How to Wash a Bean Bag & How to Clean a cordaroys Bean Bag Chair

Key Takeaways:

• Check the manufacturer’s care label before washing a bean bag because cleaning methods vary by cover material, construction, and filling type.

• Removable bean bag covers may be machine washable, while non-removable covers typically need careful vacuuming and spot cleaning.

• Blotting spills quickly and removing crumbs or pet hair between washes can help keep a bean bag looking clean with less frequent deep cleaning.

• Foam-filled bean bags require extra care because the foam should generally stay dry and be spot cleaned rather than placed in a washing machine.

• Waterproof protectors can help shield the inner filling from spills and pet accidents, reducing how often moisture reaches the foam.

Movie-night crumbs, muddy paws, snack spills, and everyday lounging can leave a bean bag looking a little too well-loved. Luckily, cleaning one gets much easier once you know which parts can handle water and which need to stay dry.

If you're wondering how to wash a bean bag without damaging it, start with the cover material, whether the cover is removable, and what’s inside. Always check the manufacturer’s care label before adding water or detergent or putting any part in a machine.

How to Wash a Bean Bag: Can It Go in a Washing Machine?

A bean bag can sometimes go in the washing machine, but you’ll usually wash only the removable cover, and only when the manufacturer says it’s machine washable. The outer cover, inner liner, and filling can have different care requirements, so don’t treat the whole chair as one washable piece.

The American Cleaning Institute recommends checking fabric-care instructions before choosing a wash cycle or water temperature. In other words, follow the fabric care label before washing and clean each bean bag component according to its instructions.

Before You Clean a Bean Bag, Check These 3 Things

A bean bag needs a quick care check before you start cleaning. Three details can point you toward the right method.

1. Is the cover removable? A removable cover may allow machine washing, while a fixed cover usually needs surface cleaning.

2. What material is the cover? Cotton blends, faux fur, chenille, vinyl, suede, and leather-like materials can need different care.

3. What type of filling is inside? Foam, beads, and other fillers react differently to moisture. Keep the filling dry unless the manufacturer says otherwise.

How to Clean a Bean Bag Chair

A bean bag chair is easier to clean when you remove dry debris first and handle spills quickly. Use the care label as the final word for your specific chair.

Step 1: Remove Dirt, Hair, and Crumbs

Vacuum the surface with an upholstery attachment or use a lint roller for pet hair. Check seams, zipper areas, and folds where crumbs tend to collect.

Gentle vacuuming can lift surface debris without introducing moisture, and the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute includes upholstered furniture among the textiles addressed through its conservation work. 

Step 2: Spot Clean Fresh Spills

Blot fresh spills with a clean, absorbent cloth instead of scrubbing. Choose a cleaner that suits the fabric, then test an unfamiliar product in a hidden area before treating a visible spot.

University of Georgia Extension also recommends pretesting cleaning agents in an inconspicuous area and avoiding excess moisture on upholstered fabrics. That makes a light hand especially useful when filling sits directly behind the cover.

Step 3: Wash a Removable Cover if the Care Label Allows

Remove the cover carefully and keep the insert or filling contained. Pretreat stains only with fabric-safe products, then follow the listed water temperature and wash cycle.

A removable cover isn’t automatically machine washable. Let the care label make that call.

Step 4: Clean a Non-Removable Cover Carefully

Vacuum first, then spot clean only the affected area with a fabric-appropriate method. Avoid soaking the surface or pressing moisture through the cover into the filling.

Step 5: Let Everything Dry Completely

Wait until the cover and any cleaned areas feel completely dry before reassembling the bean bag. If the care label allows machine drying, use the specified setting. Otherwise, follow its air-drying instructions.

How Cleaning Changes Based on Bean Bag Material

Bean bag material affects how much moisture, agitation, and heat a cover can tolerate. Use this table as general guidance, then check the care label.

How to Clean Your cordaroys Bean Bag

A cordaroys bean bag has a removable outer cover and an inner bed filled with shredded polyfoam, so you should clean those pieces separately. For current instructions, use the cordaroys Help Center as your care reference.

Remove the Outer Cover

Unzip the outer cover and separate it from the inner foam bed. Keep the foam contained inside its liner while you clean the cover.

Spot Treat Stains as Needed

Blot spills rather than scrubbing aggressively. cordaroys notes that its fabric textures vary in how easily they spot clean, so check the guidance for your cover.

Machine Wash the Cover

Current cordaroys instructions say to wash outer covers in cold water on a gentle or delicate cycle. Skip bleach.

Tumble Dry on Low

Tumble dry the outer cover on low heat and don’t iron it. Make sure it finishes drying before you put it back on the chair.

Clean the Inner Bed Separately

Do not put the cordaroys foam bed in the washing machine. Treat the foam portion like a mattress and spot clean only when needed.

A Waterproof Protector adds a washable barrier around the inner bed, helping keep spills away from the foam when your chair converts into a bed.

What if a Pet or Child Has an Accident on the Bean Bag?

A pet or child accident on a bean bag calls for different care depending on how far the liquid traveled. Check the cover first, then see whether moisture reached the liner or foam.

• Cover only: Remove the cover and wash it according to its care instructions. For cordaroys, use cold water on a gentle or delicate cycle.

• Inner liner: Check your model’s instructions first. Current cordaroys guidance says the inner liner can be washed in cold water but must air-dry because machine heat can damage its waterproof membrane.

• Foam: Don’t put foam in the washer or soak it to rinse it. If liquid deeply soaks the cordaroys foam, current care guidance says the foam will likely need replacing, so check the Help Center or contact customer support for the best next step.

How to Keep Your Bean Bag Cleaner Between Washes

Bean bag care doesn’t need a fixed cleaning calendar. Household use, spills, and pets will usually tell you when the chair needs attention.

• Blot spills as soon as you notice them.

• Vacuum or lint-roll crumbs and pet hair.

• Fluff the chair regularly to redistribute the filling.

• Use a washable blanket during especially messy activities.

• Protect the inner bed when you use a convertible bean bag for sleeping.

• Wash the cover when needed instead of following an arbitrary schedule.

If your chair feels flat even after fluffing, cleaning may not solve the problem. Our guide on how to refill a bean bag chair explains when fresh foam may help.

Bean Bag Cleaning FAQs

Bean bag cleaning questions usually come down to which parts can handle a machine and which parts need gentler care.

Can You Put a Bean Bag Cover in the Washing Machine?

Sometimes. Check the manufacturer’s care label because fabric and construction determine whether machine washing is appropriate. cordaroys outer covers are currently machine washable.

Can You Wash Bean Bag Foam?

Don’t put cordaroys foam in a washing machine. Keep the foam bed as dry as possible and spot clean it instead.

Can You Put a cordaroys Cover in the Dryer?

Yes. Current cordaroys care instructions say to tumble dry the outer cover on low heat and not to iron it.

How Often Should You Wash a Bean Bag Cover?

Wash a bean bag cover when spills, pet hair, visible soil, or odors make cleaning necessary. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions instead of using one universal schedule for every fabric.

Fresh Cover, Favorite Seat

Cleaning a well-loved bean bag doesn’t need to become a major home project. Once you know which part can go in the wash and which should stay dry, muddy paws and movie-night spills become much easier to handle.

For cordaroys owners, removable covers and Waterproof Protectors can make cleanup simpler while helping protect the convertible foam bed inside. If your cover has seen better days, explore replacement covers. 

When another flexible seat-and-bed setup would make life at home a little more comfortable, explore our bean bag collection and get back to relaxing.