Sunbrella believes life is more beautiful when we can relax and enjoy the moment with friends, family, and loved ones. But during all those beautiful moments, sometimes messes happen.
Living a full life includes spills, muddy paw prints, and sticky fingers, but it doesn’t have to include stains when you choose Sunbrella fabrics for your DIY projects and upholstered furniture.
Sunbrella offers a wide selection of upholstery fabrics to shop by the yard. When you choose Sunbrella for your DIY fabric projects, you can rely on our ultimate cleanability and stain-resistant technology to keep your fabrics looking new for years to come.
How to Clean Sunbrella Fabrics
When spills and smudges happen, don’t panic. Instead, follow these simple steps for how to clean Sunbrella upholstery fabric and get your fabrics looking like new again.
- Brush off loose dirt or debris and blot (don't rub) liquid spills with a clean, dry cloth.
- Prepare a solution of 1 teaspoon (4 ml) of dishwashing liquid per 1 cup (250 ml) of lukewarm water, or use Sunbrella Clean™ Multi-Purpose Fabric Cleaner.
- Spray a light mist evenly over the entire area.
- Use a soft bristle brush to clean, allowing the cleaning solution to soak into the fabric.
- Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue.
- Allow fabric to air dry.
For best results when cleaning upholstered pieces, clean the entire surface area of the fabric, from seam to seam. This method is the best way to avoid water rings and residue.
Check out our Cleaning Guide for detailed instructions on cleaning.
Cleaning Oil Based Stains from Sunbrella Fabrics
Stains fall into one of two categories; water based or oil based. Oil based stains are the toughest to completely remove as they are hydrophobic and repel water. Oil based or grease stains include:
- Cooking oils like olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil
- Condiments like salad dressing and mayonnaise
- Cosmetics like liquid makeup, moisturizers, or sunscreen
- Oily ingredients such as coconut oil and butter
If a stubborn oil based stain persists after cleaning with the standard method outlined above, use Sunbrella Extract™ Oil Based Stain Remover or treat your fabric with a strong degreaser and rinse thoroughly.
Check out our Cleaning Guide for detailed instructions on cleaning.
Are Sunbrella Fabrics Machine Washable?
Most Sunbrella upholstery fabrics are machine washable. To wash, first close any 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. Always allow Sunbrella fabric to air dry.
Specific information on cleaning is available at sunbrella.com/cleaning-guide
Can I Put Sunbrella Fabrics in the Dryer?
You should always allow Sunbrella fabric to air dry. After cleaning, blot excess moisture with a clean, soft towel or sponge. You can wet-vacuum excess water from the entire surface area of the fabric, moving from seam to seam.
Tips for Cleaning Sunbrella Upholstery Fabrics
Not all fabrics are built to handle stains the way Sunbrella performance fabrics are. Our fabrics are engineered with ultimate cleanability, making it easy to spot-clean would-be stains as they happen.
Sunbrella upholstery fabrics are built for long-lasting durability – standing up to all of life’s toughest messes. With our industry-leading warranty and easy-to-clean durability, Sunbrella has got you covered. By following these easy tips, you can prevent damage to your upholstered furniture and DIY projects and keep your fabrics looking like new for many years to come.
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