How to Clean Sunbrella Outdoor Cushions

Gazing out your patio doorway you relish in the memories of last night’s neighborhood barbecue. The friendship, fun, and food were great! Your stylish patio furnishings were so plush and inviting. You are thrilled with your choice of Sunbrella cushions that are sophisticated and festive all at once. During the clean up you discover a stain on one of the cushions. Now what? Let us explore how to clean Sunbrella Outdoor Upholstery.

The Fabric

Sunbrella specializes in fabrics for the outdoors including marine, awnings, umbrellas, and of course, cushions. Sunbrella fabrics come in a rainbow of colours and an abundance of designs. Their website allows you to shop by color family and design family. Take for instance pink; samples of everything in pink tones and all possible designs will appear on your screen. Plaids, diamonds, circles, chevrons, floral, stripes, paisley, and solids are all viewable at the click of your mouse. Not only that, but you can select your application such as umbrellas, marine, or cushions. The fabrics come in coordinating colours and designs as well. Your options are almost endless.

(n.d.). Retrieved July, 2016, from http://www.sunbrella.com/showroom/#!screen=home

Features

• All Sunbrella fabrics are pretreated with a water and stain repellent
• Fabrics have a 5-year warranty
• Sunbrella fabrics can be purchased by the yard
• The color in Sunbrella is not from a dye, but rather a UV resistant pigment process that makes Sunbrella fabric durable and fade resistant

(n.d.). Retrieved July, 2016, from http://www.sunbrella.com/en_us/how/faq/

Cleaning

Sunbrella fabrics are easy to clean. For liquids, blot the area dry. Spray with a solution of dishwashing detergent and water. Rinse completely and air dry. For oil based stains use corn starch to absorb the stain. Scrap the area with a putty knife. Next, spray with the soap and water solution, rinse and air dry.

Some cushions and pillows will have removable coverings that can be washed by hand or in the machine. To hand wash, soak the fabric in warm soapy water. Rub lightly with a sponge to release the stain. Rinse completely and air dry. For machine washing make sure all zippers are closed. Wash in cold water with a mild detergent. Let the fabric air dry.

(n.d.). Retrieved July, 2016, from http://www.sunbrella.com/en_us/how/cleaning/upholstery.php

The Stain Chart

In its wisdom, Sunbrella has provided a stain chart which covers the most common stains you could experience on your Sunbrella cushions. The barbecue you had last night that left a mustard stain on your cushion can be cleaned easily with soapy water. Apply and rinse. For bigger deeper stains it is suggested to use a commercial cleaner such as Resolve^®. Follow directions on the packaging.

(n.d.). Retrieved July, 2016, from http://www.sunbrella.com/en_us/how/cleaning/stain-chart.php

(n.d.). Retrieved July, 2016, from http://www.powerofresolve.ca/en/

Dealing with Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew are fungi with similar characteristics in that they both love warm, moist environments. They both can grow on a multitude of surfaces including outdoor fabrics. They also differ in that mildew sticks mainly to the surface, while mold likes to go deeper beyond the exterior surface. Mildew may appear as a gray or white powdery spot. Mold will be green or black and sometimes fuzzy in appearance.

(n.d.). Retrieved July, 2016, from http://www.hgtv.com/remodel/interior-remodel/mold-vs-mildew

Both mold and mildew can cause health issues from respiratory problems, headaches and even joint pain. It is extremely important to tackle mold and mildew issues right away. Mold can even cause structural damage in your home. When cleaning up mold or mildew wear a mask to prevent breathing in caustic spores.

(n.d.). Retrieved July, 2016, from http://www.mold-advisor.com/mold-vs-mildew.html

Ousting Mildew

Sunbrella recommends using 50 Ml of dishwashing liquid and 250 Ml of bleach mixed with 5 liters of water. Spray entire surface and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rub not only the mildew spot itself but the surrounding area with a soft sponge to make sure all the spores have been tackled. Rinse completely and air dry. Increase bleach quantity for tougher mildew stains.

Conquering Mold

Mold grows because there is moisture present. Maybe you stored your patio furnishings in a damp corner of your basement over the winter. Or maybe your shed has a leaky roof. These situations could cause mold growth. The best way to conquer mold is to eliminate moisture and take away the prime growth environment. If you store your outdoor cushions make sure they are in a dry, ventilated area. However, Sunbrella does report their fabrics can withstand even harsh winters without indoor storage.

If you already have mold, first move your furnishings and cushions into the sun. Sunlight will kill mold. Wear gloves and a mask to prevent inhaling mold spores. Sweep the mold off the fabric. The next step is to vacuum with a filtered vacuum cleaner. Mix up a solution of mild soap and water; make a lot of suds. Apply only the suds to the affected area and rub. Rinse using a damp cloth. Leave your furniture sit in the sun for several hours. If necessary, spray the area with a solution of vinegar and water (equal parts) and let dry.

(n.d.). Retrieved July, 2016, from http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-mold-from-upholstery/

Outdoor Cushion Cleaners

There are many outdoor fabric cleaners you can buy. Some are antibacterial, antimicrobial, disinfectants and for specific stains such as coffee. They come in liquid, powder or wipes. They range in price from a few dollars up to a hundred dollars depending on type and quantity. When using outdoor fabric cleaners make sure you read the directions on the cleaner of your choice and make sure it is a fit for the stain you are dealing with and the type of fabric you have.

(n.d.). Retrieved July, 2016 from https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/search.products.html#!p=0&q=outdoor%20cleaners%3Arelevance%3AcategoryPathHierarchy%3A1%2Fhd-classes%2Fl1-outdoors

Summary

It is clear the Sunbrella brand of outdoor fabric is ideal for your patio setting. With an abundance of colours and designs, along with the easy clean up of stains, this fabric will not only make your patio the talk of the town, but it will make your life easier because the cleanup will be trouble-free. With Sunbrella you don’t have to fear dreaded stains. Host your party, have fun. You will be glad Sunbrella is on your side.