---
title: "Removable Washable Cushion Covers: Zipper Off, 86°F Gentle Wash"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/removable-machine-washable-cushion-covers/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Margaret Holloway, The Piping Queen of Newport"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/maggie/"
published: "2026-09-08"
updated: "2026-09-08"
keywords: "removable washable cushion covers, machine washable cushion covers, zippered cushion covers, how to wash cushion covers, washable velvet cushion cover"
---

# Are the cushion covers removable and machine washable?

*Right, then. The short answer is yes. The long answer is one small table and a single exception with buttons on it.*

Also asked as: Can we remove the cover to wash it?; Is it safe for the washing machine?

> **The quick answer:** Yes, every zippered cushion cover is removable and machine washable, velvet and linen included, on full cushions and cover-only orders alike. Each one has a zipper on the underside, comes off the foam completely, and washes at 86°F (30°C) maximum on a gentle or delicate cycle. Air dry, and iron on low if needed. Button-tufted covers are the exception.

![Taupe bouclé cushion on a light oak bench in an oak-paneled alcove with graphic, abstract and rust bouclé pillows](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/taupe-boucle-reading-bench-oak-paneled-alcove-1600.webp "Taupe bouclé matched to oak paneling, with one rust pillow as the only warm accent.")

## Key facts

- Every cover has a zipper and comes off the foam completely.
- The zipper sits on the underside, so it stays hidden.
- All fabrics, velvet and linen included, are machine washable.
- Wash at 86°F (30°C) maximum on a gentle or delicate cycle.
- Air dry instead of tumble drying; iron on low if needed.
- Full cushions and cover-only orders follow the same care.
- Button-tufted covers are sewn through and don't come off.
- Creases from packing fade in about 1-2 weeks as the foam settles; ironing is optional, on low.
- Fitted mattress covers are cut about 1/2 to 3/4 in (1-2 cm) under the measured thickness, so they go back on snug.
- Back pillows, about 16 in (40 cm) tall as standard, keep their shredded-foam fill in an inner cover, so only the outer cover goes in the machine.

## Zippered cover or button-tufted: the care card

| Care point | Zippered cover, any fabric | Button-tufted cushion |
|---|---|---|
| Cover comes off | Yes, zipper hidden on the underside | No, buttons are sewn through |
| Machine wash | 86°F (30°C) max, gentle or delicate cycle | No; spot clean instead |
| Drying | Air dry; no tumble dryer | Not applicable |
| Ironing | Low heat, only if needed | Not applicable |

## Washing day, in order

1. **Unzip and slide the foam out**: The zipper runs along the underside. The cover comes off completely.
2. **Turn the cover inside out**: Use a mild detergent and no bleach.
3. **Gentle cycle, 86°F (30°C) or below**: Treat 86°F (30°C) as the ceiling, not the target. Velvet, linen and every other fabric on the charts wash the same way.
4. **Air dry, then iron low if needed**: Skip the tumble dryer. Put the cover back on the foam once it's fully dry.

## Why the gentle cycle and the clothesline

I have read a great many care labels in nearly forty years, dear, and this one is refreshingly short. A cool, gentle wash keeps the covers in shape; that is the whole reason for the 86°F (30°C) ceiling.

The dryer is where good covers go to regret things. Non-slip bases in particular don't tolerate it, so hang or lay everything flat to dry. The [cushion washing Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/how-to-wash-cushion-covers/) covers stains and odd fabrics.

The one exception is tufting. Buttons are stitched right through the foam, so a tufted cover can't come off. If washability matters most, the [tufted vs plain Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-vs-plain-cushions/) will help you choose, and every plain [cushion cover](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/cushion-covers/) closes with a [hidden zipper](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#hidden-zipper). When did you last read a care label before the wash went in?

> **Tailor's margin:** A cushion cover with a non-slip base still machine washes at 86°F (30°C), but the non-slip backing does not tolerate the tumble dryer.

> Every zippered cushion cover washes at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle, velvet and linen included. Button-tufted covers are the one exception.
>
> — Maggie

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Are the cushion covers removable, and can they go in the washing machine?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Every cover has a zipper and comes off completely, and all of the fabrics, velvet and linen included, can be machine washed at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle. Let them air dry instead of using a tumble dryer, and iron on low if you need to.

**A common question:** If I take the cover off to wash it, can it go in the dryer too?

**The workshop's answer:** No dryer. Covers are fully zippered and removable; machine wash at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle, air dry, and iron on low if needed. Non-slip pads in particular don't tolerate the dryer.

**A common question:** Where does the zipper go, and is every fabric washable?

**The workshop's answer:** Every cover has a zipper placed on the underside so it stays hidden, and every cover is machine washable at 86°F (30°C) on a delicate cycle, whichever fabric you choose.

**A common question:** Can I use bleach on the cover?

**The workshop's answer:** No bleach. The cover unzips off the foam; machine wash it at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle and let it air dry instead of tumble drying.

**A common question:** Are the fabrics stain-resistant, or can I spray them with a protector?

**The workshop's answer:** Mostly the protection is washability: covers unzip and machine wash at 86°F (30°C). The teddy fabric is water-repellent, velvet has no stain-repellent coating, and you can apply a fabric protector spray yourself once the covers arrive.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Can a tufted cushion cover go in the washing machine?

No. Tufted cushions are stitched through with buttons, so the cover doesn't come off and can't be machine washed; spot clean instead. If you want a washable cover, order the untufted version with a zippered cover and piping.

### Do cover-only orders wash the same way as full cushions?

Yes. A cover bought on its own has the same underside zipper and the same care: machine wash at 86°F (30°C) or below on a gentle or delicate cycle, air dry, and iron on low only if needed.

### What detergent should I use on cushion covers?

A mild detergent, with no bleach. Turn the cover inside out first, wash at 86°F (30°C) or below on a gentle cycle, then let it air dry rather than going in the tumble dryer.

## Related at the atelier

- [How do I wash the cushion covers, and at what temperature?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/how-to-wash-cushion-covers-30c-gentle-cycle/): Wash cushion covers at 86°F (30°C) at most, on a gentle, delicate or cold cycle, with mild detergent and no bleach.
- [How to wash removable cushion covers without shrinking them](https://cushionguide.com/guides/how-to-wash-cushion-covers/): To wash cushion covers, unzip them fully, turn them inside out and machine wash at 86°F (30°C) at most on a gentle cycle with mild detergent and no bleach.
- [Can I still machine wash a cushion cover with a non-slip base?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/machine-wash-cushion-cover-non-slip-base/): Yes, a zippered cushion cover with a non-slip base stays machine washable, velvet included.
- [Can you make slipcovers for the sofa I already own?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/slipcovers-for-existing-sofa/): No: the workshop doesn't make fitted slipcovers for a whole conventional sofa (arms, back and skirt) or for an unrelated multi-piece set, such as a five-piece sofa with a storage ottoman.
- [Cushion zipper placement: back edge, underside and odd shapes](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-zipper-placement/): The zipper goes on the back edge of the cushion, the side that faces the wall, window or chair back, or on the underside, where nobody sees it.
- [Custom Cushion Covers in Caramel Bouclé With a Side Zipper](https://cushionguide.com/readings/caramel-boucle-cushion-side-zip-front-view/): Custom cushion covers with a zipper along the side panel come off without moving the bench, which matters most when you host.
- [Ordering new cushion covers for foam you already own](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-covers-for-existing-foam/)

*Stitch straight — Maggie*

---

Written by Margaret Holloway (https://cushionguide.com/masters/maggie/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/answers/removable-machine-washable-cushion-covers/