Child’s Foam Couch, So you got your child those couch things? But one day it was looking gross, so you looked up washing it; got the cover off, and threw it in. However, after putting it back together, you realized there was nothing breezy about it other than tossing it in the washer.
Well, don’t worry. One of the major difficulties among parents regarding kids’ foam couches is figuring out how to put a child’s foam couch back together. See, you get the couch arm part in there just fine, but on the other side, the flat parts are not meeting, and you just can’t stand it.
How To Put A Child’s Foam Couch Back Together: Step by Step Guide
Before swearing to never ever take it apart again, below is a simple guide that might help resolve the issue and get your child’s foam couch back together.
Consider Ironing It
Foam becomes dehydrated over time. You can rehydrate the cushions by steaming the foam with a high-steam setting on a home iron. All you need to do is open up the cushion cover, get down to the raw foam and inject it with the high-pressure steam.
The heat may help other unwashed pieces move back into place. In the event that you’re afraid to peel the batting away, consider using an ironing cloth so the batting doesn’t singe onto the iron plate. You’ll be able to see the foam literally as it springs back to shape.
Try Switching the Foam Pieces
If you’re unable to get the foam back together with the right way, consider switching the foam pieces that make the flat section. Your child’s sofa cushions can get saggy or lumpy, even when the frame and the fabric are still in good shape. In that case, replacement cushions can grant the sofa new life.
You will just need to determine the size of foam you need to fill each cushion. Then purchase high-density foam purposely designed for use in such furniture cushions. If the sofa’s back cushions have zippers you can easily replace the foam in those as well.
Fix the Sagging Couch Cushions
If the problem is caused by sagging couch cushions, you can easily resolve the issue by following a few simple steps. First, reach under the bottom of the cushion where it is attached to the couch. Locate the hidden zipper, unzip it and remove the foam.
In case the foam is wrapped in batting, take off the batting and the netting as well. Then replace the foam with high-density foam. Re-wrap is necessary and reinsert the foam and bat it into the cushion. Then zip up the cushion.
The same process is applicable when you want to fix sagging couch cushions that are attached without replacing the foam. Perhaps the only difference is that after unzipping the hidden zipper of the cushion, you’ll have to remove the foam and rewrap it with polyfill.
The more polyfill you use, the sturdier the cushion will be. So keep that in mind. Reinsert the foam as well as the batting into the cushion and then zip up the cushion.
Unshrink the Foam Couch Covers
Foam couch covers that have shrunk slightly or lost their initial shape may stand a chance of being prodded back into a usable size. However, fabrics that have shrunk dramatically are not going to return to their original size.
To avoid shrinking in the first place, it’s important to follow fabric care directions. Understanding the fabric content and how fabrics should be washed can help when trying to figure out possible cleaning solutions.
Know the Fabric Content
Before jumping into the cushion cover unshrinking process, first, identify the fabric content. You might want to contact the manufacturer to know what the fabric content is if the fabric treatment label is missing.
Synthetics such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic, are developed for easy care and generally do not shrink. However, wool and cotton, unless treated, will shrink and may even continue to shrink if re-stretched.
Blends that include wool and cotton can also shrink but are typically easier to pull back into shape when placing them on the cushion. Items marked for dry cleaning often have several reasons for this label.
For instance, they may shrink if soaked in water or sustain noticeable damages after being subjected to water.
Furthermore, the dye may not be colorfast. Older fabrics, meanwhile, may have completely lost their finishes when left untreated, which could make them shrink unexpectedly.
Relaxing the Fabric
There are various ways to relax the fabric, enabling the fibers to loosen and be stretched. For example, you can use a wrinkle releaser on a damp couch to relax the fabric granting it a little more length.
While there are several of these products being sold out there, a homemade wrinkle releaser can work just fine. Put a ¼ cup of fabric softener in a spray bottle and add water until full.
Lay the cover flat and spray, tugging the edges and opposite corners simultaneously while it is damp. Alternatively, you can use one part vinegar and three parts water, and then apply the solution across the fabric and stretch.
Stretch the Fabric
You can re-stretch a shrunk wool foam couch cover when still wet. All you need to do is just soak the cushion cover in a mixture of cold water and fabric softener for several hours. Then remove and lay flat to dry.
Achieving the exact original shape may be difficult, but light hand stretching may do the trick. Gently pull the edges and opposite corners at the same time and work all the way around the entire cover. Consider doing this periodically while the cover is drying.
Be careful not to rub or agitate the wool while soaking as this can cause the shrinking effect to begin all over again. Extreme temperature changes such as putting cold-washed wool into a hot dryer can also cause wool to shrink. So do not attempt to dry with a heat source.