How to Clean & Maintain Your Patio Umbrella

• Once your fabric is off the frame and you’ve verified that it is machine washable, use a soft-bristled brush to clear any loose debris or dirt from the fabric
• If you have any trouble spots (read: “stains”) on the fabric, use an enzyme-based stain remover to spot treat the stains
• If your clothes washer has a “waterproof fabric” setting, use it. Waterproof fabrics can cause an unbalanced situation in your washer during the spin cycle because water can get trapped in the fabric
• If not, use the normal setting, cold water, and a normal amount of laundry detergent. Just keep an eye on the machine when it reaches the spin cycle in case it starts marching across the floor…
• Do not use your clothes dryer. Lay the washed fabric out flat in the sun until it is fully dried before attempting to put it back on its frame
• Reassemble the umbrella by putting the fabric back on its frame

• Start by removing the fabric from the frame. Lay it out flat on a tarp and use a soft broom or soft brush to sweep away any loose debris.
• Make a simple cleaning solution: 2 cups warm water, 2 cups white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of a mild dish soap (we suggest Dawn as it also works as a degreaser) combined in a bucket.
• Using a handheld scrub brush, use circular motions (wax on, wax off) to scrub small sections of the umbrella fabric with the cleaning solution.
• Once scrubbed, rinse the umbrella fabric well with a garden hose and allow the umbrella fabric to FULLY DRY in the sun (not drying the umbrella fabric can cause problems when trying to re-hang it).
• Optional: For additional longevity, once dry spray the fabric with waterproofing spray for longevity.
• Replace the fabric on its frame

• Move your umbrella out of direct sunlight, onto a surface that can get wet safely
• Use a soft-bristle brush to remove debris
• Mix up your cleaning solution: Mix ¼ cup of mild laundry detergent (Woolite or Dawn) with 1 gallon of warm water in a bucket.
• Using a soft-bristled brush, gently rub the fabric in circular motions.
• Let the detergent sit for 15 minutes, then hose it off or rinse it with a bucket of clean water.
• Dry it! Move the umbrella to an airy, sunny area and allow it to dry completely. No matter how you wash it, DO NOT MACHINE-DRY REMOVABLE CANOPIES.

• If you can, remove the canvas from the frame. Stretch it out on a flat, clean surface… if you can’t remove it, handle it in place
• Use a soft bristle brush to remove any loose dirt
• Fill a bucket with a mixture of equal parts warm water and white vinegar. Using the soft brush, dip it into the solution and work it into small areas of the canvas using a circular motion
• Repeat this process until all of the mildew and mold have been removed
• Rinse the surface well with a hose, and allow it to dry COMPLETELY in the sun
• Replace the fabric on its frame

• Make a cleaning solution: two teaspoons of dishwashing liquid (again, we prefer Dawn) and two cups warm water
• Using a soft towel, wipe down the aluminum pole. Never use abrasive materials, cleansers or bleach products that will damage the finish
• When finished, rinse with clear water and thoroughly dry with a clean towel

• Mix a solution of one-part white distilled vinegar and nine parts water
• Dip a towel in the solution and wipe down the frame
• Follow up with a clear water rinse and dry with a clean towel

• If available, always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions
• For most wood umbrellas, create a cleaning solution of two teaspoons of mild dishwashing liquid (if you’ve been following along, we still recommend Dawn) and two cups of warm water
• Using a soft cloth, wipe down the frame. Do not over wet the surface
• Rinse by wiping down with a clean cloth dipped in clear water
• Allow to air dry
• To help boost its luster and durability, use a wood protector or synthetic penetrating decking oil to oil your unsealed wood

• When not in use, close your umbrella to keep wind accidents at a minimum
• When not in use for a long time (days), use an umbrella cover to keep it extra safe
• When the weather gets rough (I’m thinking of you, Jack Frost…) store your umbrella safely away
• Monitor surrounding objects. Trees drip sap on our poor, unsuspecting patio umbrellas and it’s a bear to get the sap off the fabric. Keep an eye out; if a tree begins a drive-by sapping, consider movement of the umbrella or sealing the tree
• Inspect the fabric for tears or loose stitching and make repairs when found
• Look for dents in the base or stand; too many dents aren’t just unsightly, they can cause the integrity of your base to fail. Consider replacing the base
• Know when to say when. You’ve patched four holes in your umbrella canopy, spray-painted the base so it didn’t look so beaten up, and part of your “tilt” function now features duct tape. Give up already and get a shiny new umbrella from your friends here at Patio Heat and Shade

Whether your trusted old umbrella has gotten one too many tears in its canopy, or it’s just time for a new patio umbrella, we’ve got your back. Our patio experts have decades of experience and know exactly the right ways to keep your family cool. Give us a call, we’ll be happy to help you every step of the way.