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Care and Maintenance of Sunbrella Fabric

Comfort, Strength & Style for the places you live & play.

  • Wash the furniture with a solution of mild detergent and water.  Make sure do not apply detergent directly to the furniture (some detergent are so strong which could left stain on the furniture surface).  Scrub it using soft-bristle plastic brush with water, rinse with clear water and dry it.  

  • For best result, perform this maintenance 2 or 3 times per year.  

  • Our Anderson Teak furniture products are made of durable materials which can be safely cleaned as often as preferred.

 

Care and Maintenance of Sunbrella Fabric

Sunbrella® is 100% solution-dyed acrylic fabric. The name Sunbrella is synonymous with the finest outdoor fabric in the world. Sunbrella withstands sun, wind and rain while remaining beautiful for years. The secret to our long lasting color is found in the solution-dying process which locks colors into the acrylic fibers, so they can’t wash out or fade. Fact is, Sunbrella is so durable, we back it with an incredible 5-year limited warranty. So don’t accept an imitation outdoor fabric. For the Sunbrella dealer nearest you, look in the Yellow Pages under “Awnings & Canopies,” “Boat Tops & Covers” or “Patio & Deck Furniture.”

 

Care of Sunbrella® Fabric

We only use Sunbrella® fabrics to make our cushions and parasols. Sunbrella® fabrics are widely recognized as the best for use outdoors and are used extensively for awnings, boat coverings, convertible car roofs, outdoor furniture cushions, etc. It has a Teflon® coating to help repel stains. 

Color fast Sunbrella® fabric is made from 100% solution dyed acrylic fiber. The solution dying process adds color to the acrylic fibers while they are in a liquid state during manufacture, which locks in the color and prevents it fading out due to repeated washing or exposure to strong sunlight. This is the secret to Sunbrella’s easy cleaning & long life.

 

Warranty

The Sunbrella® fabrics used in our cushions and parasols carry a 3 year warranty from the manufacturer. This warranty covers the fabric against becoming unserviceable due to loss of color or strength from normal exposure conditions, including sunlight, mildew, rot and atmospheric chemicals. With proper care & cleaning you can expect excellent service from the fabric far beyond the warranty period.

 

Cleaning

One of the best ways to keep your cushion or parasol fabrics looking good and to delay the need for vigorous cleaning is to hose them off on a monthly basis during the summer season with clean water. This practice will help prevent dirt from becoming deeply imbedded in the fabric and eliminate the need for more vigorous cleaning at a later date. In most environments thorough cleaning will be needed every year prior to the summer season.

 

Cleaning a Parasol Canopy on the frame

Parasol canopies should be cleaned on the frame and not be washed in a machine, as the leather pockets will spoil.

  • Brush off loose dirt
  • Hose down with clean cold water
  • Prepare a cleaning solution of a mild, natural soap (not a detergent) in water
  • Apply the cleaning solution using a soft bristle brush
  • Allow the soap to soak in
  • Rinse thoroughly with clean cold water
  • Air dry only and never apply heat to the fabric

 

Cleaning Cushion Covers

We recommend leaving cushion covers on the cushions for cleaning rather than removing and putting them in a washing machine.

  • Wash using natural soap (not a detergent) and rinse using cold water
  • Air dry only and never apply heat to the fabric
  • Never put Sunbrella fabrics in a tumble dryer

 

Dry Cleaning

We do not recommend dry cleaning Sunbrella fabric. The chemicals used in the dry cleaning process will not harm the fabric but due to the high temperatures used during the drying process the heat may cause shrinkage.

 

Mildew & Stubborn Stains

Sunbrella® fabrics will not support the growth of mildew, but dirt on the fabric can lead to mildew growth, this makes regular cleaning important. There is no set frequency for the cleaning of Sunbrella fabric, which is largely determined by the local environment and the frequency and care with which it is used. Cleaning is required less frequently in a dry environment than in a humid one around heavy foliage. If stubborn stains persist you can use a diluted chlorine bleach/soap mixture for spot cleaning of mildew and other similar stains. Prepare a special cleaning mixture and proceed as follows:

  • 114 grams / 4oz of chlorine bleach
  • 56 grams / 2oz of natural soap
  • 4.54 liters / 1 gallon of water
  • Clean with a soft bristle brush
  • Allow the mixture to soak in for up to 20 minutes
  • Rinse thoroughly with clean cold water
  • Air dry and repeat the process, if necessary

 

Is Sunbrella® waterproof?

Sunbrella® is not waterproof but it is water repellant. This means that during the manufacturing process a water repellant finish is applied to the fabric. The wear resulting from normal usage and cleaning will slowly reduce the effectiveness of this finish. If your fabric remains constantly exposed to the elements and water repellency is a factor then we suggest that you re-treat your Sunbrella® fabrics after vigorous cleaning with a water repellant treatment or fabric guard, available from marine shops.

 

Do Sunbrella® fabrics provide uv protection?

Sunbrella® fabrics have been tested and proven to provide up to 98% uv protection from the harmful effects of the sun, depending on the depth of color. White and lighter colored fabrics provide less protection than darker fabrics do. This protective factor is inherent to the product and will not be reduced by usage and/or exposure of the fabric to the sun.

 

Fire resistance

Our cushions supplied outside of the North American market use two different types of fire resistant Sunbrella® fabric. Firstly, Sunbrella® firesist that has fire resistance built into the fabric during manufacture and appears visually the same on the right and wrong side. Secondly, standard Sunbrella® furniture fabric with a fire retardant coating applied to the reverse of the fabric, which appears as a rubbery surface.

Neither fabric will melt or drip if exposed to heat and both are inherently flame retardant. All our Sunbrella® cushion covers and parasol canopies comply with the UK Furniture & furnishings (fire safety) regulations 1988.