after reading the details on their website, I think your salesman was very mistaken, when he said you could 'drop it in the washing machine' ... knowing that carbon particles are going to either 'wash-out', or dissolve, I looked for an explanation ... the only reference, is that it may be 'gently tumbled-dry' if wet from humidity absorption ... NOT washable, in my opinion, but maybe you can e-mail the manufacturer, and ask them before ordering ... :smokin: