Stretch and Cover in the Test Lab

Product: Stretch and Cover Slipcovers
Price: from $119

Rating: Recommend*

We should have retired this Ikea sofa a long time ago. But we bought it back in the day when Ikea still manufactured pretty high quality at low prices, and it has stood the test of time well. Plus, we really like it: it’s comfy, attractive, and scaled for small spaces. But as you can see, it has seen better days, and was in dire need of some cosmetic work.

In general, we're not big fans of slipcovers. They tend to look frumpy fast. It's almost as though someone comes and tugs them out of place every time you turn your head. So we called in two upholsterers to estimate the cost of recovering our sofa's worn twill fabric. Both came in at $900+, which is twice the original bargain basement price of the sofa.

We quickly revisited the idea of slip covers.

After some research we found a $119 product called Stretch and Cover, "the only ready-made that rivals custom-made." We were intrigued by the fiber content: mostly cotton with a little spandex, kind of like our yoga clothes. We dicided to forge ahead.

The verdict? Far better than hoped.

The first time we put on the cover we spent a good half hour wrestling with the excess fabric and trying to figure out how to fit it over the T-shaped seat and armrests…just-so. We finally succeeded, not even bothering with the optional foam tubes, which you can use to keep things in place extra tight. The cover didn’t seem to need them.

Then we sat down, got up, and looked at the results. It was almost as though we hadn't been there.

Stretch and Cover hugged the sofa’s original lines rather than creating its own tent-like effect. Much more flattering. And it stayed in place over time as well, even with the Child playing on it everyday. Other than an occasional re-tucking along the back cushion, the only maintenance required is a periodic throw in the washing machine…and about 10 minutes to wrestle it back on.

*Our Ratings:
Strong Recommend
Recommend
Weak Recommend
Don't Recommend

Comments (13)

Wow, for a slipcover this looks pretty darn good. I tried a slipcover about 5 years ago on an old couch and hated it - it would look great after lots of fussing with it but then after you settled in and watched a movie or something the slipcover looked like a disaster again. I like that Stretch + Cover has cushion covers available too.
Which one did you try - one of the Canvas Soft Weave fabrics?
Erin T

Here is a Ikea slipcover maker too

http://www.bemz.com/

I wish they made these for armless sectionals, as I've got a bunch of Libre stuff that need slip covers.

http://www.dwr.com/libreConfigurations.cfm

If anyone has any tips for this please let me know.

I'd be most appreciative.

I had the worst experience ever with Stretch and Cover as a company. I bought $300 worth of slipcovers from them and they didn't fit so I returned them and they will not refund me because they said they had pet hair on them and they weren't resaleable. I ended up turning them into the Better Business Bureau.

We had a horrible experience with Stretch and Cover as well. They sent us two slipcovers, both of which had seams that came apart the first time that we put them on...and yes they were the right size for our couches. Anyway, we returned them 9 weeks ago. Stretch and Cover agreed that they should have been returned, but have so far refused to refund our money. They keep saying the return is in process, but so far - nothing. What a scam.

Yet another bad experience with Stretch and Cover! I received my sofa cover and it had defect. I sent it back next day. I have emailed the company numerous times about a credit. I get the same story that it's in process. My credit card company dealing with them now. And thanks Emilie I'll also file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau

I was hoping to find something like this, this company sucks! I purchased a slipcover from them and did not like it, the color was off. I never even took it out of the package. Returned it immediately. Waited and waited for the credit. Contacted them several times and was told per return policy they have up to 8 weeks to issue credit, and that is exactly what they do. I finally got my credit on 1/8/07, they received the returned product 10/23/06. They are a horrible company as far as customer service goes. If you feel like taking a chance with them go for it, but if you want to return something be prepared.....

Just wanted to share my own bad experience with Stretch and Cover. I placed an order online, got a confirmation email, then never heard anything again. I emailed them 3 weeks later to ask about my order status. They called me the next day and told me that everything I ordered was out of stock. (Despite the fact that when I placed the order, the items were listed as being available.) They did offer me free shipping, but I checked their website and everything I was interested in was out of stock. I wonder if they would have ever contacted me had I not complained. After reading the other negative comments here (thanks everyone), I canceled my order.

I ordered slipcovers from stretchandcover.com in December 2008 and returned them right away bec the color was not what I wanted. I received a confirmation email from them mid-January that my return had been approved and I could expect a full refund. It is March and I am still waiting. I called their phone several times and only get voice mail that requests me to email instead, promising a response in 24 - 48 hours. My last email was March 1st and I'm still waiting a response. When I originally packed up my return I had planned on ordering another set in a different color once my refund came through. I would never do so now and am going to try and do a charge back with my bank.

This is in response to Donna’s comment about Stretch & Cover. As part of the team under new ownership (Stretch & Cover was very recently acquired by a new company), I want to apologize for your inconvenient experience. The refund should not have taken as long as it did. However, I have been informed that your refund was processed on April 22, and you should have received it by now.

If you or anyone else has any questions or concerns about Stretch & Cover, please contact me directly at susan at eggmarketingpr.com.

Susan Payton
Stretch & Cover

I also had the worst experience with Stretch and Cover as a company. I bought about $300 in slipcovers from them and as they didn't fit at all, returned them. They rudely emailed back refusing to issue any refund claiming the covers had pet hair on them and that they would be donated. Very rude, very shady and the covers fit terribly.

Awww, I was so hopeful! I really wanted these couch covers to rival the others that I have tried. From the comments, it sure doesn't sounds like they do :(

I am glad that i researched before purchasing. Looks like I just need to keep looking and saving up for a new couch...hmm.... my kid doesn't really NEED braces anyway...LOL Just kidding :) Braces and THEN a new couch :)

DO NOT ORDER FROM THIS COMPANY

On July 27, 2010 I ordered 13 total pieces; I was sent 4 of the wrong materials. When I called customer service, I was initially told it was my mistake, that I should have looked at the product number. It took me some time to explain that the website did not show these numbers, rather I ordered by product name. So: their website was wrong, apparently. The name on the website did not correspond to the product in the warehouse. Eventually I received a mailing slip at their expense to exchange the product for the correct material; this took until August 25. It is now almost December, and I have received no communication from Stretch and Cover unless I have initiated it. Each time I call or email, the story has changed: my order will be fixed immediately; the order will be fulfilled in 8 weeks; there is no ETA to fix my order, etc. I have now spoken with Leo Hsu who will take back my original order at MY EXPENSE with no guarantee to refund my order. He refuses to guarantee this because I have been using the slipcovers since July with the expectation that my order was to be completed “immediately.” He would not entertain the idea of an exchange. He did not seem to understand that this was poor customer service nor did he seem concerned that I would be contacting the Better Business Bureau.

What it comes down to is this: Stretch and Cover failed to fulfill my order. They have since failed to rectify their mistake. They now refuse to refund my money.