How to Wash Bean Bags

Cleaning a bean-bag chair is easier than you may think, as the outer liner can be removed.

Bean bags are a popular form of seating, especially among children and teenagers. This means they quickly bear the scars of lost battles against soda spills, burger sauce and ice cream dressings, not to mention those pieces of popcorn that adhere to their surface like glue. However, restoring a bean bag to its former glory is not as difficult as it first appears because you can remove the outer cover from the sack that contains the polystyrene beans. This means the cover can be cleaned without any risk of damage to the bean bag's contents.

Things You'll Need

• Warm water
• Stain-removing spray
• Damp cloth
• Liquid soap
• Small glass
• Small scrubbing brush
• Washing machine
• Detergent
• Fabric softener

Instructions

Beginning the Cleaning Process

1. Carry the bean bag from its usual position to the laundry area of your home.

2. Unzip the outer cover and remove it from the inner sack containing the filling.

3. Fill your sink with warm water -- do not add detergent at this stage -- and submerge the bean bag cover in it.

Removing Stains from the Bean Bag Cover

1. Spray stain remover onto a damp cloth.

2. Use this cloth to dab at any stained areas on the bean bag cover.

3. Rinse the bean bag cover thorougly to remove all traces of the stain remover.

Dealing with Areas of Soiling on Your Bean Bag Cover

1. Inspect the bean bag cover for other areas of soiling.

2. Make up a cleaning solution using a glass of warm water and two drops of liquid soap.

3. Dip a brush into this solution and gently scrub the areas of soiling.

Machine-Washing Your Bean Bag Cover

1. Put the bean bag cover into your washing machine.

2. Add detergent and pour fabric softener into the fabric-softener dispenser.

3. Switch on the machine and wait for the program to finish.

4. Remove the bean bag cover and allow it to air-dry. Place the cover back on the bean bag once it is thoroughly dry and zip it into position.

Tips & Warnings

• If your bean bag has a vinyl cover, use a soft cloth and warm water to clean it. Deal with spills on vinyl covers right away.

• Do not be tempted to place the bean bag cover in a detergent solution and rub areas of staining. This could spread staining throughout the fabric. Stick to the procedure outlined in sections 1 and 2.

Resources

• Bean Bag Filler: Instructions on how to clean a bean bag chair