Use and Care Manual

®
Upholstery
Care andCleaning
One of the best ways to keep Sunbrella
®
fabrics looking good is to brush off dirt
before it becomes embedded in the fabrics and wipe up spills or clean soon after
a spill occurs. 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 (such as Dawn
®
or Woolite
®
) and water.
• 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 indoors and out because of 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. Towash, 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.
Seam-To-Seam Cleaning
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.
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.
It is best to clean the entire surface area of the fabric to avoid water rings and residue.
For other spills, products such as 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner,
Dawn
®
, or Resolve
®
are applicable. Specific information on spill
cleaning is available at sunbrella.com/cleaningguide
Retreating Sunbrella Fabrics
Sunbrella fabrics are
engineered to provide
long-term performance.
After repeated thorough
cleanings, or years of use and
exposure, you may choose to
refresh your fabrics with an
appropriate retreating agent.
We recommend 303
®
Fabric
Guard
™
, available in the United
States, and Tex’Aktiv, available
internationally.
Applying a retreatment:
• Clean Sunbrella fabric,
using one of the cleaning
methods outlined.
• Allow Sunbrella to
completely air dry.
• Apply retreatment in a well-
ventilated area following
instructions on the container.
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.
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