How to clean your garden parasol
How to clean your garden parasol
How to clean your garden parasol
It sounds like a really simple thing to do, but at Lazy Susan we are asked on a regular basis for the best way to clean a parasol. Your parasol can also get damp/mildew stains and cleaning these off can be a little tricky. But don't worry, help is on hand, with our pointers on how to get your parasol ready for summer
Our advice would be to always clean your parasol annually before putting it into storage for the Autumn/Winter. Just give it a good wash with a mild solution of dishwashing detergent and warm water, and then rinse thoroughly.Don't leave this task until the day you're putting it away, as the umbrella should be left open in bright sunshine for a full day, just to be certain it has dried and to prevent mold and mildew.
If your parasol is made of vinyl, and it will not come clean with mild detergent, then try a convertible car roof cleaner such asRaggTopp Fabric Vinyl Cleaner orRenovo Vinyl Soft Top Cleaner, they will bring it up a treat.Parasol canopies should always be cleaned on the frame and never washed in the washing machine.
Brush off any loose dirt or leaves
Hose down with clean cold water
Prepare a cleaning solution of a mild, natural soap (not a detergent) in warm water
Apply the cleaning solution using a soft bristled brush
Allow the soap to soak in for say 3mins
Rinse thoroughly with clean cold water
Air dry only and never apply heat to the fabric
A canvas parasol or chair cushions are not immune to mold and mildew, pesky microscopic spores that grow in damp and warm environments, especially when the canvas has been exposed to the elements. You can remove mold and mildew from parasols and cushions, but please don't use a cleaning solution that could damage the fabric. The best way I've found to clean mildew and mold from parasols and chair cushions/covers is with the following non-bleach method (this will not damage the canvas):
Step 1 Clean the canvas
You will need the following items for this job: Soft-bristle brush, rubber gloves, 3 x soft, white cotton cloths or rags, cold water, isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, 2 x buckets
If possible, remove any strings, hooks, fasteners, laces or other attached items from the canvas and place them to one side.
Give the canvas a good scrub with a soft-bristle brush to remove any dirt from the material.
Wipe the canvas with a soft, white cotton cloth or rag to dust off any broken up debris you've removed with the brush.
Step 2 Remove Mildew and Mold
Wearing rubber gloves, mix up 2 litres of cold water and 2 lires of isopropyl rubbing alcohol into a bucket, and stir the solution with a brush.
Soak a soft, white cotton cloth or rag in the bucket of alcohol solution. Squeeze out the excess solution. Do not use a colored cloth or rag as the ink on the material will transfer to the canvas of your parasol/cushions.
Scrub the canvas with the alcohol-soaked cloth or rag to break up and remove the mildew and mold. Continue scrubbing the canvas until the mildew and mold is gone.
Fill a bucket with 2 lires of cold water.
Dip a soft, white cotton cloth or rag into the bucket of cold water. Squeeze out the excess water and rinse the canvas with the water-soaked cloth or rag.
Let the canvas material air dry outside and/or in the sun. Re-attach any strings, hooks, fasteners, laces or other attached items you've removed from the canvas.
Just remember your parasol needs to be stored in a dry place with lots of air round it during the colder/damp months of the year and you should prevent any future mold and mildew.
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