Cleaning upholstery (Westerly Merlin)

[sgr143]

One of the long cushions in the aft cabin got a bit damp at one end (and a bit smelly), so I've brought it back home to dry out. As far as I know it's the original Westerly cushion and cover. I've unzipped the cover; it's now dry but still a bit smelly. It would be good to wash it, and I guess I might as well do the other cushion covers while I'm at it. But it is a *very* snug fit on the foam and the zip is a rather wimpy one. Any shrinkage would mean I couldn't get the covers back on at all, or without probably busting the zip.
Question - can I get away with a cold wash in a domestic washing machine, or do they have to be dry cleaned?
Ta
Steve

 

[richardbrennan]

You might try ringing "Comfort Afloat" who advertise on the WOA website and are Westerly enthusiasts. They cleaned a cover for me that had a watermark on it, and I was very please with the result. As I recall, they also removed from and fitted it back onto the foam.

 

[Rafiki]

The only one I've washed was done in a domestic washing machine. But if you use that bunk isn't it a good excuse to just get a new one made with new foam and new upholstery. You can then decide on firmness of foam and whether you want it one-piece, two piece etc. Mind you once you've done one you might well find that it makes the others loom fairly poor - after all they are 25? years old.
Another alternative is to put a "wanted" advert on the WOA website, plenty of people change theirs and throw away the old ones.

Andrew

 

[Vegable]

In the past I've taken the whole lot into the shower and hosed and soaped it down with hot water (to disolve the salt) and normal bath tablet soap. Then stood it vertically on a corner and let it drain and dry out. It took a few days. I've also seen or read somewhere that you wrap the removed and cleaned mattress with clingfilm and evacuate the air with the reverse end of a dinghy pump. The matress shrinks and the cover fits easily. I hasten to add I haven't tried this.
I've also used a VAX carpet cleaner on the whole lot too with some success. ie after about 3 years the matress(es) started to get damp again.
Mike

 

[sgr143]

Update, in case anyone is interested...
I wimped out of wet-washing the cushion, either by hand or in a machine, in case it shrank and wouldn't go back on the foam. Instead I hung the cover on the line for a day (a dry day!) to air it, then used some "Vanish" spray upholstery cleaner, following the instructions thereon (spray, allow to dry, wipe down with clean cloth, vacuum). It went back on the foam just fine, and now smells very slightly of cleaner, rather than a bit off.
I'll call that a job done.
Steve

 

[lindseymorgan]

I will have to try that solution.