Awnings care & cleaning

One of the best ways to keep Awnings looking good and to delay deep or vigorous cleanings is to properly maintain the fabrics. This can be accomplished by simply brushing off dirt before it becomes embedded in the fabrics, wiping up spills as soon as they occur or spot cleaning soon after stains occur.

Ferrari Fabrics require a certain degree of care. Although Ferrari Fabrics have been treated with anti-mildew agents, this protection does not offer absolute safety against fungal attack. To prevent further mildew buildup, the fabric should be cleaned regularly.

All Ferrari Fabrics should be cleaned of any dirt buildup at regular intervals. We recommend that you apply a mild soap solution, such as 303 Cleaner (dilution as specified), with a soft brush. Let the soap stand for a short period of time but do not allow the soap to dry. The fabric must then be carefully rinsed with clear water in order to remove any remaining soap residue. The use of abrasive detergents and/or substances containing solvents of gasoline will damage the vinyl coating and/or fabric. The use of high pressure steam cleaning devices, could damage the vinyl coating and/or fabric and should not be used.

When it’s time for a thorough cleaning, Sunbrella fabrics can be cleaned while still on an awning frame or, size permitting, they can be removed for cleaning in a washing machine.

When cleaning Sunbrella fabrics, it is important to observe the following:

» Always use a mild soap such as 303 Aerospace Cleaner (diluted as specified).
» Water should be cold to lukewarm. (Never more than 100°F/38°C.)
» Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue.
» Air dry only. Never apply heat to Sunbrella fabrics.

General or light cleaning:

To clean Sunbrella while still on an awning frame, follow these simple steps:

» Brush off loose dirt.
» Hose down.
» Prepare a cleaning solution of water and mild soap such as 303 Aerospace Cleaner (diluted as specified) (no detergents).
» Use a soft bristle brush to clean.
» Allow cleaning solution to soak into the fabric.
» Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue is removed.
» Air dry.
This may not require re-treatment depending on the age of the fabric. If stubborn stains persist, you can use a diluted chlorine bleach/soap mixture for spot cleaning of mildew, roof run-off or other similar stains (see our Stain Chart for specific recommendations).

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:

» Eight ounces (1 cup) of chlorine bleach.
» Two ounces (1/4 cup) of 303 Aerospace Cleaner (diluted as specified).
» One gallon of water.
» Clean with soft bristle brush.
» Allow mixture to soak into fabric for up to 15 minutes.
» Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue is removed.
» Air dry.
» Repeat if necessary.
» Re-treatment of fabric for water and stain resistance will be necessary.

Re-treating the fabric

As part of the finishing process, Sunbrella fabrics are treated with a fluorocarbon finish, which enhances water repellency. This finish is designed to last for several years, but must be replenished after a thorough cleaning. Based on test results, Glen Raven recommends 303 High Tech Fabric Guard™ as the preferred re-treatment product for Sunbrella fabrics.

Fabrics should be re-treated after thorough cleaning or after five years of use. For more information on re-treatment products, please visit www.303products.com.

* Synthetic fabric heat settings normally do not exceed 150°F/66°C.

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 16-ounce bottle provides coverage of up to 50 square feet of fabric.)