No-Sew, No-Stress How to Make a DIY Bench Cushion
Revitalize Your Carpets
With the Power of Steam Cleaning
What do you do if you notice a spot on the carpet while vacuuming? If you’re like most people, you’ll spray the trouble area with a carpet cleaning solution and carry on with your day. But what if this doesn’t clear the spot? Sometimes, your carpets require a deeper cleaning. Most experts recommend that you get your carpets deep-cleaned once every 12–18 months, and one of the best ways to do this is by using a steam cleaner. You can steam clean your carpets yourself or hire a professional cleaning company. Most home improvement stores like Lowe’s offer steam cleaner rentals for a low fee that are convenient if you only need to clean one or two rooms. There are also national and local carpet cleaning chains that offer steam cleaning services. The prices vary depending on the size of each room and how many rooms you need to be cleaned, but you will love the results.
It’s inevitable when hosting a large gathering that someone ends up sitting in an unconventional spot. Thankfully, there’s a way to turn any bench-like furniture into comfortable seating without ever needing to sew. You just need a few materials and a little time! Gather your materials. Start by measuring the area you want to cover. Then, head to your local hardware store and have them cut a piece of plywood to the exact dimensions. You’ll also need a 3-inch medium-density bench foam, cut with a large serrated knife to be the same size as the plywood. Finally, gather an upholstery fabric of your choice, hi-loft batting, upholstery trim, a staple gun, a glue gun, spray adhesive, a drop cloth, and scissors. Start assembling! Putting the seat together is relatively simple, but it’s important to ensure your measurements are correct before starting! • Place your bench foam on top of the plywood, lay the batting over the foam, and trim it so the batting hangs over the foam by a few inches. • Once it’s trimmed, separate the pieces, set the plywood on the drop cloth, and cover it with spray adhesive. Press the foam onto the plywood until it dries. • Lay the batting on the foam, then lift one side of the batting and spray the foam with adhesive. Press the batting gently into the foam (you want the batting to stay in place while slightly shifting to minimize friction between the fabric and the foam). Repeat this process for the other three sides. • Trim the excess batting so that it’s flush with the plywood. Lay your upholstery fabric over the top of the cushion, trimming it with a few inches of overhang. • Gently flip the cushion over, plywood side up, so the upholstery fabric is on the bottom. • Starting on a long side, carefully pull the fabric up and around the plywood and staple 1 inch from the edge. Do this around the entire outside of the cushion, using as many staples as necessary. • For the corner, fold the fabric in two 45-degree angles before stapling. Trim any excess fabric. Your cushion should now look how you want it to look. If you want to permanently fix it to your seating area, use a glue gun to stick the cushion to the top of the seating surface.
When you use other cleaning methods, like shampooing, you have to use large amounts of water, and that doesn’t always completely dry. The leftover moisture can quickly turn to mildew and mold, which smells bad and releases spores that spread throughout the rest of the house. This isn’t an issue with steam cleaning. Steam cleaning removes the dirt, bacteria, and germs that even vacuums and shampooing can’t reach.
Not only will your carpets be cleaner, but they’ll also look
better and last
longer. Steam cleaning removes those stubborn stains that other
methods can’t erase through a nontoxic solution and steam. And you won’t have to worry about colors running or carpets fraying when using a steam cleaner. The next time you need to give your carpets a deep-clean, try getting them steam-cleaned. You’ll be surprised at how much nicer your carpets look!
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