Canvas Care

Sunbrella canvas lasts longer when it's looked after. We share these care recommendations as a courtesy for canvas owners — here's how we'd clean and re-treat ours.

Routine Cleaning

For light dirt and salt, here's what we'd do:

  1. Brush off loose dirt.
  2. Hose down the canvas.
  3. Mix water with a mild soap (Ivory Snow, Dreft, or Woolite — no detergents).
  4. Work the solution in with a soft-bristle brush.
  5. Let it soak for a minute.
  6. Rinse thoroughly until all soap is gone.
  7. Air dry.

Sunbrella may or may not need re-treatment after a routine clean — it depends on the age of the fabric.

Stubborn Stains & Mildew

For stains, mildew, or roof run-off, we use a stronger mix.

Mix:

  • 8 oz (1 cup) chlorine bleach
  • 2 oz (¼ cup) mild soap or detergent
  • 1 gallon water

Then:

  1. Clean with a soft-bristle brush.
  2. Let the mix soak in for up to 15 minutes.
  3. Rinse thoroughly.
  4. Air dry.
  5. Repeat if needed.

Re-treat the fabric afterward — bleach strips the water and stain resistance.

Machine Washing

Sunbrella can go in a regular washing machine.

  1. Use a mild soap or detergent.
  2. For heavier stains, add 1 cup of bleach to the wash.
  3. Wash and rinse in cold water.
  4. Air dry only — never apply heat.

Re-treat the fabric after machine washing.

Re-treating the Fabric

Sunbrella has a fluorocarbon finish that gives it water resistance. After a deep clean, or roughly every five years, that finish needs replenishing.

Glen Raven (the fabric maker) recommends 303 High Tech Fabric Guard for re-treatment.

Steps:

  1. Clean the canvas using one of the methods above.
  2. Let it air dry completely.
  3. Apply 303 in a well-ventilated area, following the bottle instructions.
  4. Use two thin coats rather than one heavy one — they're more effective.
  5. Let each coat dry fully before the next.

A 15 oz bottle covers about 50 square feet.

What to Avoid

  • Hot water — keep it cool to lukewarm, never above 100°F (38°C).
  • Heat drying — no machine drying, and no irons on steam.
  • Strong detergents — stick to mild soaps.
  • Dry cleaning Sunbrella.
  • Steamers on Sunbrella fabric.
  • Getting bleach on non-Sunbrella fabric — it can discolor.

Professional Cleaning

If you'd rather hand it off to someone, ask the cleaner whether they have experience with Sunbrella and know the re-treatment process. Don't dry-clean Sunbrella.