subject: Choosing And Maintaining Your New Furniture Slipcovers [print this page] .
If you have children or pets you are going to be especially concerned with the materials. You will want a durable fabric that is easy to clean and doesn't absorb stains quickly. You want some material that has color steadfastness and something that won't shrink from multiple washings. Some good materials are denim, twill, or cotton. They're not only durable; they're very easy to manage. You can find them with zipper or elastic fittings so they're easy to remove and clean. Some slipcovers will just fit right over the furniture--like those made for wing chairs. You can tighten them. These, too, are very easy to care for, but they may require a bit more work readjusting if you have children or animals tugging at them.
Patterns are great because they not only match the dcor, they also add a spark of interest to the room. They also hide stains very well until you have a chance to clean them off simply because you're very busy. Just be careful not to use too strong a bleach or bleach pen on them because you risk ruining the design. Always check the detergent to ensure its color strengthening or pick a more subdued pattern.
Some slipcovers can be put in a tumble dry to remove wrinkles. This is a great feature when you have guests coming and you really need to have your furniture look spic and span. Always check the care instructions for your slipcovers before you toss them into the washer or dryer--some may require softer cycles than others. For those that are wrinkled but cannot be tumble dried--spray a warm mist of water over them and gently flatten them. Let it sit pressed under a weight. They should straighten in the process.
If you can, always try to find a close fitting slipcover for your furniture. The more custom they are made the better they will look. If there are creases or bunchy spots, you can tuck them in using your hand or a wooden spoon. If they fit a little loosely you can add padding to the cushion; nobody will notice since it's all covered anyway.
These are a few ways to choose and maintain the slipcovers that do not require very much work on your part. If you keep it simple, you keep it easy to control.
