---
title: "Tufted Cushion Washable Cover: Why It Stays On, What Instead"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/tufted-cushion-cover-removable-washable/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Élodie Marchand, The Colorist of New Orleans"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/"
published: "2026-04-22"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "tufted cushion washable cover, can you wash a tufted cushion, tufted cushion removable cover, untufted cushion zippered cover, spot clean tufted cushion"
---

# Can I take the cover off a tufted cushion to wash it?

*Buttons give a tufted cushion its shadows and its tailoring, and they also decide how it gets cleaned. Here are the questions buyers ask, one after the other.*

Also asked as: Are these cushion covers removable and washable?; Is it possible to wash the cover?

> **The quick answer:** No, a tufted cushion's cover can't be removed or machine washed, because the buttons are stitched through the cover and the filling together; it is spot clean only. If you need a washable cover, the workshop makes the same cushion untufted, with a zippered removable cover and piping, which can go through a gentle cycle.

![Gray bouclé bench cushion with burnt orange piping on a walnut paneled storage bench under a gilt botanical print](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/gray-boucle-bench-cushion-orange-piping-walnut-paris-1600.webp "A thin line of burnt orange piping lifts the dove-gray cushion off the dark walnut and echoes the candlelight.")

## Key facts

- Tufted cushion covers are not removable.
- The buttons are stitched through the cover and the filling.
- Tufted cushions can't go in the washing machine; they are spot clean only.
- The fabric on tufted cushions is easy to spot-clean and durable.
- An untufted version with a zippered removable cover and piping is available.
- Tufted cushions can be made to custom sizes, with flat sides and piping.
- A diagonal button pattern is possible instead of straight rows.

## “Can the cover come off?”

No, and the buttons are the reason. On a button-tufted cushion each button is stitched straight through the cover and the filling, which is what gives the top its soft, shadowed dimples. Cut those stitches and the tufting is gone.

So the cover stays on for life, and the cushion never goes in the washing machine. The [tufting entry in the glossary](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#tufting) and the [tufted or plain Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-vs-plain-cushions/) show how it is built.

## “Then how do I keep it clean?”

By hand, and gently. The fabrics chosen for tufted cushions are easy to spot-clean and very durable, so a wipe of the surface handles most days. The [tufted cushion care Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-cushion-care-buttons-cleaning/) goes button by button, and [stain first aid](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-stain-removal-first-aid/) covers coffee, juice and paws.

## “What would it look like without the buttons?”

Calmer. Without tufting the top lies smooth, the light slides across it in one long sheet instead of pooling in each dimple, and the piping does all the drawing at the edge. The workshop makes the same cushion untufted, with a zippered, removable cover and piping, and that cover can be washed on a gentle cycle at 86°F (30°C).

The eye sits down first, my friends. Keep the dimples for a formal room and a careful household; choose the zipper for a dog, a toddler or a [bench cushion](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/bench-cushions/) by the back door. Which matters more in your room, the shadow of the buttons or the washing machine?

## Tufted or zippered, side by side

|   | Button-tufted | Untufted with zipper |
|---|---|---|
| Cover comes off | [no] Stitched through | [yes] Zippered |
| Machine wash | [no] Spot clean only | [yes] Gentle cycle, 86°F (30°C) |
| Custom sizes | [yes] | [yes] |
| Edges | Flat sides with piping | Piping |
| Buttons | Rows or a diagonal pattern | None |

> **Tailor's margin:** A button-tufted cushion cover can't come off for washing: the buttons are stitched through cover and filling, so spot clean it gently by hand.

> If a cushion has to go in the washing machine, order it untufted with a zippered cover and piping; button tufting keeps the cover on for good.
>
> — Élodie

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Can you make a tufted bench or daybed cushion with buttons, and can the cover still be washed?

**The workshop's answer:** The button-tufted model can be made, including custom sizes, flat sides with piping, and a diagonal button pattern instead of rows. Because the buttons are sewn through the cushion, the cover doesn't come off and can't be machine washed; it's spot clean only.

**A common question:** Can I wash the cover of a tufted floor cushion? It's for my dog's 20 x 40 in crate.

**The workshop's answer:** No. Tufted cushions are stitched through, so the cover isn't removable or machine washable. Clean it by wiping the surface.

**A common question:** Are the covers removable and washable?

**The workshop's answer:** Not on tufted cushions, because the buttons hold the cover and filling together. If you want a washable cover, the workshop makes the cushion untufted with a zippered cover and piping.

**A common question:** Are the tufted corner floor cushions washable?

**The workshop's answer:** The tufted cushions themselves can't go in the wash, but the fabric is easy to clean and very durable.

## Questions buyers ask next

### How do I wash the zippered cover on the untufted version?

Unzip the cover, turn it inside out and machine wash at 86°F (30°C) max on a gentle or delicate cycle with mild detergent and no bleach. Air dry rather than tumble dry, and iron on low if needed.

### Which fabric is kindest to spot cleaning?

Every fabric shares the same basic care, but a few weaves spot clean slightly more easily, and the durable velvet series is the most popular pick for kids' rooms. Ask the workshop which codes suit your household.

### Can I see the untufted look before choosing?

Buyers ask exactly this before ordering. The workshop can make the same size either way, so describe your room and ask how the cushion would look without buttons: smooth on top, with the piping drawing the edge.

## Related at the atelier

- [How do I clean a tufted cushion if it can't go in the washer?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/how-to-clean-tufted-cushion/): Clean a tufted cushion in place, by hand: wipe the surface gently with a damp cloth, and use a little mild soap and water for marks.
- [Can velvet cushion covers go in the washing machine?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/velvet-cushion-cover-machine-washable/): Yes: velvet cushion covers unzip with a hidden zipper and are machine washable at 86°F (30°C) maximum on a gentle cycle, the same care as every other fabric in the range.
- [Can I iron my cushion covers to get the shipping creases out?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/iron-cushion-covers-remove-shipping-creases/): Yes, you can remove creases from cushion covers with steam or an iron on a low setting, and shipping creases also fade on their own over time.
- [Striped Bench Cushion Seats and a Damask Back: How They Stay Put](https://cushionguide.com/readings/gray-striped-seats-blue-damask-backrest-oak-sofa/): Striped bench cushions on a smooth oak platform stay put best with a non-slip base, a fabric backing that covers the whole underside and will not damage wood.
- [Bench Cushion in Gray Hexagon Jacquard Under a Breakfast Bar](https://cushionguide.com/readings/gray-hexagon-cushion-oak-breakfast-bar-bench/): A small-repeat bench cushion reads as a calm solid from ten feet and as texture up close, which suits a busy kitchen.
- [Geometric Jacquard Bench Pad: Quiet Props for a Busy Weave](https://cushionguide.com/readings/geometric-jacquard-bench-pad-whitewashed-oak-window/): A patterned bench pad works when everything around it stays plain and one color from the weave repeats nearby.
- [Tufted bench cushion or plain? Buttons, looks and washability](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-vs-plain-cushions/)
- [Cushion zipper placement: back edge, underside and odd shapes](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-zipper-placement/)

*With color and care — Élodie*

---

Written by Élodie Marchand (https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/) 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/tufted-cushion-cover-removable-washable/