Thanks, Fori! Was leaning towards machine washable, too. Though the Sunbrella/Crypton would be a no brainer for something upholstered.

Was thinking about something along these lines, I guess that is two pieces to put on and off:

http://www.ballarddesigns.com/rebecca-chair-slipcover-and-frame/furniture/living-room/chairs/279525

I like that--nice and tailored and...would you have to iron it? What if it shrinks? I wonder how much you can learn about the fabric from a little swatch. Do they have something small like a pillow in the fabric that you can test with?

Looking at it, I'm wondering if having a separate cushion cover makes it easier to change. Less tucking. Of course my slipcovers are not made especially for my chairs so I am not one to answer.

I wonder if at least part of the reason they say spot clean is because they anticipate the fabric being used as upholstery. You can get certain Sunbrella and Crypton fabrics at Jo-Ann or through other sources. If you can find a Sunbrella in stock, it might be worth buying a half a yard or a yard - maybe a color you would use as a pillow, and throwing it in the washing machine.

At the store where I bought my outdoor furniture they had swatches of sunbrella fabric in a jar with bleach...it was colorfast. So I imagine a slipcover could be washed. I would contact the manufacturer to find out. We hose down and wash with Oxyclean the porch furniture with no problems.

Sounding good. Glad you asked. My booys are grown, but I have two dogs who require any large upholstery pieces to be slipcovered, very cleanable or leather and wipe off easy.

We've got a sectional slip covered in white twill at our beach house. The seat and back cushion covers are separate and easy to pop off and throw in the wash. The slip for the body is a HUGE pita. It's difficult to get off, and back on. It's too big to fit well in my washer, so I wind up taking it to a place with commercial size machines. So it doesn't get done nearly as often as it needs to, and looks dingy and generally irritates me.

I would really think that a slipcover in Sunbrella fabrics would be washable. I might call Sunbrella to double check.

Sunbrella is washable. Go to their website sunbrella.com. All instructions are there.

Huh! Even on joann fabrics website they are listed as spot clean only:

http://www.joann.com/outdoor-fabric-sunbrella-furn-solid-canvas-natural/12204236.html#prefn1=prod_type&prefn2=refinementColor&q=subrella&prefv2=Whites&prefv1=Product&start=1

But you're right, babbs50, that the sunbrella site totally says they are machine washable in cold. With bleach!

I have Sunbrella patio cushions. I've hosed them off outside, then scrubbed them with Oxyclean. I had other slipcover chairs, threw them in the washer, then in the dryer for a short time, before they were dry I took them out and put them back on my chairs.

If you could have Sunbrella/Crypton AND machine washable, that would be perfect. My entire home should be that.

I would avoid any fabrics that are stain resistant or water resistant, due to the danger from PFAS toxins.

IN general, it is the same family of toxins people worry about in teflon.

Fabric coated w PFAS chemicals shown to cause cancer

That's a nice looking chair. I have 2 custom white linen slipcovered dining chairs and find they get dirty easily and it's very difficult to remove stains. So far I've had them professionally dry cleaned and laundered but haven't tried to wash them myself.

I don't have experience with Sunbrella fabric but just ordered an RH sectional sofa for my eat in kitchen and decided to try the Perennials textured linen fabric in Sand, hoping to avoid the stains and general dinginess I've experienced with my white linen. Supposedly it wipes clean with a damp rag but I haven't received it yet to test it.

There are so many lines of outdoor fabrics now, not just Sunbrella. All of the major fabric lines (Kravet, Schumacher, Robert Allen, Duralee, Stark, etc.) also now offer a selection of outdoor fabrics. Some are really soft and look/feel just like chenille. Lots of patterns and color choices.

I have 3 sets of Ballard covers. 2 twill and one a ticking fabric. All are great construction and fabric. Have been washing them for 6 years without any issue. Some spot cleaning prior to washing. The pillow covers won't need ironing, they fit tight. Full cover may need a quick iron, but if you put them on slightly damp it is easier and then stretch out. Also recently bought a steam machine for clothing. Not the type for carpets and upholstered furniture. Just point it at the fabric and it steam irons. Use it on my bedding also, takes wrinkles away quickly.
I love tailored covers and change with the season. My covers were bought using the dimensions of Ballad furniture, the furniture I have is not Ballard. Yet, they fit as wanted.

Just a note about the current chair in picks. Have one and the only issue is where people tend to set their elbows. Mine has sunk down in this area. May have to cut in and add some bulk.