Washing Crib Bumper?

[essnce629]

Has anyone washed their crib bumper before? I have two blue gingham bumpers (one for my place, one for my mom's) from The Company Store that I think would fit the cribs better if they were washed and dried. They just don't seem snug enough and I really want them to lay flat against the rails. This has been driving me crazy lately. The tag says to wash them in a front loading commercial washer, but is this absolutely necessary? I really don't want to have to go to the laundry mat, but will they come out all lumpy if I just use a normal washer? Please let me know if you've ever washed yours, what type of washing machine did you use, and how did they come out. Did they shrink too?

***Latia
Edd 8/30/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel

[Momof3Labs]

I have a bumper from The Company Store, but it is a knit outer. It washes up beautifully in our washing machine, but it didn't shrink much, if at all. It is a little big for the crib, but I got it so cheap (at their outlet) that I haven't cared too much.

[August Mom]

I washed my Kidsline bumper in a regular washing machine. It came out without lumps, but it did shrink a bit. My bumper did not say to use a commercial washer FWIW.

[essnce629]

Thanks. I will try washing them today. Hopefully they will shrink.

***Latia
Edd 8/30/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel

[essnce629]

Ok, I washed and dried one bumper today. And to my surprise it washed up great AND shrunk 5 whole inches!!! I put it on the crib and it fit just perfectly-- nice and flat against the rails. So I'll be washing the second one tomorrow. I washed it in warm water on the gentle cycle and then dried it on high heat to maximize the shrinkage. Yippie, I'm so happy :).

***Latia
Edd 8/30/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel