Upholstery Care and Cleaning
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 occur. The
quicker you clean spills, the easier they can be to remove.
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 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water.
- Use a sponge or very soft bristle brush to lightly agitate the spill. 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 1/4 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.
- For best results when cleaning upholstered pieces, clean the entire surface area of the fabric, from seam to seam, instead of rubbing the fabric in a circular motion on the spill.
This method, along with an extractor, may be required in order to avoid water rings
and residue.
We recommend Sunbrella Clean Multi-Purpose Fabric Cleaner or
an upholstery cleaner such as 303® Multi-Surface Cleaner.
Oil Based Stains
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.
Mold and Mildew.
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 1/4 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.
We recommend using our Sunbrella Clean Multi-Purpose Fabric Cleaner followed
by a diluted bleach solution.
Indoor Upholstery
Cleaning Upholstered Pieces
- Apply a light mist of mild soap and water using a spray bottle or use Sunbrella Clean Multi-Purpose Fabric Cleaner. You can also use an upholstery cleaner such as 303® Multi-Surface Cleaner.
- Work the solution into the spill 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.
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.
Oil Based Stains
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.
Professional Cleaners
Should you want to enlist the help of a professional cleaner, we recommend inquiring about a firm’s experience working with Sunbrella fabrics and knowledge of cleaning and re-treatment requirements.
Helpful Hints
While Sunbrella fabric offers excellent protection against stains, full removal is not always guaranteed if spills are not addressed promptly.
Avoid scrubbing, hard bristle brushes or any other abrasive cleaning method. Sunbrella should only be allowed to air dry.
Protect the area around your Sunbrella fabric when using bleach or other chemical solvents that may discolor non-Sunbrella fabrics.
Always rinse Sunbrella thoroughly.
Bleach can have harmful effects on the natural environment around you. Please follow all safety and environmental precautions according to the bleach label.
If fabric has some wrinkling, use an iron on the synthetic setting. As iron temperatures may vary, first test a small inconspicuous area before ironing the entire piece. DO NOT use a steamer or an iron set to the steam setting.