Why Your Futon Mattress Needs A Cover
One of the ways you can protect your futon mattress from lumping and sagging prematurely is to get a futon cover for it. There are covers specially made for futon protection which are water resistant. Futons are prone to moisture absorption and placing a cover over it will reduce the chance of it being affected adversely. The covers are easy to remove and are just as easy to wash when the time comes.
When making a purchase, the cover won’t always be included with the futon mattress sale. They are a necessary accessory, however. Regardless of the construct of your futon, water absorption can still be a problem for the cotton batting and having a cover will prolong the lifespan of your futon bedding. They are inexpensive and it’s not a bad idea to have a couple on hand so that one may be applied while the other is being cleaned.
How exactly can a futon matress cover protect my futon sofa mattress? Well for one it will block damage from spills, prevent the fabric of the mattress from getting dirty or from staining. But most importantly it will help keep your futon’s shape longer because it is water resistant. The durable canvas material fits over the mattress and is sealed securely with a zipper that wraps three quarters of the way around the mattress. This makes it easy to remove and wash as needed.
Other things futon mattress covers will protect you from is the infestation of bed bugs, pet dander, mold and mildew spores, odors and so on. Cotton futon mattress are the most susceptible to these kinds of issues so taking preventative measures from the start will help eliminate potential problems from ever occurring.
Sizing The Cover Of Your Futon Mattress
Easily the most underestimated requisite people think of when purchasing a cover, for futon mattress protection, is the size of the mattress. A standard cover will fit a mattress nine inches thick and 60″ by 80′ in dimension. That’s a full size futon mattress. However, a queen size mattress will still fit into it. They are made somewhat larger to account for today’s varying thicknesses, so you won’t need to purchase a queen futon mattress cover unless you first measure the mattress against the cover you want to purchase. All it boils down to is reading the measurements on the packaging and making the correct adjustments. Which leads us to the next concern:
Cover Care For Futon Mattresses
Size notwithstanding, you need to consider other factors when using a futon cover. Primarily, how to care for it. This may seem arbitrary and not a real issue, but for many, it is an issue of some concern and is often overlooked. Knowing how to care for your futon mattress and cover will keep both long lasting. Here are some key notes:
- Washing: you should wash your cover(s) at least once a month. It doesn’t require them going into a washing machine, but only being sponged with a mild solution. You can use ivory soap and warm water. Make sure your sponge is clean and free of dirt. Once you’ve given it a good wipe down, towel dry the cover.
- With futon mattresses, covers are pretreated and preserved during manufacturing. There is no need to use a preserving agent of any type. These agents include saddle soaps for leather futon covers, any sort of abrasive cleaner or ammonia. These products will quickly ruin your mattress cover.
- Keep it out and away from the sun. Sunlight will fade most things exposed too long to it and will destroy the brilliancy of any color.
- Store extra covers in a breathable atmosphere to avoid mildew and odors.
- For maximum wear prevention, flip and rotate your futon cover every time you flip and rotate your mattress. This will cause it to wear evenly and not develop premature holes.
Overcoming A Jammed Futon Cover Zipper
Sometimes, as with any kind of zipper, the zipper to your futon slipcover will get stuck. Either the fabric warps in a washing machine (see notes above about this) or it gets caught in the fabric while removing or replacing it on your mattress. The one thing you shouldn’t do is force it. You may damage the teeth that the zipper runs along and then you’ll have a worthless cover on your hand. Using wax or soap can sometimes help release the sticking if the fabric of the zipper is warped. If it is caught on the canvas you will need to take care to slowly pry the material from the zipper. Use tweezers or needle nose pliers to hold the zipper and carefully tug at the fabric of your futon mattress cover until it is free.
» Filed Under Futon Mattress Care
Comments
One Response to “Why Your Futon Mattress Needs A Cover”
Leave a Reply
What can I do to make the mattress stay on the futon frame?