The Ultimate Guide to Caring For Cushions & Throws

Keeping our favourite cushions and throws looking fresh is imperative to maintaining their quality over time. If you're looking to keep your cushions plump for longer and your throws feeling sumptuously soft, you’ve come to the right place.

In this how-to guide, we’ll uncover everything from styling to cleaning tips to keep your soft furnishings looking fresh all year long.

How to Care For Your Cushions

Stylish, clean cushions add an extra dimension to any indoor snug spot or a cosy outdoor garden setting. You may not want to wash your cushions every week, but you can easily keep them feeling fresh and luxurious by following a few simple steps.

Plump Them Up Daily

Don’t let your cushions get flat and tired. Plump them up daily to ensure an even distribution of filling, leaving them looking as plush as when you first bought them. To do this, take the cushion by its corners and drop it onto a hard surface. Repeat this on all four sides and your cushions will puff back up in no time at all.

To keep your cushions looking their best, we always recommend that you do not thump at the cushions when plumping. This is because thumping your cushions can damage the feather or microfibre filling, which can cause your cushions to flatten.

Another top tip is to rotate or reverse your cushion so they wear evenly, which will keep them from tiring quickly. This also allows you to check for any damage and spot any stains early.

Keep Your Cushions Clean

From midnight snacking stains and hair oils and dust, over time cushions can be left looking dull and potentially stained. If you’re wondering how to clean your cushions to keep them looking as good as new, you can treat stains straight away by using a cloth to gently dab any liquid and dirt. While there are specialised cleaning agents that can be used to clean cushions, we always recommend checking the care label before applying any products.

If you are able to use a cleaning product, start by taking off the cushion cover, if possible. Then use a small amount of cleaning agent and carefully remove any stains before following the label's washing instructions.

Don’t Forget to Vacuum

It’s highly recommended that once a week you vacuum your cushions, covers and all other upholstered pieces. This will remove any dirt that has built up over time on the surface and prevent dust from entering the fabric. A buildup of dirt can break down the fibres within your cushions, but you can collect any dust or hairs using a small handheld vacuum. Vacuuming your cushions on a low suction will preserve their appearance and extend the lifespan of your statement pieces.

How To Care For Your Dining Cushions

When it comes to dining, it’s important to thoroughly wash and dry your dining furniture seat covers to prevent mildew and mould.

Start by spot-cleaning them to help remove any tough stains and spillages with a suitable cleaning solution, water and a sponge. Next, follow your product’s wash instructions to find the best way to care for your dining seat cushions. Once they have been washed, you should remove any excess water with a towel and leave them out to air dry in a preferably sunny spot.

Allowing your cushions to air dry properly will help to avoid any odours or mould developing.

Keep Your Furry Friends Off

Whether you are a dog lover or have a feline friend in your home, sometimes paw print stains and shedding hairs are a worry. You can take a classic lint roller and simply glide it over your cushions to collect any excess pet hair. You can even cover your upholstery pieces with a throw or blanket when you're snuggling up with your pets to ensure their hair stays off your cushions.

There are many tips to treat paw print stains, but sometimes these aren't your only worry. Whether your puppy loves to scratch or your cat likes to burrow their way into your cushions, it’s inevitable that wear and tear will happen. If you notice a rip, you can apply a small amount of fabric glue to certain items to prevent it from getting worse but always check the care label first. If you notice the tear getting worse, you should call a professional upholsterer.

Caring For Your Throws & Blankets

A few well-selected blankets are a great way of adding a pop of colour or texture to elevate your space. Whether it’s a sofa throw draped across your living room cushions or a blanket layered on top of your duvet covers, there are countless ways to style your throws.

If you want to ensure they stay in the best possible condition for longer, be sure to follow the below top tips.

Always Read the Label

Keep your blankets and bedspreads fresh and crisp by always reading the care label. Some throws may indicate dry clean only, whilst other times you can hand wash or pop them in the washing machine at a low temperature. If you risk it without reading the label, you may end up damaging the fibres and spoiling that luxurious finish. To avoid this, be sure to stick to the washing advice provided beforehand.

How Should I Wash & Dry My Blankets?

While it’s always good practice to check the instructions on the label, it doesn’t hurt to get clued up on how best to wash different fabrics.

DUSK top tip: some of our throws can be machine washed at a cool temperature. If your care label states that your throw can be machine washed, it’s also a good idea to wash it inside a large net laundry bag. This will prevent any stretching and protect any detailing.

Cotton

Generally, it’s best to wash cotton blankets and throws on a cool or 30 degree wash; however, we do recommend that some of our cotton designs should be hand washed. It’s also best to line dry cotton throws and blankets to keep them looking their very best.

Wool blend and acrylic

We recommended that acrylic and wool blend blankets should be hand washed only. These fibres can be more delicate, and handwashing ensures that they aren’t damaged. Similarly to cotton blankets, we suggest line-drying your wool throws for the ultimate fresh and flawless finish.

Polyester

Polyester throws and blankets can generally be machine washed on a 30 degree cycle. While we recommend that line drying would be preferable, they can usually be tumble dried at a low temperature without causing any damage to your bed layers — but always make sure you check the care label first.

Faux silk

Much like polyester blankets, faux silk throw blankets can usually be machine washed and tumble-dried. We do, however, recommend that you keep the heat setting as low as possible to prevent damage and again, always line dry if the weather permits.

Always Air Dry Your Throws

To keep your throws looking and feeling their best, be sure to air-dry only after washing. Tumble-drying can cause certain fibres to shrink when exposed to heat, which can alter the shape and size of your throw.

Instead, we recommend that you allow them to air dry either on a washing line, on a radiator or by a windowsill, to keep them in prime condition.

Keep Your Blankets Stored Away

Throws can lose their quality over time when exposed to normal everyday elements. Storing them away in a storage bench (or similar) will prevent colours from fading in sunlight over time, as well as minimise any fabric bobbling from general wear and tear.

Discover More Top Tips From Our DUSK Experts

If you’re looking for more inspiration on how to style your cushions and throws, or care advice on how to keep your bedding and soft furnishings clean, be sure to explore our DUSK guides for further tips and tricks.