Guide · 6 min read

How to Get Odor Out of a Wheelchair Cushion

A cushion that smells is usually telling you where the problem is. Sometimes it's only the cover, which is the easy fix. When it's the insert, the right method depends on whether it's foam, gel or air, and the wrong one can ruin a cushion that cost a lot of money.

Updated October 21, 2026

The short version

  • Take the cover off and deal with it separately. Most covers can be machine washed, but check the tag first.
  • Foam, gel and air inserts each have their own rules. Your cushion's manual has the final word.
  • Disinfectants don't work well on porous foam, so foam that urine has soaked into may need replacing.
  • Let everything dry completely before it goes back on the chair. A damp cushion starts to smell again quickly.

Why cushions hold odor

A cushion takes more contact than any other part of the chair. Sweat, body oils, spills and incontinence all end up in the cover first, and anything that gets through the cover ends up in the insert underneath.

Wiping the outside doesn't reach any of that. To get rid of the smell, you have to clean the part that holds it, and that means taking the cushion apart.

Check the label first

Most wheelchair cushions are two parts: a removable cover and an insert. The insert is usually foam, a gel or fluid pad on a foam base, or air cells. Look for a tag on the cover and the model name on the insert, and find the manual (most makers post them online).

Makers give different instructions, even for the same type of cushion. JAY says not to use bleach on its J2 cover. Permobil gives a bleach method for its ROHO covers. If anything below conflicts with your manual, go with the manual.

Washing the cover

  1. Take the cover off the insert

    Unzip it and lift the insert out carefully. If there's a gel or fluid pad attached inside, take it out too.

  2. Turn it inside out and zip it closed

    This protects the zipper and the outer fabric in the wash.

  3. Wash it the way the tag says

    Most covers can go in the machine on a gentle cycle with mild detergent. For odor, use the warmest water the tag allows. Don't use bleach unless the tag or manual says you can.

  4. Dry it completely

    Tumble dry on low or no heat, or hang it to air dry. Makers warn against high heat.

Cleaning the insert

This is where cushion types differ most. Here's what the makers say for each.

  • Foam: Permobil says to wipe foam with a damp cloth and let it air dry, and notes that soap usually isn't recommended on foam. JAY's manuals say the same and add that the foam should never be soaked.
  • Gel or fluid pads: JAY's manuals say to wipe the pad with warm water and a little soap, rinse it with a damp cloth, dry it, and never put it under water.
  • Air cushions (ROHO style): Permobil says to close the valve and make sure it stays closed, then hand wash the cushion in a sink or tub with mild dish soap or laundry detergent and a soft brush. Keep water from getting inside. Rinse and hang it to air dry. Don't put it in a washer or dryer.
If dried residue has stuck the cells of an air cushion together, don't pull them apart while they're dry. Permobil warns this can damage the cushion. Wet them first and rinse the residue out.

Disinfecting after an accident

Clean first, then disinfect, the same as anywhere else on the chair. Permobil's method for ROHO air cushions is a solution of 9 parts warm water to 1 part household bleach, kept wet on the cushion for 10 minutes, then rinsed well with fresh water. That method is for ROHO cushions. Other makers say no bleach, so check your own manual.

Foam is harder. Permobil notes that disinfectants aren't effective on porous materials like foam. If urine has soaked into a foam insert and the smell keeps coming back after the cover is clean, the foam is probably the source.

Drying before use

Put the cushion back only when the cover and the insert are both completely dry. A cushion that goes back on damp traps moisture against the insert, and the smell comes back.

When you reassemble it, line the insert up the way it came out. Many cushions are shaped or marked front and back, and some fluid pads attach with Velcro. A pad or insert that sits wrong can create a pressure point.

When to replace it, and when to call a pro

Replace the insert if the foam has broken down, an air cushion won't hold air, or the odor comes back right after a full clean. Cushions are often chosen for pressure care, so talk to the therapist or supplier who fit it before you buy a different one.

If the cushion is fine and it's the rest of the chair that needs attention, TLC WASH comes to your home anywhere in the Inland Empire. Every package includes a full wash, deep sanitization and a steam clean of the chair.

Frequently asked

How do I get urine smell out of a wheelchair cushion?
Take the cover off and wash it in the warmest water its tag allows, then dry it completely. Clean the insert the way its maker says: a damp wipe for foam, a wipe with warm water and a little soap for gel pads, and a hand wash with the valve closed for ROHO-style air cushions. If the smell comes back from a foam insert after all that, the urine has likely soaked into the foam and it may need replacing.
Can I put a wheelchair cushion in the washing machine?
Usually only the cover. Most covers can be machine washed on a gentle cycle, but check the tag. Foam, gel and air inserts should not go in a washer or dryer.
How often should I wash the cushion cover?
Wash it as often as the tag allows if it smells or gets soiled. For most people that's every week or two, and always after an accident.
Can I use bleach on a wheelchair cushion?
Only if your cushion's maker says so. Permobil gives a bleach method for ROHO cushions and covers. JAY says not to use bleach on its J2 cover. Your manual is the deciding word.

Sources

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