28 Jan Umbrellas and Outdoor Cushions
Bringing color, shade and comfort to your outdoor spaces
Here are some other important benefits of Sunbrella:
UV protection and energy savings:
- Awnings made of Sunbrella fabric provide significant protection against harmful UV rays. In fact, their dark fabric colors block up to 98% of cancer causing UV rays. The Skin Cancer
- Foundation recommends Sunbrella as an aid in the prevention of sun-induced damage to the skin.
- Sunbrella awnings can reduce a room’s temperature by 8 to 15 degrees. Since Sunbrella is a woven fabric and not coated, it breathes and allow air and moisture to escape.
- Sunbrella creates no wastewater from dyeing, as its unique coloring process avoids harmful effluents associated with conventional dyeing processes. It also dramatically reduces water and energy consumption.
- Sunbrella furniture fabrics are GREENGUARD certified for indoor air quality, as they are a very low emitting interior product.
- The Recycle My Sunbrella program reclaims pre- and post-consumer. Sunbrella waste and re-purposes it for incorporation into a variety of recycled products.
Contact us for more information about this.
All about outdoor fabrics
Sunbrella
Sunbrella pioneered the technology and use of outdoor fabric, and is still the largest and most well-known brand, offering the longest warranty period on its fabrics (5 years – although we have found that they last a lot longer than that!). Most outdoor fabrics, like Sunbrella, are made of acrylic, and thanks to special solution-dying techniques, the colors will resist fading and won’t wash out. Colors are added to the liquid acrylic mixture, and as a result, become an integral part of the fiber and the finished fabric. As such, the vibrant colors stand up to sun, rain, wind and pollutants that can make other colors fade or run. Sunbrella is also highly soil resistant. Not all outdoor fabrics are alike! Polyesters can fade, and acrylics which are not solution dyed will not have the same properties as performance fabrics like Sunbrella, Outdura and Perennials.
Choosing outdoor fabrics
Caring for outdoor fabrics
From Sunbrella: One of the best ways to keep Sunbrella® brand fabrics 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.
General or light cleaning
- 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 to remove all soap residue.
- Allow fabric to air dry.
- 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 to remove all soap residue.
- Blot excess moisture with a clean, soft towel or sponge.
- Wet-vacuum or blot excess water.
- Repeat these steps until stain is removed.
- Prepare a solution of 8 ounces (1 cup) of bleach and 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of mild soap per gallon 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 to remove all soap residue.
- Allow fabric to air dry.