How to Care for Your Foam Cushions

There are several simple things you can do to keep your foam plush, firm and at its best. Caring for your foam helps it last longer and protects any fabrics filled with it. When ordering your cut to size foam from eFoam, we recommend the following three steps.

1. Add a polyfibre (Dacron) wrap to your foam

A polyfibre (Dacron) wrap prolongs the life of your foam, particularly when it is used to fill cushions, and makes the cushion extra plump for a luxurious, comfortable finish.

Polyfibre (Dacron) is a polyester material that eFoam can bond directly to your cut-to-size foam. This keeps fabrics from being directly exposed to the foam, reducing friction and therefore wear on both the cushion and the covers.

Foam seats and cushions without a polyfibre or Dacron wrap tend to look flat, with straight edges and corners. The wrap rounds the edges out slightly and fills the fabric covers for a more even, attractive finish, which is why it is so widely used for seat and back cushions in the furniture and upholstery industry.

2. Add a stockinette undercover

A stockinette undercover is an elasticised material that stretches over the foam cushion to help it keep its shape, while making it easier to fit the foam into your cushion covers and to remove it again.

Combined with polyfibre (Dacron), a machine-stitched stockinette undercover generates a little friction inside the cover while allowing glide on the outside. It holds your foam cushion in place, yet still lets you slide the cushion out of the fabric easily.

3. Keep foam clean and dry

Foam acts like a sponge, drawing liquids in and squeezing them out under pressure. You can protect your cushions further with a silicone spray, which makes it easier to slide covers over the foam, adds some water-resistance, and helps prevent the build-up of mould and bacteria caused by moisture.

When ordering eFoam cut-to-size foam, polyfibre (Dacron) and stockinette undercovers are available as optional extras, and can also be added as part of our cushion refilling service. We recommend both for preserving the shape and firmness of your foam, and because they make it easier to remove covers for cleaning and help prevent fabric abrasion.

If you are choosing foam for a new seat or sofa cushion, our seat foam buyer's guide covers which density and thickness to pick. For more about polyfibre (Dacron) and stockinette undercovers, talk to our foam experts on freephone 0800 043 9990 or email us.

Frequently asked questions

What is a polyfibre (Dacron) wrap?

Polyfibre, also known as Dacron, is a polyester material that eFoam can bond directly to your cut-to-size foam. It prevents fabrics from rubbing directly on the foam, reduces wear, and rounds out cushion edges for a plumper, more even finish.

What is a stockinette undercover?

A stockinette undercover is an elasticised material that stretches over the foam to help it keep its shape, and makes it much easier to slide foam into and out of your outer fabric covers.

How do I stop foam cushions going flat?

Adding a polyfibre (Dacron) wrap and a stockinette undercover helps preserve the shape and firmness of foam cushions, and makes the covers easier to remove for cleaning.

Can you make foam cushions water-resistant?

A silicone spray gives foam some water-resistant properties, helps prevent the build-up of mould and bacteria from moisture, and makes it easier to slide covers over the foam.