Seawater soaked foam cushions

LONG_KEELER

LONG_KEELER

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Is it a throw away and start again job ?

The covers have zips and come off ok and are salvageable .

Seems very difficult to get the foam dry again.

The worst one is about 6'x2'x6" .

Thanks in advance.
 
LONG_KEELER said:
Is it a throw away and start again job ?

The covers have zips and come off ok and are salvageable .

Seems very difficult to get the foam dry again.

The worst one is about 6'x2'x6" .

Thanks in advance.
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Salt water will never dry so soak them in the bath in fresh water.

I once washed all my foam cushions in the bath. I got the bulk of the water out by putting them between towels and walking on them. I had to keep spinning the towels dry. When I couldn't get any more out this way, I dried them against radiators (outside would be good now) but it took weeks for them to fully dry. I know it's a bit sad, but I weighed them every day and when they stopped losing weight, I knew they were dry. Even when they felt dry, they lost another half kilo before the weight levelled off.
 
Way back when after submersion in the '87 storm we needed new mattresses, admittedly this was an insurance job but with them full of mud as well as seawater I don't think they could have been retrieved, I believe they would have smelled for ever.
 
I've done it. Twice, once well, once, the first time, badly.

It CAN be done, but the work is significant, and without an ultra-dry desert climate or a lengthy time in a dehumidified room almost impossible. Soak in hot fresh water with a trace of detergent: squeeze out all water. Repeat with fresh hot water about 10 times (yes 10) at least. Dry for about a fortnight in a room with a dehumidifier running. If you don't get every trace of salt out they will always slowly return to being damp and smelly.
 
The secret as has been said is to get rid of all the salt, a kids paddling pool is ideal for this, one of the cheap PVC inflatable jobbies. Loads of rinses with much tramping and kneading. Drying is a problem but as summer draws on should become easier. Not used a dehumidifier but it should make life simpler.

Done this job twice, fore hatch left open!! It's a monster PITA.
 
I washed all my foam cushions this winter, using similar methods to others. In the bath, soaked overnight several times with warm water and detergent. Then several times in pure water. At first the water turned brown, I kept going until it remained clear.

Removing the water is the hard part. Firstly I just left the cushion wedged upright, the water slowly ran to the lowest point, then I squeezed out that part and repeated.

Then I left it in a small room with a dehumidifier and heater. The whole process to a long time. After that they were left for several months until they went back to the boat a few weeks ago. But it seems to have worked, there is no musty smell anymore.
 
As already said, you MUST wash the foam thoroughly in some way. (A pressure washer may help?). Then AT LEAST 5 good drying days perched on top of a rotary washing line; turning them frequently. (Been there, done it :( )
 
AndrewL said:
In the bath, soaked overnight several times with warm water and detergent. Then several times in pure water. At first the water turned brown, I kept going until it remained clear.

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You were lucky! ... mine turned black! Very satisfying though stamping on them.

I guess we should point out though that any fire-retardent properties that originally existed may have been diminished.
 
Many thanks to all who have responded.

Brilliant ideas and I'm sure I can now get the foam clean and dry .......... eventually .

For fun only, I rang my local foam shop and they wanted £159 for just the foam and netting measuring 6'x2'x4" .

On line I found it around £65 delivered uncut.
 
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