How to Clean Sunbrella Fabric

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: June 3, 2021

If you've got patio furniture that's covered with cushions or pillows, you'll need to clean them occasionally. Sunbrella is a common brand of patio fabric that is made of 100% acrylic material. To clean your water resistant fabric, you should clean it as soon as you notice dirt and grime. Wash the fabric gently and treat any stains or mildew. You can mix up several cleaning solutions that are specific to the type of stain or mildew. These can keep your Sunbrella fabric looking clean and well cared for.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Caring For Your Sunbrella Fabric

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1
Wipe daily dirt and grime off of the fabric. As soon as you notice dirt or grime on your Sunbrella fabric, brush it off with a soft bristle brush. Every week or so, spray a basic soapy water cleanser over the fabric and use a sponge to rub the cleanser in. This should bring the dirt to the surface of the fabric.
- Use a mild dishwashing soap that you'd usually use for handwashing your dishes.
2
Use an extra cleansing solution for stains. If the fabric doesn't seem like it's getting clean enough, consider applying another cleansing solution. Use a fabric cleanser specific to the type of stain you're trying to treat. Just spray this cleanser on and rub it in gently.^{[1]
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- For example, if you've used a soapy cleanser but realize that the fabric has mildew, you'll need to apply an extra cleanser that contains bleach to get the fabric clean.
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3
Rinse and dry the fabric. Depending on the amount of fabric you're cleaning, you can pour water over the fabric or just spray clean water over it. Continue to rinse or spray the Sunbrella fabric until all of the cleansing solution or soap is out. Let the fabric air dry completely.^{[2]
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- Avoid placing the fabric directly in the sun to dry, since this can cause the fabric colors to fade faster.
4
Treat the fabric gently. When you're cleaning your Sunbrella fabric, avoid pulling, scrubbing, or tugging at the fabric. Choose a soft bristled brush instead of a firm brush to prevent stress to the fabric. This will extend the life of your Sunbrella fabric.^{[3]
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- To dry your fabric gently, you can blot it with a dry towel, but don't rub or pull the towel across it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Treating Basic Stains and Mildew

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1
Put removable Sunbrella fabric in the washing machine. If you have a cushion or pillow that recommends washing the removable Sunbrella fabric in a machine, ensure that all the zippers are closed. Put the items in your machine on a cold wash cycle. Run a delicate cycle with the usual amount of mild laundry detergent. Remove the items from the machine and let them air dry.^{[4]
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- Avoid drying the Sunbrella fabric in the dryer, since this may get the fabric too hot.
2
Create a bleach solution to remove mildew. Get a large mixing bucket and pour in 1 gallon (3.78 liters) of water. Add 1 cup (236 ml) of bleach and 1/4 cup (60 ml) of mild dishwashing soap. Stir this mixture and put some of it into a spray bottle. Spray the Sunbrella fabric and let it soak in for 15 minutes. Then use a soft bristle brush or sponge to clean the mildew. Spray the fabric with water to rinse away the solution and let it air dry.^{[5]
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- If you have mildew on a part of the fabric, it's a good idea to treat the entire piece of fabric. This will prevent water rings and stains from forming.
3
Make a basic soap and water cleanser. Many basic stains can be removed by spraying a soapy solution over it. Combine 1/4 cup (60 ml) of mild dishwashing liquid with 1 gallon (3.78 liters) of water. Spray this cleanser over your stain. Then use a sponge, soft towel, or soft bristle brush to rub the soapy solution into the stain and then rinse it clean with water. A simple soapy solution will remove these stains:^{[6]
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- Ketchup or mustard
- Charcoal or pencil marks (vacuum the stain first)
- Chocolate
- Coffee or tea
- Soda or grape juice
- Raw egg

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning Tough Stains

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1
Remove wine stains. Spray the stain with clean water, so the stain is saturated. Spray the stain with soapy water and rub the area with a bristle brush. This will work the soap deep into the stain. Spray more clean water over the stain to rinse the soap out. Pat the stain dry with a soft cloth and let it air dry.^{[7]
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- For an even deeper clean, vacuum the area with a wet vacuum.
2
Wash away blood stains. You can remove dried blood stains by mixing a simple solution. Spray the stained area with soapy water to try to remove as much of the stain as possible. Then mix up the blood stain cleanser and spray it over the stain. Use a bristled brush to gently rub the cleanser in and then rinse it with water. For the blood stain cleanser, mix together:^{[8]
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- 1/4 cup (60 ml) of dishwashing liquid
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) of ammonia
- 1 gallon (3.78 liters) of water
3
Make a soapy vinegar cleanser. For strong smelling stains, you'll need to make soap and vinegar solution. Combine 1/4 cup (60 ml) of dishwashing liquid with 1/3 cup (80 ml) of white vinegar and 1 gallon (3.78 liters) of water. Transfer some of this to a spray bottle and spray it over the stained area. Rub the cleanser in with a sponge or bristle brush and then rinse it clean with water. The soapy vinegar cleanser will remove these stains:^{[9]
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- Vomit
- Urine
- Beer
- Berries
- Food coloring
4
Remove oil-based stains. Unlike most stains, oil-based stains need to be dried with cornstarch first. Just sprinkle cornstarch over the oil, butter, or grease stain to absorb the excess oil. Scrape off any extra cornstarch and then spray soapy water over the stain. You can gently rub the stain out using a sponge or soft bristle brush before rinsing the solution out. This also works to remove:^{[10]
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- Paint
- Liquid shoe polish
- Salad dressing
- Suntan lotion
- Tomato juice
- Tree sap

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I get a water stain out of Sunbrella fabric?

Community Answer

Blot the stain with a dry cloth, spray on a mild cleaning solution of soap (such as Dawn or Woolite) and water, rinse the fabric thoroughly to remove all soap residue, and air dry.

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