Don’t sweat the messes. Caring for your Sunbrella fabrics is easy so you can live worry-free.
One of the best ways to keep Sunbrella® fabrics looking good is to properly maintain the fabrics. This can be accomplished by simply brushing off dirt before it becomes embedded in the fabrics, wiping up spills or cleaning soon after a stain occurs. This helps aid in the complete removal of a stain. The longer spills and stains remain on the fabric, the more difficult they can be to remove.
General or Light Cleaning
Brush off any loose dirt. Prepare a cleaning solution of 1/4 cup mild soap, such as Woolite or Dawn dishwashing liquid, per gallon of lukewarm water. Use a sponge or a soft bristle brush to clean. Allow cleaning solution to soak into fabric. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue. Allow fabric to air dry.
Spot Cleaning
Apply a light mist of mild soap and water using a spray bottle. Work the solution into the stain by lightly scrubbing the area with a sponge or very soft bristle brush. For oil-based stains, an absorbant such as corn starch can be immediately applied directly to the stain for a period of 10 minutes and the excess removed using a straight edge. This aids in the removal process of the stain and prevents it from being pressed into the fabric. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue. Blot excess moisture with a clean, soft towel or sponge. Wet-vacuum or blot excess water. Air dry. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all soap residue is removed.
Note: Seam to seam cleaning in combination with an extractor may be required in order to avoid water rings/stains.
For Removable Sunbrella Fabric
Hand washing
Soak fabric in a solution of 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water. Use a sponge or a soft bristle brush as necessary. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue. Air dry.
Machine washing
Machine wash in cold water. Depending on wash load size, use normal amounts of mild laundry detergent and add 1 cup of bleach. Allow fabric to air dry. Be sure any zippered casings are closed prior to machine washing.
Heavy Cleaning for Stubborn / Set-in Stains and Mildew
Sunbrella fabrics do not promote mildew growth, however, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from the fabric.
To clean stubborn stains:
Prepare a solution of 1 cup of bleach and 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of water. Spray on entire area and allow to soak into the fabric for 15 minutes. Blot stubborn/set in stains with a sponge, clean towel or very soft bristle brush. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue. Allow fabric to air dry.
For severe mold/mildew growth, bleach quantities may be increased.
Re-treating the fabric for ease of cleaning
As part of the finishing process, Sunbrella fabrics are treated with a fluorocarbon finish, which enhances water repellency. This finish is designed to last for several years, but must be replenished after a thorough cleaning. Based on test results, Glen Raven® recommends 303® Fabric Guard™ as the preferred re-treatment product for Sunbrella fabrics. Fabrics should be re-treated after thorough cleaning or as needed.
Applying 303® Fabric Guard™
303 should be applied to Sunbrella fabrics after each thorough cleaning, which typically removes the original finish and reduces the fabric’s water repellency.
Clean Sunbrella fabric, using one of the cleaning methods. Allow Sunbrella to completely air dry. Apply 303 Fabric Guard in a well-ventilated area following instructions on the container. Apply 303 in a thin, even coat and allow fabric to dry completely. Apply a second thin, even coating of 303. (Two light coatings are more effective in restoring fabric water resistance than a single heavy coating.)
Note: A 16-ounce bottle provides coverage of up to 75-100 square feet of fabric depending on material and application method.
Additional Cleaning Instructions
Professional cleaners
In evaluating the services of a professional firm, you should inquire about the firm’s experience in working with Sunbrella fabrics and knowledge of cleaning and re-treatment requirements.
Helpful hints
- Protect the area around your Sunbrella fabric when using a bleach solution – bleach may discolor non-Sunbrella fabrics. Always rinse Sunbrella thoroughly to completely remove bleach.
- Please be aware of the environment when cleaning with bleach. Bleach can have harmful effects on the natural environment around you. We do not advise using bleach if you are surrounded by a body of water or other environment that could be affected.
- Sunbrella should only be allowed to air dry.
- If fabric has some wrinkling, use an iron, if necessary, but only on the synthetic setting. As some irons exceed the recommended temperature on the synthetic setting, test a small inconspicuous area before ironing entire piece.
- DO NOT use a steamer or iron set to steam setting.
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