Sofa cushions can become soaked with spills, cleaning solutions or environmental moisture that needs drying out. Properly drying cushions is important to prevent mold growth and deterioration within cushion fillings. Follow these simple methods to completely dry wet sofa cushions and keep them fresh and fluffy.

Remove Excess Liquid

Before fully drying cushions, first remove any visible pools or heavy saturation of liquid:

• Blot wet spots gently with clean, dry towels. Don’t rub or scrub vigoriously, which can spread the moisture deeper into fabrics or damage delicate coverings.
• Use a wet/dry vacuum to suction out excess moisture if cushions are very saturated. Insert the suction wand into fabric seams to draw out absorbed interior water.
• Let gravity help drain excess water from cushion fills by standing cushions on end and allowing liquid to drip out of seams onto towels below.

Allow Plenty of Air Circulation

The key to successfully drying cushions is allowing free, continuous airflow both around all outside surfaces and through interior fillings:

• Space cushions apart rather than stacking tightly. Place on their sides to allow exposure to air on all surfaces for faster drying.
• Put cushions in a warm, well-ventilated room or use fans to keep fresh air circulating around and between cushions as they dry. Open windows if weather permits for outdoor breeze.
• Turn and rotate cushions occasionally as they dry to regularly expose all sides to airflow. Gently fluff fills periodically to aid internal air circulation.
• Remove covers if very wet, but replace once surface moisture is gone to allow insides to continue effectively air drying.

Use Absorbent Materials

Placing cushions on moisture-wicking materials helps draw out and absorb embedded water:

• Clean towels below and between cushions pulls wetness from bottom surfaces. Replace towels as they become saturated.
• Layers of paper towels or newspaper underneath and between cushions draws moisture from fills while still allowing airflow.
• Sprinkle dry baking soda generously between cushions and surrounding areas to absorb residual dampness and related odors. Allow to sit for 24 hours before vacuuming up.

Accelerate Drying As Needed

In humid, cool or stagnant indoor air, additional drying aids can help get cushions completely dry faster:

• Run a dehumidifier near damp cushions to help pull moisture from the air and accelerate evaporation.
• Use a portable fan directed on cushions to speed up drying time, especially effective outside in fresh moving air.
• Apply low heat from a hair dryer on a cool setting cautiously to small damp spots, keeping the dryer moving to prevent damage.
• Sunlight naturally dries cushions quickly through heat and fresh outdoor air circulation. Rotate periodically for even exposure.

With diligence and using the right techniques, even fully saturated sofa cushions can be dried thoroughly. Prompt drying preserves cushion fills and prevents mold, mildew and deterioration over time.