Upholstery Care and Cleaning
One of the best ways to keep Sunbrella
fabrics and wipe up spills or clean soon after a stain occurs. The quicker you clean spills and stains, the easier they
can be to remove.
Try this rst... With a new spill or stain 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 rst try doesn’t get the stain 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.
®
fabrics looking good is to brush off dirt before it becomes embedded in the
Retreating Sunbrella Fabrics
Sunbrella fabrics are treated with
a proprietary water and stain
repellent nish that is designed
to last for several years, but may
require replenishing after a thorough
cleaning. Glen Raven® recommends
303® Fabric Guard™, available in the
United States, and Tex’Aktiv, available
internationally.
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, rst
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.
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 our Stain Chart for removal
instructions of specic stains.
www.sunbrella.com/stainchart
Professional Cleaners
Inquire about a rm’s experience working with
Sunbrella fabrics and knowledge of cleaning and
re-treatment requirements.
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 our Stain Chart. 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, rst 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
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.
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 stain. This method, along with an
extractor, may be required in order to avoid water
rings and stains.
Applying a retreatment:
• Clean Sunbrella fabric, using one of
the cleaning methods.
• Allow Sunbrella to completely air
dry.
• Apply retreatment in a wellventilated area following
instructions on the container.
Helpful Hints
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, rst test
a small inconspicuous area before
ironing the entire piece.
DO NOT use a steamer or an iron set
to the steam setting.
SUNBRELLA® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF GLEN RAVEN, INC. WWW.SUNBRELLA.COM
Stain Chart
This chart contains our recommended cleaning methods of Sunbrella® fabric for common stains.
For best cleaning results, stains should be cleaned as soon as they occur. Set-in stains may require professional cleaning.
After cleaning with the below solutions, always rinse fabric thoroughly.
Stain Recommended
Cleaning Solutions
Berry Combine 1/4 cup dishwashing
liquid and 1/2 cup - 1 cup white
vinegar per 1 gallon water.
Bird droppings
Catsup or Mustard
Coffee
Combine 1/4 cup
dishwashing liquid
per 1 gallon water.
Cola
Egg (raw)
Grape Juice
Milk
Tea
Beer
Food Color
Urine
Combine 1/4 cup dishwashing
liquid and 1/3 cup white
vinegar per 1 gallon water.
Vomit
Butter
Grease
Oil
Paint Wet/Dried
(latex, oil, lacquer)
Apply cornstarch as an
absorbent, remove excess
with a straight edge, clean
up residual with dishwashing
liquid and water.
Salad Dressing
Shoe Polish (liquid)
Suntan Lotion
Tomato Juice
Tree Sap
Blood (dried) Combine 1/4 cup
dishwashing liquid and
1/2 cup - 1 cup ammonia
per 1 gallon water.
Charcoal
Pencil Marks
Vacuum, then clean with
1/4 cup dishwashing liquid
per 1 gallon water.
Chewing Gum Treat with isopropyl alcohol.
Then clean with 1/4 cup
dishwashing liquid
per 1 gallon water.
Chocolate Combine 1/4 cup dishwashing
liquid and 1/2 cup hydrogen
peroxide per 1 gallon water.
Commercial
Cleaner
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
or strong
degreaser
Hydrogen
peroxide and
upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
Stain Recommended
Cleaning Solutions
Crayon Treat with isopropyl alcohol.
Then clean with 1/4 cup
dishwashing liquid
per 1 gallon water.
Ink (india, ballpoint)
Nail Polish
Treat with volatile
solvent (acetone 100%).
Then clean with soap and
water and rinse thoroughly.
Iron Rust Treat with CLR®
and rinse thoroughly.
Kool-Aid Combine 1/4 cup
dishwashing liquid
per 1 gallon water
and rinse thoroughly.
Mildew Combine 1/4 cup
dishwashing liquid
and 1 cup bleach
per 1 gallon water.
Shoe Polish (wax) Apply heated iron over
towel. Apply cornstarch as
an absorbent, remove excess
with a straight edge, clean
up residual with dishwashing
liquid and water.
Wax (candle) Apply heated iron over towel.
Treat with isopropyl alcohol.
Then clean with 1/4 cup
dishwashing liquid
per 1 gallon water.
Wine Combine 1/4 cup dishwashing
liquid, 1/3 cup white vinegar
and 1/2 cup - 1 cup isopropyl
alcohol or hydrogen peroxide
per 1 gallon water.
Commercial
Cleaner
Carbona™
Stain Devils for
Ink and Crayon
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
Rust remover
such as CLR
®
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
No commercial
cleaner
recommended.
A stronger
percentage of
bleach may be
necessary for
severe mildew.
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
Wax remover
such as Carbona™ Stain
Devils for Glue,
Gum, and Nail
Polish
Upholstery
cleaner such as
®
Resolve
After cleaning with these recommended solutions, please rinse fabric thoroughly and allow to air dry.
SUNBRELLA® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF GLEN RAVEN, INC. WWW.SUNBRELLA.COM
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