How to Choose and Maintain your Sunbrella fabrics

Sunbrella offers a wide variety of fabrics for everything from upholstery to awnings to boat biminis and deck cushions.

To keep your Sunbrella fabrics looking their best, you need to start by choosing the best fabric for your needs and then follow up with a simple program of regular cleaning and maintenance. Here are some tips you can use to make sure your Sunbrella products look great for a long time to come:

Selecting the best fabric for your needs

Every Sunbrella fabric is designed to be fade resistant, weather resistant and easy to clean, but some fabrics are better suited for specific applications. Most people get to know the Sunbrella brand through its upholstery fabrics. Soft and supple yet tough enough to withstand harsh weather and summer sun, Sunbrella offers lots of fabrics that are ideal for all types of upholstery for both indoor and outdoor use. You’ll find lots of patterns and a wide range of cushion sizes so you can mix, match and coordinate no matter what your style.

When it comes to awnings or umbrellas, Sunbrella has you covered there too. Unlike upholstery fabric, awning fabric is stiffer which helps it maintain its shape all year long, no matter what the weather may bring. The stiffer fabric also makes awning fabrics the ideal choice for golf cart tops. Like all Sunbrella fabrics, awning fabric is designed to match or coordinate with upholstery fabric to help you create a more polished style.

Cleaning and care

Taking just a little time to clean your fabrics will help ensure they look their best for as long as possible, and it also helps reduce the need for a deep cleaning. Regular maintenance is simple: Using your hand or a soft brush, whisk away dirt, twigs, leaves or other debris before it becomes embedded, and wipe spills as soon as they occur, spot treating as needed.

For deeper cleaning or to remove most stains, make a solution of mild soap and warm water and apply the solution to the surface with a soft brush or sponge. Make sure to rinse away all soap residue and then let the fabric air-dry. If stains remain, use a solution of ¼ cup of mild soap, 1 cup of bleach and a gallon of warm water and apply with a soft brush or sponge as before. Rinse and air-dry.

Winter storage

While Sunbrella furnisfabrics are designed to withstand the ravages of winter weather, but there are a few steps you can take to ensure your fabrics are ready for use when springtime sunshine returns. Before storing cushions for the winter, brush off twigs, leaf litter and other debris and then gently clean and thoroughly dry cushion fabric, paying careful attention to any spots or stains. Use a soft brush or cloth to gently clean surfaces and then allow cushions to air dry before storing them in a dry, protected place.

IF you’re interested in updating your sunbrella fabrics, or looking to add to your outdoor furniture collection, browse our patio catalogue now.