Care and Cleaning Guide for your Fabric
Care & Cleaning Guides: Sunbrella / Stamoid / Seamark / Strataglass
Care Of Sunbrella Fabric (The following
information is provided from Sunbrella)
General or Light Cleaning
Sunbrella® fabrics should be cleaned regularly before substances
such as dirt and food particles are allowed to accumulate on and
become embedded in the fabric. This practice will eliminate the need
for more frequent vigorous cleanings.
Brush off any loose dirt.
Prepare a cleaning solution of 2 ounces (1/4 cup) mild soap per
gallon of lukewarm water (less than 100°F/38°C).
Use a sponge or a soft bristle brush to clean.
Allow cleaning solution to soak into fabric.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Allow fabric to air dry.
For removable Sunbrella fabric umbrella and cushion covers, machine
wash in cold water (less than 100°F/38°C). Depending on wash load
size, use normal amounts of mild laundry soap. Allow fabric to air
dry.
Spot Cleaning
Apply a light mist of our recommended cleaning solution using a
spray bottle.
Work the solution into the stain by lightly scrubbing the area with
a sponge or very soft bristle brush.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Blot excess moisture with a clean, soft towel or sponge. Use a Wet
Vac if available to remove excess moisture.
Repeat these steps until stain is removed.
Heavy Cleaning for Stubborn Stains and Mildew
Sunbrella fabric does not promote mildew growth, however, mildew may
grow on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from
the fabric. To clean mildew, or other stubborn stains:
Prepare a solution of 8 ounces (1 cup) of bleach and 2 ounces (1/4
cup) of mild soap per gallon (8 cups) of clean water.
Spray on entire area and allow to soak into the fabric.
Scrub vigorously with a soft bristle brush, sponge, or clean towel.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Allow fabric to air dry.
If stain and/or mildew are severe, bleach quantities may be
increased.
For removable Sunbrella fabric umbrella and cushion covers, machine
wash in cold water (less than 100°F /38°C). Depending on wash load
size, use normal amounts of mild laundry soap and add 1 cup of
bleach. Allow fabric to air dry.
Retreating the Fabric
Sunbrella fabrics have a special finish that enhances water
repellency. The finish is designed to last for several years of
normal use, but may be refreshed after a thorough cleaning or
extended use. Glen Raven recommends 303 High Tech Fabric Guard™ as
the preferred re-treatment product for Sunbrella fabrics.
Applying 303 High Tech Fabric Guard
303 should be applied to Sunbrella fabrics after each thorough
cleaning, which typically removes the original finish and reduces
the fabric's water repellency.
Clean Sunbrella fabric, using one of the cleaning methods.
Allow Sunbrella to completely air dry.
Apply 303 Fabric Guard in a well ventilated area following
instructions on the container.
Apply 303 in a thin, even coat and allow fabric to dry completely.
Apply a second thin, even coating of 303. (Two light coatings are
more effective in restoring fabric water resistance than a single
heavy coating. A 15-ounce bottle provides coverage of up to 50
square feet of fabric.)
For more information please see
www.303products.com.
Professional Cleaners
In evaluating the services of a professional firm, you should
inquire about the firm's experience in working with Sunbrella
fabrics and knowledge of cleaning and retreatment requirements. DO
NOT dry clean Sunbrella fabrics.
Helpful Hints
Protect the area around your Sunbrella fabric when using a bleach
solution - bleach may discolor non-Sunbrella fabrics. Always rinse
Sunbrella thoroughly to completely remove bleach.
Sunbrella air-dries very quickly. Machine drying is not necessary.
If fabric has some wrinkling, use an iron, if necessary, but only on
the synthetic* setting. As some irons exceed the recommended 100°F
temperature on the synthetic setting, test a small inconspicuous
area before ironing entire piece.
DO NOT use a steamer or iron set to steam setting.
Synthetic fabric heat settings normally do not exceed 150°F.
Stamoid: is guaranteed to withstand all climates. Stamoid exterior
marine fabrics have provided long lasting, durable quality on boats
of all sizes throughout the world.
