Machine Washable Slipcovers: A pet-lovers best friend...Especially if you need to reduce allergens in your home or office? Use machine washable slipcovers. Today you have so many choices, and they are attractive and inexpensive. Machine washable slipcovers can add beauty and a welcome change of decor to your home. Save up to 70% of Slipcovers and Futon covers Even though I generally prefer 100% cotton fabrics, for slipcovers, I use 100% polyester. Why? Because polyester is easy to clean, dries without wrinkles, and pet hair falls right off of it in the dryer. The only downside to polyester is that in the Winter, it develops excessive static electricity. Solve that problem by occasionally spraying with "Static Guard" (a spray on product available everywhere). Static Guard repels pet hairs, so it's a good thing to use, and have around the house, anyway. Today's 100% polyester slipcovers are available in microfiber, which is very popular and looks like suede. It is also soft and comfortable. Both humans and their pets like the way it feels to touch. It is soft and cozy. Comes in a number of color choices, and it is very easy to care for. Pop the cover in the washer - and a miracle happens in the dryer..the pet hairs get removed into the lint trap. Easy! One of my dogs sheds so much, I use a cover on my bed that is machine washed twice a week. (This keeps us both comfortable - but especially me. I have allergies, and like to keep dog fur to a minimum).
Washable Pet Beds with Removable Covers are an excellent idea and really help those who need to reduce allergens...My dogs seem to appreciate having clean bedding. Sounds silly? Maybe, but I notice that when I give the dogs fresh covers, they immediately want to try out their bed! Maybe if it's not the smell - it's the fluffiness. I have one sofa that is very beautiful and covered in a delicate velour - and I take the slipcover off when company-comes.The rest of the time, for everyday living, my dogs and I use the slipcovers. For me, it reduces allergies. And for my dogs, it keeps them out of trouble because I don't have to worry about them ruining my good furniture. Everything is protected! And my dogs are welcome to lounge on the furniture.That's how I live. It's me and the dogs, and we're all very happy and comfortable. A tip I'd like to share is this: I use lightweight covers. They're easier to launder, and in my bedroom, for example, on an upholstered chair, I use a lightweight Summer bedspread to cover and protect the chair. It's a breeze to clean, and it also allows me to redecorate the room anytime I want. I just change the color of my bedspread. Here's another tip: I use a waterproof mattress-pad on my bed, because I DO sleep with my dogs. But it's not the old-fashioned crinkly kind, it's an expensive one (it cost almost $100) BUT it is well-worth the investment. It is soft, and VERY comfortable. And if, God forbid, the dogs have an accident during the night, my beautiful mattress is completely protected and stays clean. BTW - the mattress pad wasn't easy to find...I bought it at a mattress store. You may be able to find it on-line, but I warn you, shop by price. If the pad is cheap, you'll be uncomfortable. So spend the few extra bucks and get a good one. That's my BEST advice... There are many styles of slip covers, and you'll have to decide what's best for you...Some slipcovers are fitted with elastic, and often these are NOT machine washable, so be careful and read the label. It MUST say "machine washable" to be truly machine washable. If the label says "dry cleaning recommended", I would advise you NOT to purchase that type.My all-time favorite, is a slip cover that is truly machine washable, because you will not only clean-up messes, you are also contributing to keeping your home cleaner and more allergy-free. Pet hair and dander irritate a lot of people's allergies. So the more frequently you launder your slipcovers, the better. Another type of slipcover is just a flat piece of fabric that drapes over your furniture. This is ideal for many situations, because it is so easy to put on and take off. Some of the fitted slipcovers I find very frustrating to put on. Maybe I'm an impatient person, but my ideal situation is to use two slipcovers. I first use a fitted one, because they are more attractive, and this stays on the sofa, almost permanently. Then, on top of that, I use the type that is a flat piece of fabric. That's the one I'm going to take off and put back on frequently, because laundering is my best way of getting rid of pet hair. (My dryer is awesome at collecting pet hair in the lint trap. I've also discovered that using a fabric softener sheet seems to help the fabric to release dog hairs)...
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