A Tennis Racket Is The Trick To Dust-Free Couch Cushions
Couch cushions are dust magnets. It's a fact. And they attract every speck that floats around in the air and provides a landing for whatever blows indoors whenever you open the front door. So you'll need to take a cue from your grandmother's tried-and-true method of maintaining dust-free rugs and beat the cushions. However, try using a tennis racket instead of a broom. For one thing, the broom already has a ton of dust, and you certainly don't need to exacerbate the problem. Secondly, with its nylon netting, the racket won't pile more dust onto the material.
Beating the cushions with a racket, as opposed to vacuuming or lint rolling, disrupts the fine dust that has settled into the upholstery (not to mention any dust mites) and loosens up pet hair. Plus, you'll be airing out this padding and fluffing it back into shape, and if necessary, you can still vacuum afterward or in monthly intervals.
Let the games begin
If the couch cushions are removable, take them outside, preferably on a breezy day, place them on a clean lawn chair or table, and start beating them with the tennis racket. Also, you can hang them on the close line, but be careful not to rip the fabric attached to the clothespin. Plus, you might not need much force to remove the dust. If the outer covers can be unfastened or unzipped, you might consider shaking and washing them separately. In the meantime, you can still beat the dust off the cushion itself.
Now you might wonder what to do with the upper part of the couch or loveseat with the padding sewn into it. In that situation, you might need to drag the entire furniture piece outside and beat that part with the racket to get the dust off. Once you bring the sofa back inside, you can vacuum the flat part and replace the cushions where they belong.
A word of caution
Depending on the weather, you might be able to beat the cushions in the garage, but you run the risk of the dust settling back on the surface and getting everywhere else in the room unless you have a window and an efficient fan. Otherwise, bundle up and take everything outside. If the flying dust sets off your allergies, try wearing a disposable mask and protective eyewear and ensure your back is to the wind. This will protect you from dust, dust mites, and whatever else has accumulated inside the material.
Before you start taking your frustrations out on your cushions, check the stitching along the sides to see how sturdy they are so as not to tear old, delicate material. One other aspect to keep in mind is that the foam inside might be falling apart from age and constant use, and what appears to be dust could be debris from worn-out foam. In that case, you can swap old forms for new ones if you can find enough foam of a similar shape and size or a good amount of stuffing.
Another alternative is to get new cushions that will fit your couch if this dust-extraction method is not an option.