How To Waterproof Foam Cushions Using Sealant & Silk Film?
Going back to sleep after a long tiresome day with a warm comforter on a soft and cushiony pillow definitely feels surreal. It takes away fatigue and gives your body the time and space to relax and rejuvenate.
It’s a good idea to waterproof the cushions. Foam cushions are by far the most comfortable kind of cushions out there, aren’t they? Here, in this article, I’ll talk about different ways to waterproof foam cushions. So, read on!
What Happens When Foam Cushions Get Wet?
Foam is a very porous material and hence can absorb liquid. When water is spilled over foam cushions, it leaves marks on the foam and seeps to the bottom.
Water is definitely the lesser evil here. Other liquids which happily throw themselves over the beautiful cushions are drinks, tea, coffee and others.
You probably won’t be sleeping on visibly wet cushions; however, the moisture gets trapped within. These, when left unattended, ruin and damage the cushion’s foam.
The trapped moisture can lead to the formation of molds and mildew. These surely aren’t healthy for you or your family members. This also lessens the cushion’s life span.
Tip:
If you’ve already spilled some liquid over your foam cushion without waterproofing it, then here’s a quick hack to dry it up:
Spot dry the area quickly with another cloth. Don’t use a dryer or apply the heat of any sort. Heat would harm the foam cushions.
Then, put baking soda in that place, wait for a few minutes, and then clean it using a vacuum cleaner.
This wouldn’t, probably, reverse the entire damage but can definitely act as a remedial process in times of need.
But remember, you won’t have to go through these hassles once you waterproof it!
How To Waterproof Foam Cushions?
Foam cushions can be waterproofed using fabric seals and silk films. As I mentioned above, waterproofing your foam cushion is the best way to protect your cushion from unwanted moisture attacks. Below are the best methods to waterproof foam cushions.
- Using Sealant Spray
- Using Silk Film
Waterproofing Foam Cushion Using Sealant Spray
Sealant sprays are used widely to waterproof a number of things. You can find special sealants for most occasions including fabric sealing.
Fabric sealants, once dried, become a tough protective layer on the fabric, preventing it from color fading, stains and other water-related damages.
These sealant sprays are also capable of protecting your fabric from UV rays. Once used, you can use the remaining sealant even on carpets. Fabric sealants are a good investment indeed.
Below are the recommended fabric sealants:
You can spray the spray sealant on the foam cushion cover itself. This way you can even make an indoor cushion act like an outdoor one without worrying about finding outdoor cushions with beautiful designs.
Spraying the sealant would make your foam cushion waterproof for a year. You’d be required to seal it again in the next pouring season.
Required Material:
Procedure [Step by Step]:
1. Clean the cushion cover
It’s definitely advised to clean the cushion cover before applying the sealant. Otherwise, the sealant would trap the dirt and do more harm than good.
Just go through the care instructions for your foam cushion cover and you’ll find the correct way to clean it. So, clean the cushion cover and let it dry properly.
2. Apply the sealant
Shake the sealant spray can, place it 9-10 inches away from the cover and then apply it over the cushion cover. Move your hands from left to right, making sure, each and every corner is covered by the sealant.
3. Let it dry
Next, let the sealant dry. It would take around 24 hours to completely render its waterproofing feature. So be patient.
4. Test
How will you know that the cushion is waterproof now? Just place a few droplets of water on the cover. If a single droplet of water gets absorbed, it indicates that the process is to be repeated again. So, reapply the sealant, let it dry and test.
Precautions:
Do it in a brightly lit area to discover any uncovered areas. This would remove a lot of extra work. Also, apply the sealant in a well ventilated area to avoid odor and suffocation.
Cost:
This process just requires sealant. Also, one bottle of scotch guard sealant should do for 4 pillows. The approximate cost would fall around $20 -$30.
Time Required:
You need to clean, apply and dry the foam cushion cover. All of these would take around 2 days to finish.
Waterproofing Foam Cushion Using Silk Film
Silk films are wraps made of plastic-like material which is waterproof. These silk films, especially made for the purpose of wrapping around cushions, are mostly noiseless.
So you don’t have to worry about the scrunches while moving it or using it. They fit seamlessly and also ease the process of fitting the foam cushion back into the cover.
Unlike the sealant which was applied on the foam cushion cover; this thing will be put onto the foam. This is like a soft sheet of plastic-like material that is wrapped around the foam cushion itself.
Recommended Silk film cushion wrap:
These silk films keep moisture out of the foam and increase its life span considerably. How long exactly the silk film would last depends on the wear and tear it suffers and its individual quality.
Required Material:
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Cushion silk film
Procedure [Step by Step]
1. Wrap it
At first, take out the silk film and cut out the length which would cover the foam cushion from all the sides, also have at least 15-20 inches extra space left in the front. Then wrap it around the foam cushion.
2. Vacuum it
It’s the fun part now. Take your vacuum cleaner and put the nozzle inside the cushion from the silk film’s opening where you had left 15-20 inches extra space.
This step would take away all the air space in the cushion temporarily. So, as soon as the entire air is vacuumed by the vacuum cleaner, promptly, take the nozzle out.
3. Quickly put it back
It’s time to play the fastest finger first. Take out the vacuum nozzle and put the foam cushion back into the foam cushion cover. You’ll have enough time to place it back. The taken away air space would further ease the process of putting the foam cushion back into the cover.
Cost:
Assuming you have a vacuum already, the cost only involves the purchase of the cushion silk film which will be around: $25.
Time Required:
This process shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes per pillow. You’d probably just need 5 minutes per pillow once you get a hang of it.
Final Words:
You can also order outdoor cushions directly to have a waterproof foam cushion. However, these are generally more costly and don’t come in a variety of options.
So, just get yourself a sealant or a silk wrap and turn your beautiful indoor cushion into a resilient and tough waterproof foam cushion. Waterproofing the foam cushion would be a much-needed gift to your family and yourself. Go for it!
