One of the best ways to keep Sunbrella Bags looking good is to brush off dirt before it becomes embedded in the fabric and address messes and spills soon after they occur. The quicker you clean spills, the easier they can be to remove.
Try This First...With a New Spill on Your Sunbrella Bag:
- Blot (don't rub) liquid spills with a clean, dry cloth.
- For oil-based spills, apply an absorbent such as cornstarch, then remove with
a straight edge. - Spray on a mild cleaning solution of soap and water or Sunbrella Clean™ Multi-Purpose Fabric Cleaner
- Rinse the fabric thoroughly to remove all soap residue.
- Air dry.
Try This Next...If Your First Try Doesn't Get the Spill Completely Out:
The primary component of Sunbrella bags is Sunbrella fabric, of course, but each one does contain other materials such as leather straps, zippers, etc., so your cleaning methods should differ slightly with regards to those components.
Download Sunbrella Bags Cleaning Instructions PDF
Sunbrella Bag Cleaning
Cleaning Sunbrella Fabric Components
We recommend Sunbrella Clean™ Multi-Purpose Fabric Cleaner.
Cleaning Other Materials (Leather straps, zippers, etc.)
Soak fabric in a solution of 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water. Use a sponge or very soft bristle brush to lightly agitate the spill. Then rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue and allow fabric to air dry. DO NOT use bleach.
Oil Based Stains
If a stubborn oil based stain persists after cleaning, use Sunbrella Extract™ Oil Based Stain Remover or treat with a strong degreaser and rinse thoroughly.
Specific information on spill cleaning is available in our Cleaning Guide.
Mold and Mildew
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 from Sunbrella fabric:
- Prepare a solution of 1 cup of bleach and 1/4 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.
- Take care not to get bleach on other materials (leather straps, zippers, etc.).
For severe mold/mildew growth, bleach quantities may be increased. For the Sunbrella solution, we recommend our Sunbrella Clean Multi-Purpose Fabric Cleaner followed by a diluted bleach solution.
Specific information on spill cleaning is available in our Cleaning Guide.
Retreating Sunbrella Fabrics
Sunbrella fabrics are engineered to provide long-term performance. After repeated thorough cleanings, or extended use and exposure, you may choose to refresh your fabrics with an appropriate retreating agent. We recommend Sunbrella Restore™ Fabric Protector & Repellent or 303® Fabric Guard™, available in the United States, and Tex’Aktiv, available internationally.
Applying retreatment:
- Clean Sunbrella fabric using one of the cleaning methods outlined.
- Allow Sunbrella to completely air dry.
- Apply retreatment outdoors in a well-ventilated area following instructions on the container.
Professional Cleaners
Should you want to enlist the help of a professional cleaner, we recommend inquiring about a firm’s experience working with Sunbrella fabrics and knowledge of cleaning and retreatment requirements.
Helpful Hints
While Sunbrella fabric offers excellent protection against stains, full removal is not always guaranteed if spills are not addressed promptly.
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, first test a small inconspicuous area before ironing the entire piece.
DO NOT use a steamer or an iron set to the steam setting.
Seam-To-Seam Cleaning
For best results when cleaning, clean the entire surface area of the bag, from seam to seam, instead of rubbing the fabric in a circular motion on the spill only. This method may be required in order to avoid water rings and residue.