Did My Cleaning Shrink Your Cushions?
One of the questions I’ve occasionally been asked over the years is:
“Did your cleaning shrink my seat cushions?”
Fortunately, after more than 55 years of cleaning fine upholstery, the answer has always been **no**.
While it’s an understandable concern, the explanation has usually been much simpler—and sometimes it even leaves everyone with a smile.
Did My Down Cushions Shrink?
Several years ago, I professionally cleaned a beautiful down-filled sofa for one of my long-time clients.
As I always do, I stood the seat cushions upright on the sofa while they dried. This allows air to circulate around them, and once they’re dry, they simply need to be placed back where they belong.
The following day, I received a phone call.
My client believed the cushions had shrunk because they no longer reached the front edge of the sofa.
I told her I’d be right over.
When I walked into the room, I immediately saw what had happened.
The cushions had been fluffed so enthusiastically that they were nearly twice their normal thickness. Instead of looking like comfortable seat cushions, they looked more like oversized round pillows sitting on the sofa.
It’s easy to see why she thought something had gone wrong.
I smiled and asked if she happened to have a tape measure so we could settle the mystery once and for all.
First, I measured the depth of the sofa platform.
Then I measured the seat cushions.
The measurements matched perfectly.
The measurements matched perfectly. Nothing had shrunk.
Once the down was gently redistributed and the cushions were shaped the way they were designed to be, they fit the sofa perfectly again.
Another Case of “Shrunken” Cushions
A different client called with what sounded like the very same problem.
This time, I had cleaned a sectional consisting of a sofa and a loveseat.
Again, I stood all of the seat cushions upright while they dried.
A short time later, I received another phone call.
Once again, I heard those familiar words:
“I think the cushions shrunk.”
When I arrived, I noticed the answer almost immediately.
The sofa had three narrower seat cushions, while the loveseat had two wider ones.
When the cushions were put back, one loveseat cushion had accidentally been placed on the sofa, and one sofa cushion had been placed on the loveseat.
As a result, the loveseat had a large gap between the cushions, while the sofa looked overcrowded.
Even better, the furniture had decorative vertical piping on the fixed back that was designed to line up perfectly with the piping on each seat cushion. Since the cushions had been switched, none of the piping lined up.
Within two minutes, I placed each cushion back where it belonged.
The piping lined up perfectly.
The gaps disappeared.
And somehow…
The cushions had “grown” back to their original size.
What These Experiences Taught Me
One of the things I enjoy most about this business is solving little mysteries.
Not every concern requires another cleaning.
Sometimes all that’s needed is a careful look at what’s really happening.
Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s easy for any of us to jump to the wrong conclusion.
I’ve certainly made mistakes during my career, and my clients have too. That’s one of the things that makes us human.
That’s simply part of life.
The important thing is to keep an open mind, figure out the real cause of the problem, and, when appropriate, enjoy a laugh together.
In both of these situations, nothing had shrunk.
In both of these situations, we shared a smile, had a good laugh, and everyone went home happy.
After all, life is too short not to laugh once in a while.
Learn More
If you’re considering having your furniture cleaned, learn more about our Professional Upholstery Cleaning Services and how we safely clean fine fabrics without causing shrinkage.
You may also enjoy reading:
- How Often Should Upholstery Be Professionally Cleaned?
- Does Professional Carpet Cleaning Wear Out Carpet? (This one isn’t about upholstery, but it answers another common misconception about professional cleaning.)
Have a Question About Your Upholstery?
If you have a question about your upholstered furniture or would like honest advice before scheduling a cleaning, I’d be happy to help.
Alec Houle
Alec’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning LLC
781-871-1415