How To Clean Your Parasol

Cleaning your parasols seems like a simple task but it’s important to do it right so you can prolong the life of your parasol. When your parasol is open it is exposed to the elements, bird droppings and more. Overtime your canopy will begin to look dirty and may even have the occasional stain.

Figuring out the best way to clean your garden parasol can seem like a chore. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to make cleaning your parasol as simple as possible. Cleaning your parasol before summer helps maintain your parasol's integrity and keep your garden set up looking great.

If you just want to get to a quick how to guide without all the text, Click here to skip to the How To Guide.

What you need to clean your garden parasol

To clean your garden parasol canopy you will need a few things.

• Clean soft bristled brush

• Bucket of lukewarm water

• Clean cloth or sponge

• Mild detergent

• Garden hose

When choosing a soap you can use dish soap but we recommend mild laundry detergent as it is better at treating stains and doesn't produce as many bubbles.

One thing to consider when cleaning the canopy is the weather. It is best to do this on a warm sunny day as your canopy will dry quicker.

Get your parasol Summer ready

We would recommend that you always clean your parasol before storing or covering it for Winter. However, when the weather is dropping colder the last thing you want to do is be out in the garden cleaning your parasol. Giving your parasol a pre-summer clean will remove any dirt build up or stains that have happened over Winter.

Now we know it might seem like a chore and you might think “I’ll just throw the canopy in the washing machine”. Please do not do that! Putting your parasol cloth in the washing machine will damage the strength of your parasol. Machine washing will begin to damage the water-repellent coating.

Let’s get down to business, here’s what you need to do to clean your outdoor parasol canopy.

Remove your canopy

First, remove your canopy from the parasol frame. Most canopies are removed in the same way and can be lifted off from the spokes. To clean your parasol canopy lay it in a shaded area as the sun could cause the soap to dry up too quickly.

Remove dirt & debris

With your soft bristled brush brush the canopy to remove dust and debris. We advise you to gently brush the canopy, if you are too aggressive the dirt will become harder to remove.

Time to get out the soap

Next, you need to mix your lukewarm water with mild detergent. Use your clean cloth or sponge to work the soap mixture into the canopy. Some stains might require a bit more cleaning. If you haven't cleaned your parasol for a while leave the soap mixture on the canopy for around 10-20 minutes before removing it.

Get out the hose

Get your hose ready and rinse the canopy to remove all the soap, ensuring that you thoroughly rinse the canopy. If you don’t have a hose you can just use a bucket of clean water.

Let it dry

Finally, it’s time to let your parasol dry. Move your garden parasol canopy to a sunny spot and leave it to dry. You could reattach the canopy to the frame and leave your parasol open in the sun to dry off.

Protecting your parasol

Garden furniture and parasols are an investment, it’s important to look after them. Following these simple steps will guarantee that your parasol looks newer for longer.

We always recommend the use of a parasol cover, they protect your parasol against the elements, bird droppings and garden debris. They’ll also help reduce how much cleaning you need to do in Spring!

Can't be bothered to read all that text? Don't worry! Read below for our shorter step-by-step guide.

1. Remove the canopy from the parasol frame and lay it in a shaded area

2. Gently brush the parasol to remove dust and dirt

3. With your detergent and water mix clean the canopy with a clean cloth

4. If you have tougher stains leave the soap mix on the canopy for 10-20 mins

5. Thoroughly rinse your canopy with a hose

6. Move your canopy to a sunny area and let the canopy dry

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Have further questions about different types of garden tables we stock? Our friendly, knowledgeable team are always on hand to help, just give us a call or visit one of our showrooms in Wakefield or Newcastle.