Re: cleaning my boat canvas
This is a set of instructions on how to clean boat accessories made from Sunbrella® acrylic fabric.<br /><br />Sunbrella is a 'high-end' fabric used to make boat accessories such as bimini tops, mooring covers, cushion coverings, fender sleeves and windlass covers. Glen Raven Mills (Sunbrella's manufacturer) have cleaning instructions on their website as well. These instructions are from my own experience, gained through trial and error. After I do this procedure, the fabric looks like new, even when crusted with seagull crap and green mildew.<br /><br />If cleaned and treated properly, this fabric will last a very long time. Sunbrella is not typically used by Bayliner for the factory canvas but it is usually the fabric of choice for replacements. These instructions are only for Sunbrella. Your fabric may require different procedures. So here we go.......<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />What you need before starting:<br />- Bar of Ivory Soap®<br />- Cheese grater<br />- Stiff brush<br />- Push broom<br />- 303 Aerospace Hi Tech Fabric Guard®<br />- Razor blade (huh?)<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />1. Remove the canvas from the boat. This is very important. Both sides of the canvas need to be scrubbed while being supported from the other side. Leaving it on the frame will absolutely not provide this support and will result in a half-assed cleaning job. (If the frame pockets are sewn in, requiring disassembly of the frame to remove the top, don't fret. Take a deep breath and slice open the pockets with a razor blade. Then take the top to a canvas shop and have zippers put in where you've cut it. This is what I did, and I can have the top off in less than a minute now).<br /><br />2. OK you have the canvas off. Fill a 5 gal bucket with warm water. Using the grater, grate about ½ of the bar of soap into the water. Mix it up until the soap is dissolved. DON'T use anything other than a natural soap. It may harm the fabric.<br /><br />3. Lay the fabric on a clean, hard surface (the dock, your driveway etc) and wet it with a hose. Pour some soapy water on the fabric.<br /><br />4. Scrub it vigorously in all directions with the push broom until a good pile of suds covers the whole area.<br /><br />5. Scrub all the edges with the stiff brush. Edges concentrate the dirt and mildew and require this extra step. If severe mildew exists, don't use strong bleach to remove it. This will severely weaken cotton thread. Use a weak bleach/natural soap solution, just enough so it smells 'bleachy', scrub it in and let soak for at least 20 minutes.<br /><br />6. Hose off with a strong stream of clean water until no more suds appear.<br /><br />7. Flip it over and repeat everything above.<br /><br />8. Drape the canvas over something and let it air dry. Do not put in a dryer. I drape mine on a pool table and blow air over it with a fan. This dries my top in less than an hour.<br /><br />9. Take the canvas outside and spray it with 303 Fabric Guard until wet. Allow to dry and apply a second coat. This provides water-repellency to factory specs.<br /><br />10. When dry, re-install on the boat.<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />If you do this twice a year, the fabric will look like new almost all the time and will remain water-repellent.<br /><br />See Glen Raven's website for more info on Sunbrella:<br />
www.sunbrella.com/usa/