Easily Cleaned
Strong
All Temperature Flexibility
Soft and pliable
Dimensionally Stable
To Clean: Stamoid should be cleaned of any dirt
buildup at regular intervals (at least twice per year). We recommend
applying a mild, lukewarm soap solution, such as liquid dishwashing
soap, with a soft brush or sponge. Let the soap stand for a short
period of time but do not allow soap to dry. The fabric must then be
carefully rinsed with clear water in order to remove any remaining
soap residue. Allow the vinyl to dry thoroughly, then reuse or fold
and store. NOTE: The use of abrasive detergents and/or substances
containing solvents or gasoline will damage the vinyl coating and/or
fabric. DO NOT WASH THIS MATERIAL IN A WASHING MACHINE OR DRY IN A
DRYER.
SeaMark™ is an ideal combination of Sunbrella®, the premier woven
acrylic fabric, and Haartz textured marine-grade vinyl. The result:
a rich colorfast, waterproof fabric that stands up to the harsh
conditions of any marine environment.
SeaMark Dubonnet Tweed is a 60" wide fabric and has superior seam
and tensile strength and is dielectrically sealable. Engineered to
stand up on the open sea, where salt, moisture, sun, wind, and
temperature extremes defeat all but the toughest fabrics. SeaMark is
mildew and UV resistant, manufactured with a water-repelled vinyl
backing. 16oz per square yard. 5 year limited warranty.
SeaMark Care and Cleaning: Although the fabric does
not promote mildew growth by itself, mildew may develop on dirt and
other foreign substances that are not removed. This is especially
true in warm, humid, dark environments. A program of keeping the
fabric clean through regular washings, before it gets dirty, will
enhance the life and beauty of the acrylic and make successive
cleaning easier. Hand washing in shade or partial shade, not direct
sunlight, is best. Do not use detergent. Bird and tree droppings, as
well as other loose particle soils, should be removed immediately.
Vacuum with a brush attachment and rinse thoroughly with water to
remove loose particle soils. This will also prevent the soils from
being redeposited during the cleaning process. Washing with soap
(i.e. Ivory or Lux) and warm water is safe. Air dry. Never put
Sunbrella fabrics in your dryer.
Restoring: We once recommended a restoration
process but extensive experience shows actual damage cannot truly be
repaired. If IMAR Strataglass Protective Polish cannot restore the
clarity and shine, it may be time to consider replacing the
enclosures. Please...Please...use our recommended procedures and
products from the beginning.
(NOTE: this is from the Strataglass Web Site)
For the customer: We recommend using IMAR Strataglass protective
Polish every 1 to 2 months. In the interim, use IMAR Strataglass
Protective Cleaner frequently.
Note: All new vinyl can easily get impressions in
itself. We recommend new enclosures be left in place to the extent
possible. If completely removed, enclosures must be interleaved with
either acid-free paper (available from framing shops) or old sheets
(the best choice) to prevent "pooling" in the glass, vinyl "seasons"
over time and becomes less impressionable. Roll all curtains down
and fasten in place nightly to keep perfect appearance. (Review at
www.strataglass.com).
Cleaning: Flush thoroughly to cool the surface and
rinse away environmental abrasives. Wash with IMAR Yacht Soap
Concentrate, or other equally gentle and high quality soap. Do not
use Simple Green, Or pine or any other harsh cleaner - they will
dull the surface. Apply the soapy water to the clear vinyl section
of the curtain with special purpose washing mitt or soft cotton
cloths. Thoroughly rinse the soapy solution with fresh water and
completely dry the curtains with a high quality chamois.
(Swobbit.com makes several tools to make these tasks easier.) Your
clear vinyl curtains should be washed whenever your boat is washed.
After washing the curtains, apply IMAR Strataglass Protective Polish
sparingly with small, light circular motions using a soft cotton
cloth. Allow the polish to dry and then remove with a clean soft
cotton cloth. Finally, lightly buff to a sparkling shine. Done. For
routine maintenance between polishing, use IMAR Strataglass
Protective Cleaner. Insure the clear vinyl panels are free of
abrasives. Very lightly mist a soft cotton cloth. Lightly and
briskly rub a manageable sized area and then lightly buff dry with
another clean cloth. Done. We recommend using IMAR Strataglass
Cleaner at least weekly but it's so fast and easy you may want to do
it daily. You'll love the shine.
Please...Please...use our recommended procedures and
products from the beginning.