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.
