Can I wash a sunbrella cover?

B

BinLurkin

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 12, 2004
Messages
192
The local canvas shop says, yes, but to use only soap not detergent. In fact, they recommend it. I used to see Ivory soap & White King for the laundry but can't find it now, it was only soap, no detergent. People with water softeners used the soap only brands. They said to whittle up some flakes off a bar of Ivory soap. Anyway, I'm concerned that the cover will shrink & I won't be able to get in back on to the snaps. It fits pretty tight as it is. They did say don't put it in the dryer though. Thanks, in advance.
 
B

bayman

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 2, 2000
Messages
669
Re: Can I wash a sunbrella cover?

Yes, you do want to keep your boat cover clean. Keeping it clean will reduce growth of mold and mildew and your cover will last longer. I know there are boat cover or fabric cleaners on the market as well. I don't have anything to recommend though. I have just heard that it should be a mild cleaner - not too strong.
 
E

ED21

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 26, 2003
Messages
829
Re: Can I wash a sunbrella cover?

Why not snap the cover on after you clean it & let it dry in place.
 
Boomyal

Boomyal

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 16, 2003
Messages
12,072
Re: Can I wash a sunbrella cover?

I've run mine through a commmercial washing machine, pressure washed it with a 1200 psi washer, then resprayed it with a waterproofing stuff. No problems at all. I pressure washed it in place and got virtually no water thru it into the boat.
 
C

crazy charlie

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
5,581
Re: Can I wash a sunbrella cover?

The directions from Raven Mill where the sunbrella comes from state to use natural soap as you already know and never detergent.Cold water only and never put in dryer.As Ed suggested and as I always do,put the cover back on boat while it is still wet.For stubborn stains it states to soak for 20 minutes in a solution of no more than 1/2 cup non-chlorine bleach and 1/4 cup of soap per gallon of water approx 100f degrees .I personally have used chlorine bleach as strong as full strength followed immediately by submersion in fresh water with no ill-effects,not even to the color.I did that by accident.But I found that sunbrella wont lose its color to bleach of any kind which I found to be unreal!!Last season I had a bad mildew problem growing on the underside of my cover and laid it out on a drizzly day and sprayed it with a 50/50 solution of bleach and water onto a damp to wet surface and the mold dissappeared immediately.After about a minute or two I hosed it down and then put it in a plastic bin filled with water to get a complete rinse.Put it back on the boat while still wet and it could not have come out better.You can try Amway for natural soap or a health food store or if you have a Trader Joes near you.Charlie
 
B

BinLurkin

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 12, 2004
Messages
192
Re: Can I wash a sunbrella cover?

It's been 2 years now since it was new & it is looking somewhat crappy. I am behind a sand dune here in Monterey on the beach & it gets wet every night with all the fog. Lots of help here, thanks everybody. I will snap it right back on after it is washed. There is also a Trader Joe's about 15 minutes from here so I'll try that & then a health foods store if I TJ's doesn't have it. I saw your new engine, Boomyal, it's a peach. I am currently doing a valve job on the engine in my old 1978 Dodge camper with a 360 engine. I think it blew a head gasket? It only has 10,000 miles on it since it was last rebuilt. The compression was 1,3,5,7, @ 0, 70, 5 & 95 respectively. The other side was 2,4,6 & 8, @ 110, 65, 90 & 80. So maybe it blew two headgaskets? The carb is off & all the bolts are out, I just have to undo the power steering pump brackets & whatever is bolted to the front of the heads & they will come off. I am wondering if I got some bad reconditiond heads? I should have better compression on the even side. This engine never sounded right after the rebuild, kind of an exhaust leak sound up there on the odd side. Did I just hi-jack my own post?
 
C

crazy charlie

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
5,581
Re: Can I wash a sunbrella cover?

Hijacking your own post......Hmmmmmmmmm....I better leave that one alone ;) Just make sure you wash your hands.
 
S

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: Can I wash a sunbrella cover?

A beware on using any kind of bleach - bleach attacks the thread that hold the panels together. If you must use it be sure that you rinse thoroughly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top