I realize this is an old post. But I have had a Rowe slipcovered sectional for 11 years. It is a velvet slipcover and has been washed MANY times per year. It was dry clean only. I would wash it in warm water and then dry it till it was almost dry and put them back on. No issues. Btw, I have 3 boys that are all now 15 years old now. So, they have worked this sectional over in the last 11 years. I am online right now deciding if I will be buying a sectional or a sofa/loveseat/chair in Rowe or Robin Bruce because I have loved mine so much!

LOL! Yes, I now have had the slipcovers for 3.5 years. Because they are an off white cotton and I have 2 long haired cats, I put matching pillowcases on the seats and which clean up like a charm. But I have had my cleaner launder the slipcovers. They hate to see me bring them in because the ironing part is a nightmare.

Natural fabrics such as cotton / linen may shrink if it hasn't been pre-shrunk before fabrication. I would wash in cold and air dry. You can hang them to dry and smooth over your sofa while the seams are still damp.

I had the slipcovers made by Rowe 3 years ago. I have them laundered. While they would fit in a commercial washer they would be a bear to iron. The slipcovers did not have a shrinkage problem because Rowe made them larger to allow for shrinkage.