How to Clean Sunbrella Fabric

Sunbrella is one of the most popular marine and outdoor fabrics around, and for good reason. It’s UV-resistant, water-repellent, and built to handle New Zealand weather. But like any fabric, it needs cleaning to stay in good shape.

Here’s how to do it properly without damaging the fibres or the finish.

Why Sunbrella goes dull or mouldy

Sunbrella is solution-dyed acrylic, which means the colour goes all the way through the fibre. It won’t fade quickly. But the surface can accumulate:

• Dirt and grime from salt spray, exhaust fumes, tree debris
• Mould and mildew especially in shaded or poorly ventilated spots
• Salt deposits from marine environments

Leaving mould on Sunbrella long enough allows it to penetrate the fabric coating, which shortens its life significantly.

What you’ll need

• Mild liquid detergent (not powder)
• Soft brush (not wire or stiff nylon)
• Bucket of lukewarm water
• Garden hose for rinsing
• Optional: specialist canvas cleaner for heavy soiling

For mould or heavy staining, you can use a diluted bleach solution (1/4 cup bleach per 1 litre water with a small amount of mild soap). Sunbrella can handle bleach. Most other canvas fabrics cannot.

Cleaning steps

1. Brush off loose dirt while the fabric is dry. Don’t scrub wet, as it drives the dirt in deeper.
2. Prepare your cleaning solution of warm water and mild detergent. For mould, use the bleach solution.
3. Apply and scrub gently with a soft brush. Work in circular motions and allow the solution to soak in for a few minutes.
4. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Any soap residue left behind can attract dirt faster.
5. Allow to air dry completely before folding or storing. Never pack away damp.

Restoring water repellency

Cleaning will strip some of the DWR (durable water repellent) finish over time. If water stops beading on the surface, it’s worth applying a fabric protector like 303 Fabric Guard. Do this on a clean, dry, unfolded piece.

When to repair rather than clean

If your Sunbrella cover or shade sail has failing seams, fraying edges, or tears, cleaning it won’t fix those problems. We restitch and repair canvas regularly. If it’s structurally sound but beaten up around the edges, a repair is usually far cheaper than replacement.

Contact us if you’d like a repair quote.