Love & Care | Sunbrella Fabric

How to care for Sunbrella fabric.

One of the best ways to keep Sunbrella® fabrics looking good is to brush off dirt and debris before it becomes embedded in the fabric and to address messes and spills soon after they occurs. The quicker you clean spills and stains, the easier they can be to remove.

Cleaning instructions

Try this first: (with a new spill on your Sunbrella fabric)

• Blot (don’t rub) liquid spills with a clean, dry cloth.
• For oil-based spills, apply an absorbent such as corn starch, then remove with a straight edge.
• Spray on a mild cleaning solution of soap and water or use Sunbrella Clean Multi-Purpose Fabric Cleaner.
• Rinse the fabric thoroughly to remove all soap residue.
• Air dry.

Try this next: (if your first try doesn’t get the spill completely out)

Though Sunbrella fabrics can be used both outdoors and in, your cleaning methods should differ slightly based on the fabrication and manufacturing of the furniture.

We recommend using the appropriate cleaning instructions for your application.

Outdoor Upholstery

• Cleaning Removable Fabric

Hand Washing:

Soak fabric in a solution of ¼ cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water. Use a sponge or very soft bristle brush to lightly agitate the stain. Then rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue, and allow fabric to air dry.

Machine washing:

Some removable casings can be washed in the washing machine, however consult the furniture manufacturer before removing the casing as cushion construction may vary. To wash, first close all zippers. Machine wash in cold water on the delicate cycle with normal amounts of mild laundry detergent. For severe mold or mildew, add 1 cup of bleach. Allow fabric to air dry.

• Cleaning Non-Removable Fabric

Prepare a solution of ¼ cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water. Use a soft bristle brush to clean, allowing the cleaning solution to soak into the fabric. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue and allow fabric to air dry. 

Oil-Based Stains
Immediately apply an absorbent such as corn starch directly on the oil-based stain. Let sit for 10 minutes and remove the excess using a straight edge or ruler. This helps remove the stain and prevents it from being pressed into the fabric. Then proceed with the cleaning process.

If a stubborn oil based stain persists after cleaning, use Sunbrella Extract™ Oil Based Stain Remover or treat with a strong degreaser and rinse thoroughly. Specific information on spill cleaning is available at sunbrella.com/cleaningguide 

Mold and mildew stains
Sunbrella fabrics do not promote mildew growth, however, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances if not removed from the fabric.

To remove mold or mildew:

• Prepare a solution of 1 cup of bleach and ¼ cup mild soap per gallon of water.
• Spray on entire area and allow to soak into the fabric for 15 minutes.
• Clean entire surface area with a sponge, clean towel or very soft bristle brush.
• Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue.
• Air dry.

For severe mold/mildew growth, bleach quantities may be increased.
It is best to clean the entire surface area of the fabric to avoid water rings and stains.
For information on cleaning other popular stains, see Sunbrella's Stain Chart. www.sunbrella.com/stainchart

Indoor Upholstery

• Apply a light mist of mild soap and water using a spray bottle.
• Work the solution into the stain by lightly agitating the entire surface area of the fabric, moving from seam to seam, with a sponge or very soft bristle brush. Avoid scrubbing, and do not use a hard bristled brush or anything that will abrade the fabric.
• Rinse the entire fabric thoroughly to remove all soap residue.
• Blot excess moisture with a clean, soft towel or sponge.
• Blot or wet-vacuum excess water from the entire surface area of the fabric, moving from seam to seam.
• Air dry. Repeat rinsing and blotting until all soap residue is removed.

For severe stains, see Sunbrella's Stain Chart for removal instructions of specific stains.
www.sunbrella.com/stainchart

Machine Washing
Some removable casings can be washed in the washing machine, however consult the furniture manufacturer before removing the casing as cushion construction may vary. To wash, first close all zippers. Machine wash in cold water on the delicate cycle with normal amounts of mild laundry detergent. Allow fabric to air dry.