So, you know all those pretty blogger houses with bright white slip-covered couches and chairs?
And how every.single.one of them insists the slipcovers are so easy to clean – just pop them off, throw them in the wash and all is well?
Lies.
Lies, I tell you!
Okay maybe I'm over exaggerating. Being a little dramatic.
But in the month or so that we had white slipcovers on our Ikea Ektorp sofa sectional, my experience was the complete opposite of (seemingly) everyone else on the internet.
The edges got grungy.
The dog – despite having his paws thoroughly wiped when he came inside – somehow managed to get dirty paw prints on at least three cushions.
And the dust and hairs! Ugh.
Not to mention that everyone was terrified to get the couch dirty for fear of mommy's wrath.
And then…and then…I decided to wash the slipcovers.
Oh. Em. Gee.
The Ektorp sectional is um, large. So it took three loads in the washer.
Fair enough. Our washer isn't huge.
But did you know you're not supposed to dry the slipcovers? Apparently they might shrink.
What the heck?!
I don't have the space or time to wait for the covers to drip dry!
So I put them on air dry in the dryer – no heat.
Which worked – except I'm pretty sure it took about as long as letting them drip dry would have.
Oh and did I mention that I broke the washer in this “oh so easy” process?!
Even with separating the covers into three loads, the washer just couldn't handle it.
Which meant it then decided it should seek revenge – and get lovely black grease marks on every single slip cover!
Which is exactly when I gave up on the white slipcovers and went straight to Ikea to buy dark grey ones instead.
Which everyone likes better anyway.
And if the grey slipcovers need washing, they're going to the dry cleaners.
xo,
Shannon
(P.S. I personally know several bloggers who have and truly love their white slipcovers. I bow to their cleaning awesomeness! Seriously. I have no idea how they do it.)
Living Room Source List:
- Wall Color – Sherwin Williams Analytical Grey
- Curtains – Ikea
- Flooring – Sandy Hills Hickory “Handscraped” Laminate from Lumber Liquidators
- Area Rug – Moroccan Trellis in Tan from Rugs USA
- Couch – Ektorp Sectional from Ikea
- Pillow Covers – Porter Lane Home on etsy
- Pillow Inserts – FJÄDRAR inner pillow from Ikea
- Grey Plaid Throw – similar here
- Oversized Clock – Fulton St. Wall Clock from Wayfair
- Grey Knit Poufs – Addison Pouf Ottoman in Grey from Wayfair
- Chandelier – Hampton Bay Heritage 6-Light Iron Chandelier from The Home Depot
- Large Square Coffee Table – DIY Brickmaker’s Coffee Table found here
- Large Square Tray – Homesense
- Large Vase – Walmart
- Faux Pink Stems/Flowers – Michael's
- Electric Fireplace – Canadian Tire
- Corner Floor Lamp – Logan Floor Lamp from Wayfair
- Leaning ladder – DIY Ladder Made with 2”x4”s found here
(Our source list contains affiliate links. That just means that we make a few pennies at no extra cost to you, should you purchase anything via one of the links. Thank you for helping to make this site possible! xo, Shannon)
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I am going through the exact same scenario. I bought some lovely white slip covers after reading tons of blogs and researching for months. Now 3
Months into it, I have found that my slipcovers that are supposed to be “stain resistant” and “easy to clean” are not exactly that…so I’ve been contacting the manufacture to get a replacement and I am thinking a dark gray as well 🙂
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Ugh. I hear you.
Are the gray slip covers as soft/similar feeling to the white?! I noticed the fabric is a different blend so I’m nervous about ordering it without testing it out first! Thanks 🙂
They’re not exactly the same. But the grey is comfortable. You just aren’t supposed to wash it – dry clean only. Can you pop into an Ikea to have a look at all the fabrics?
I totally agreed. I bought the white slip cover after reading all the reviews on how it is easy to clean and manage even with kids and dogs. I felt like such a failure. We even scotch guarded it like crazy and within a week I lost my mind. I’m going back for the Gray ones today. Thank you for posting this. I’m glad someone else’s family is not as perfect like mine. Here’s to making Gray the new white 😉
Ugh, right?! I know. I was so disappointed! BUT we do LOVE the grey one – I hope you do too!
Washed mine following all directions,spray and wash ,pre soak, then wash,turned yellow everywhere i pretreated ugg,now going to get gray one
Oh no! I’m so sorry! That’s terrible!
Hi. I never had white covers…. wanted to try…just never got to it… yet. However I have had same ektorp couch with grey covers for the past two years. The fabric has some polyester in it, so it feels hards and scratchy. However I have successfully washed my cover at 40C numerous times and put them on wet to stretch them and they always came put like new. So absolutely no need for dry cleaners and all the chemicals. The color is very practical , even though my five kids so eat on the couch when I don’t see them….lol. any and all stains came right off with stain remover and 30 min wash at 40C. Hope this helps. irena
This post made me laugh out loud! I”m *almost* ready to bite the bullet on 2 ektorp sofa’s so I’ve been scouring pinterest for ideas and reviews. The “Not to mention that everyone was terrified to get the couch dirty for fear of mommy’s wrath.”…my life right now! So now that you have grey covers (which is what I plan to buy), do you love it?
We love the grey slipcovers. So much better!
You wash the slipcovers on cold, you then put them on the couch damp. They are dry by morning. Voila
Cold water didn’t clean the white fabric. And for me and my family it was just way too much work and stress. I know that some people are just fine with it!