2 x 4 feet and 3 independent layers of 1" thick) The original covers were totally destroyed, so I had to dipose them. How can I clean/wash these without loosing shape. thickness and texture?
Answers:
You can spray some soapy water on them and wash them out with the hose or in you bath tub. They are outdoor cushions and made to get wet. You will need to try and prop them on the side to allow the water to drain out. On a sunny day they will dry fast. You might have to reshape a little bit when you put them in the cover but they will conform to the new cover. Just handle them carefully. Good luck
Wash them in a large, flat area. Lay the batting down in there with some water and use a mild detergent like Wool-lite because it is easy to wash out and does not require a lot of wringing remove the soap.
With the batting in the flat area, maybe the tub, run some warm water over them, add the detergent, and gently work the detergent in by pressing the batting down and turning over. Do this a couple of times to allow the dirt to make its way out. Then rinse as well as possible. Take outside and let dry.
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