Futon Heaven

A characteristic of futon furniture that makes futons a versatile interior decorating item is that the covers can be replaced or, depending on the style and fabric, can be washed.

Designed to withstand the vigor of machine washing, futon covers are available in an assortment of prints, solid colors and sizes. These covers can be mixed and matched for decorating variety but more importantly, are easy to keep clean. Unlike regular upholstery that may require professional cleaning, the occasional mess created by kids or pets is no problem with machine washable covers.

Typically, a machine washable futon cover has two large zippers. The full cover looks like a large sheet made of denim or some other material, and has a seam in the middle. To install it, spread out the cover, align the mattress against the seam, and the fold the cover over so that the entire futon mattress is covered. When folded over, there are two open corners that are closed with zippers. Zip up the cover and that is all there is to placing a cover on a futon mattress. When it is wash time, simply unzip the futon cover and pull it off the mattress.

It is no secret that zippers will jam occasionally, and this may also happen with futon covers, especially after a few rounds of washing. Trying to get the zipper to work can be frustrating.

If the zipper does not seem to be caught in anything but is simply sticky, a quick fix is to rub a candle along the teeth of the zipper. After the teeth have been coated, try zipping and unzipping the unit a few times. This will usually make the zipper work more smoothly. If a candle is not available, a bar of hand soap works, although not quite as effectively.

If the problem is not ’stickiness’ resulting from age, dirt or other factors, a string or piece of material from the futon cover might be caught in the zipper unit. Gently remove the caught fabric or string that is jamming the zipper. The inner fabric is generally what gets caught, so a pair of tweezers might come in handy in order to get hold of the cloth or thread. Gently pull the inner lining, thread or other material that is caught in the unit away from the zipper. Light tugging is acceptable as long as the zipper tab is not yanked. Forcing the zipper tab up or down will make the problem worse. Depending on how embedded the futon cloth or thread is in the zipper unit, teeth might get separated removing the fabric. Gently push the zipper teeth back into place and the zipper should work. Check the length of the zipper and push the lining away from the zipper to prevent future snags. Re-zip and the problem should be fixed.

Although they are generally inexpensive, machine washable futon covers are equipped with sturdy zippers. Nevertheless, owning a couple of extra futon covers can come in handy if the zipper breaks.

Looking for design ideas? At Futon Heaven, our gallery showcases hundreds of futon cover designs, from elegant southwest styles to simple, plain fabrics. Designed for both futon couches and chairs, many of these inexpensive futon covers come with complimentary pillow sets. Check out the gallery at http://www.futonheaven.com/futon_store/

- Urbain Beck