Dining chairs with cushions are considered way better than chairs without them - they’re much more comfortable. With this comfort, however, comes the chore of cleaning the cushions. This can be quite tricky, especially if your cushions aren’t machine-washable.

You shouldn’t despair, though, because these cushions can still be washed and returned to their former glory. Of course, the type of cleaning your cushions need will affect the way you wash them. Dirt and dander will have a different approach to spots and spills.

Spots and Spills

Life happens, and so do spills, which can lead to unsightly stains. If a spill happens, you should blot it immediately. This will prevent the liquid from going all the way inside. A paper towel or a gentle white cloth is ideal for this. Using something else could result in the cleaning cloth’s dye leaking into the chair cushion.

If you’ve got more solid substance spills such as spaghetti or chocolate sauce, be more careful. Use paper towels to collect the spillage and then wipe towards the middle area of the cushion. This will help prevent the spill from spreading. If you’ve got a mustard or tomato sauce spill, use a white cloth soaked in vinegar.

A benefit of vinegar helps prevent odors and stains. For other, similar spills, use a white cloth that you’ve wet with a little bit of dish soap.

Pet Dander and Dust

Cushions tend to attract debris and dust over time; it’s unavoidable. Unless you cover your cushions with plastic, which can make them uncomfortable. If you have pets in your home, the cushions will likely also trap dander. It would help if you vacuumed the cushions with an upholstery brush attachment.

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This will help loosen all the dust and debris that clings stubbornly. Then use a small brush that has no abrasive bristles (a toothbrush will work) to tackle the seam areas. You could also use rubber gloves to wipe off the pet hair if you don’t have a vacuum nearby.

Odors

You may find that your dining chair cushions are in need of a ‘freshening’. If that’s the case, sprinkle some baking soda over them. Let it lie for a bit and vacuum up the soda. Repeat this until the smell is gone and let your cushions dry outside.

You could also mix vinegar and an equal amount of water and spritz it over the cushion. Before doing this, do a test on the cushion to see if the mixture won’t discolor it.

Steam

This is a great way to clean chair cushions. The pressurized high temperature will easily loosen and dissolve grime, grease, and dirt. It also helps to kill about 99% of germs and bacteria. It is a lot easier than scrubbing away at your cushions. It comes highly recommended as a method to clean your dining room chair cushions.

There are many other ways to clean chair cushions, but these will get rid of most stains and smells with little effort. You won’t have to spend hours to get the dirt and odors out of your chair cushions.